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Oceanique
Categories: Restaurants French Restaurants Seafood French, Seafood [Edit]
505 Main St(between Chicago Ave & Hinman Ave)
Evanston, IL 60202
(847) 864-3435
Announcement
Monday's Free Corkage
- Nearest Transit:
-
Main (Purple Line)
South Boulevard (Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10 pm
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Ambience:
- Classy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
117 reviews for Oceanique
Review Highlights
"...started with an exquisite amuse-bouche followed by our soup."
(in 15 reviews)
"Very excellent wine list and very cute sommelier."
(in 19 reviews)
"The tasting menu is unbelievable."
(in 16 reviews)
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117 reviews in English
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Review from Nektaria R.
Chicago, IL
If you are looking for a quiet evening with a bff or a significant other, definitely think about Oceanique, you will not be disappointed.
I've been here a few times with either the husband or a girlfriend, each time has been wonderful and exciting. I've had the chef's choice and enjoyed the special treats that he would prepare. Note, not having any allergies and not being not in the slightest bit of a picky eater means I get lots of yummy creations!
There is an extensive wine list. This last visit, we enjoyed the Malbec with our five course meal. It was smooth and crisp and definitely a good choice.
The meal seemed like we would end up hungry since the servings were tiny but it was a bit deceiving since we were so fun by the time dessert came out!
We started with a single bite of tuna. It was so fresh and so refreshing and I wished there was more! The next round was calamari and other fresh seafood. It was all grilled to perfection! So good that I didn't even want to share! Next was some refreshing sorbet. The main course was a wonderful salmon for her and a perfect skate for me it was delicious! We finished with a warm fruit tart for her and a chocolate, chocolate cake for me. OMG, they were both so perfect. So rich and so satisfying.
If you haven't tried them out, you really should think about making a reservation and checking it out. You'll be treated like royalty and will enjoy a wonderful feast.Listed in: time to splurge
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Review from Phillip C.
Schaumburg, IL
It was that time again, to use up my soon to be expired Groupon and Oceanique was next up on my list. French seafood sounded great, plus I was excited to try their tasting menu. I'm a sucker for tasting menus. I just can't resist.
There's plenty of metered street parking up front, but valet parking is also available. I actually ended up parking in a large parking lot, at the corner of Hinman and Main, next to an apartment. It's a very short walk and you can't beat the meter rates at 25 cents per 3 hours.
We each got the 5-course tasting menu, which is regularly $80, but was $40 with the deal. The meal started with the Chef's Surprise, which was a Yellow Fin Tuna Tartare w/ habanero sesame oil. I was starving and the tasty bites were gone within a few seconds. The Wild Maine Lobster salad was very light, scattered with a few pieces of succulent lobster, large chunks of tasty buffalo mozzarella, white asparagus, fresh caviar, and avocado. The next course was some mixed berry sorbet with blood orange, which was very refreshing and a tasty palate cleanser. Next I had the Wild Rhode Island Skate - perfectly cooked and oh so tender. I also tried the Wild Philippine Yellow Fin Tuna, which was also cooked perfectly and was pretty good. All the dishes up to this point were good, but nothing really blew me away.
The dessert course was probably my favorite part of the meal. The Day & Night chocolate cake was good and went well with the chestnut ice cream, but the Three Nut Tart was insanely good! The chewy, gooey tart is served warm and is loaded with pecans, walnuts, and topped off with some hazelnuts. Plus it's topped with a scoop of durian ice cream. I would definitely go back just for that nutty tart! -
Review from Judd H.
Winnetka, IL
1/17/2012
Food is very good. If you order off of the ala carte menu, there are few places you can wrong and the value is pretty good for the type of place it is. And the atmosphere created by the staff is generally pleasant. So, by no means is the place intimidating. In terms of the food quality, it is right up there with any 3-star restaurant in the Chicago area. My beef with this place are small details when taken together sort of rubbed me the wrong way.
First, they have really pushed the groupons to get people in there, but it seems like they are chintzing out a bit on the value proposition for the five-course tasting menu (we did 1 groupon tasting; one ala carte menu). Sure, it is five courses, but a couple of the courses are after-thoughts. Like little bites of food that we assumed were compliments-of-the-chef sort of things. So, eve, though they claim it is an $80 tasting menu ($40 with the GP), it is really more like $50-60 worth of food. I don't get it - you would think they would be trying to steer the grouponers back for repeat dining from the ala carte menu. But, I am sure a lot of folks felt like they did not get the bargain that it seemed like on paper.
Second, a mandatory 18% tip? That's total bush. Like other posters, I may tip more than that, but being told what I have to tip rubs me the wrong way.
Finally, I don't get the wine list. Sure, it does not have a ton of depth, but it is not fair to judge on that because of the cost of maintaining it. It does not have a lot of focus on anything though - with a little bit of everything and way too much stuff that 99% of the clientele will never drink (61 bordeauxs, etc.). The consistent 3- or 4-1 markup on most of the bottles is tough too. I know that most sommeliers bristle at the thought, but a place that has the steakhouse cabs and 10-15 year old second and third growth bordeauxs at a 2x markup will sell a lot more wine. . . -
Review from Robyn T.
1/6/2012 1 Check-in Here
This cozy fine-dining establishment is having a bit of an identity crisis. Are we fine dining and require you to dress up, or is it OK to wear jeans? Shall we place classical music, or be more chill and play oh, Talking Heads?
Though I like the idea of Oceanique it's higher prices suggest something different from the image they may project when you enter. Service was good, but I felt like our waitress was trying to be more our friend, then our knowledgeable guide. Though as other reviewers suggest they steam the tablecloths, ours oddly had sparkles and confetti on it from the previous guests celebration...and it remained there on our table.
The food itself was good. We did the 5-course tasting menu and while I enjoyed all my dishes, I wasn't blown away by anything especially considering the price. The dishes themselves seemed overly fussy with too many ingredients on the plate, some herbs adding color as a garnish had no business complementing the taste.
Overall Oceanique is a fine dining establishment in Evanston with a romantic vibe. If you're looking for a special occasion spot to celebrate this may be it, but I would maybe explore other options if you're a Chicago resident looking for an evening out in the north suburbs. -
Review from m s.
Evanston, IL
Updated - 12/31/2011
A disappointing visit. We've had some FANTASTIC meals at Oceanique. This meal was, at best, just ok.
The most disappointing part were the scallops. They tasted gritty.... when we told the staff, they told us it was the sea salt they were using. We know the difference between salt and sand. Probably would not have gotten on yelp to write this review had the staff not given the same excuse to the table next to us (who also said that they know the difference between sand and salt). It's okay to be off your game one night, just admit it. The scallops weren't fully rinsed.
Other parts of the meal were ok. Nothing was up to their typical standard (best parts was probably the chef surprise at course 1 and the filet mignon). Nothing else was as disappointing as the scallops - but nothing was memorable. Wine as usual very good. Service as usual was very good (but for the salt versus sandy story).
For the price we paid this evening for the 5 course tasting menu (the only options this evening were either the 5 course or the 8 course tasting menu), we were expecting better.1 Previous Review:
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11/18/2011
This is far and away the best food and dining experience I've had in Chicagoland
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Review from Matt B.
Chicago, IL
1/7/2012
Eh... The food was good - but for the price - you may as well go to a Blackbird, Green Zebra or some place similar downtown... In particular the drinks are WAY overpriced. While my cocktail was great - I paid almost half as much for something similar at a nicer establishment...
And I would tend to agree with someone's assessment of an identity crisis. The decor is not fine dining, but the service is overly high brow.
A good one time experience - but I feel you can get better quality/experience at these prices elsewhere in the area. -
Review from Joy M.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2011
I've been to Oceanique a few times now but just decided to write a review. I mainly go there on special occasions: anniversary, birthday and valentine. All the times I went, we did the 5 course tasting menu along with the wine paring. Needless to say but Oceanique is a little pricy for a casual dinning, but not too expensive if you want to splurge.
What I love about them is the impeccable service along with the consistent food quality everything single time. The wine list has a nice variety, not sure if he is a sommelier,but he has great knowledge about wine and food paring. They were more than happy to give me another wine paring when I didn't like one that was recommened. -
Review from Ming C.
Chicago, IL
11/26/2011 1 Check-in Here
I LOOOOOOOVE seafod and Oceanique provided excelleht food and service. Definitely deserve 5 star for their delicious food.
I am glad I came.
One star taken off for their plain decor. Could be improved. -
Review from Maria S.
Chicago, IL
10/15/2011
Ok, this post was when I was preggars. I can't believe I haven't reviewed this place yet! My husband found this place. Of course, french is my favorite cuisine but to have french for seafood prepared the way they do...is tre manifique! The wine list is extensive...I sure do love wine, however, being prego doesn't do me a lot of good to enjoy it. So I've asked our waitress to have the bartender come up with some mocktail and he did...a lychee drink with sorbet served in a martini glass...yummilicious! The waitstaff is knowledgeable and will cater to your needs. I didn't think it was expensive at all. All things considering you would probably pay just as more at Shaws downtown.
I had the fish (pompalano) prepared light that was divine! A must if you love French.
We've been back months ago with friends on a Groupon. I felt it wasn't their best and you were sort of limited to what is on the menu. The sommelier definitely was friendly and knowledgeable. I still enjoy the lychee cocktail and is worth it. The wine is definitely incredible. -
Review from Brian D.
Winnetka, IL
12/7/2011
First let me say that all the people that complained about Oceanique got a groupon or so it seems. If you're looking for a deal than try the salmon at Applebees and leave the fine dining to the experienced. Chef Mark served us one of the most elegantly delicious meals of my life! My better half is Gluten Free and had a plethora of options including a cracker like flatbread she enjoyed while I ate the fresh bread. We enjoyed lobster, escargot, lamb, salmon, oysters, ceviche, filet, and on and on! Our anniversary was capped off with 2 amazing desserts, crème brulee with lemon grass and the napoleon (amazing). This restaurant is not cheap but you're going to get the best of the best when it comes to ingredients and that's important to me. If you're looking for a top notch dining experience than I would recommend Oceanique all day long.
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Review from Nick L.
San Francisco, CA
9/28/2011
Over priced and over rated.
Food wasn't bad but no way worth the price. -
Review from Oded B.
Evanston, IL
10/29/2011
It is rare to walk into a restaurant and have a perfect dining experience, but we did!
The food is interesting, delicious and creatively prepared and served. The service is impeccable, and the wine list is impressive.
From the appetizers, to the main course and the dessert was just so flavorful and interesting. Every dish mixed various foods together and resulted in an unexpected and delicious experience. Every course was perfectly timed, and small plates in between were served to clear our palette... in one word: magnificent! -
Review from Reuben H.
7/15/2011
Stellar meal with great service, and all with the Yelp Eats menu to boot.
I was really looking forward to getting to a place that was known for having some good seafood dishes. Couple that with a discounted price and a party of six quickly formed. Arriving at Oceanique, you realize that the set up of the restaurant is a bit odd. Draped ceiling, and odd splotches of color on the walls aren't exactly what you are used to for a "fine dining" experience.
Everything beyond the bizarre decor (oh, and at times- some strange music) was classy and well-executed.
The five course prefixed menu was stacked with some quality choices. To start, there was a halibut tartar that wasn't my favorite tartar, but not a bad way to start off the meal. Besides, the fresh-baked bread brought out to the table was more than enough to make up for it. Next came the first choice in the menu, of which I went with a delicious combination of seared day boat scallops, kim chi, and some accompanying sauces. This dish was delicious. The kim chi added a perfect combination of heat and flavor to the sweet scallops.
Sorbet came next, and was a nice intermezzo between the two main dishes of the meal. This papaya-flavored sorbet came out cold and refreshing. An addition course also came out, and was fantastic: chicken liver pate served on a cube of brown bread with a small slice of cornichon. Very well done pate in deed, and also a nice break from all the fish that was being eaten.
Finally the main course, another choice in the menu, which for me was the turbot. I can say with certainty that this was one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. The turbot filets were perfectly cooked- meaty, yet flaky and nicely seasoned. It was served over a bead of basil mashed potatoes, wilted spinach, turnip cubes, lovely chanterelles and a deliciously rich sauce. The balance of flavors was incredible, and the portion size was large. That large plate of delectable fish was practically licked clean though. Seriously delicious!
Last, and not least a selection of desserts were brought to the table. All-in-all about six in total. Since we had a table of six, we ultimately ended with trying all of them. The "controversial" winner seemed to be a strawberry tart that was served with durian ice cream. It was my first experience with durian, and while it didn't make me gag like it does with many others, it didn't strike me as something that I would love. Others disagreed and really enjoyed the unique flavor it added in the form of an ice cream.
I would recommend a visit to Oceanique for anyone who seeks a fine meal, particularly if you are looking for well executed seafood dishes. While pretty much everything we experienced was of high marks (including service- which was attentive and friendly), the price points for many things did seem a bit steep ($19 glasses of wine for example). Still, the wine selection DID look to be a good one, and with that type of meal, I guess one should expect to be paying a pretty penny. -
Review from Yvonne B.
7/17/2011
Groupon introduced me to this treat of all treats (I wrote about it on my blog), and I've just been dying to return! Last night served up a great opportunity after a long day of activity. We made last minute reservations at 8:30 PM.
Parking right in front of the restaurant was free and easy (it was past the meter's cut-off time) and we were quickly seated. And oh my google was I excited when I saw my *favorite* martini on their menu: the cucumber sage! I highly recommend it.
I ordered three appetizers: the roasted oysters, the scallops (these gave me a serious moment of tantalizing delight), and a fennel/fig/prosciutto salad. M had the fillet mignon. She doesn't like that cut, but she commented on the succulent fat content and texture of the meat, claiming that it was the best she'd ever had in her LIFE. Woah - she must be onto something there Bessie!
M completed her meal with a French mousse. It wasn't really a mousse, but it was a lot like it. Whatever it was, it was delicious. I thought it tasted like hot chocolate (only cold and velvety on my tongue).
Our service throughout was really attentive, but not hovering. Marco was our main server, but at least three other people brought and removed plates from our table. They surprised us with a ceviche amuse bouche, minute cubes of bread decked with patte, and strawberry sorbet to cleanse our pallets.
At the end, we were given the honor of having chef/owner Mark come to our table. He was so nice and conversational. Mark explained that the secret to their fillet mignon was that they only use prime meat whereas most restaurants don't.
I think that the evening was a success. M claimed that if Oceanique was closer (e.g. within her two mile bubble radius that includes Bistrot Margot), she would be there all the time.Listed in: Dates, Groupons, French Food
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Review from ashley g.
Chicago, IL
11/30/2011
A beautiful, elegant and absolutely delicious 5 course chef tasting menu. Great service - people passionate about food and wine. A great experience!
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Review from Suzanne S.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2011
Update: They called to apologize and offered us a g/c to try the restaurant again. We were pleased and surprised by the level of customer service after the fact and look forward to a new dining experience and review.
I'm not sure how to rate Oceanique. I've dined here in the past, and always loved it, so I was thrilled when I found a pay-$25.00-for-$50.00 gc online.
When we first sit down a waiter comes up and says, "you have the Groupon, you get this tasting menu." Um, no. We explain that we have a GC and sit (and wait) for the regular menu.
My husband and I both ordered the tasting menu, which is $95.00. Usually we drink, but since I am pregnant, we did not- he was being a nice spouse and didn't wave anything in front of my face I couldn't have. Anyway- I told the waitress that I just couldn't eat anything raw and she commented that the Chef's Surprise Course was a ceviche but I could have it cooked. Okay, sounds fine.
Our meal in and of itself was lovely. We've done tasting menus quite a bit and I really enjoyed this one. However, the service was lacking. We were the last table in the back and for TWO courses we did not have silverware. I find that to be absurd. One the dish was dropped off, and the waiter ran away. We got forks/knives when were about done. They second time, our fish arrived and we had to sit and stare at it while our waitress went to go get the silverware. Kind of embarrassing.
Right before dessert I mention to waitress that we did not receive our ceviche course. She mentions she'll check on it. In the meantime, dessert arrives, no word from the staff. I'm not particular about the order of my food, so we tuck in and later ask again- she says she couldn't ask the chef because he was busy talking to tables- but she'll ask. No one else could tell her? Goes back, attempts to bring us the CHECK, we wait to see what the deal was with the ceviche.
Waitress comes back out, says she was confused, she shouldn't have said that, ceviche was on the week-day menu. I am confused. Or, I think it was a ruse. Perhaps the surprise course was nothing more than an amuse, which we usually enjoy plenty of when we've dined here in the past. We had none tonight, so I think, okay, they maybe forgot- kitchen closed? But why say you were confused? Do you not know the nightly menu? We were one of the last tables of the evening. Again, instead of feeling like, okay, sorry, we missed a free bite it was, "No, you weren't supposed to get that, sorry." In other dining experiences, say Moto, when they made a mistake they sent out a glass of wine or an extra dessert course. An apology is nice, but when you say a customer will receive something, I think it is both reasonable and expected to provide a replacement. She did not seem apologetic and so the evening really ended on a sour note. I almost felt as though we got the shaft as we were a coupon table. We've spent hundreds here in the past, so that was just...stinging.
We have enjoyed Oceanique in the past and spent quite a bit on memorable occasions and good meals. I think we'll look for another restaurant where the service is more consistent. And honest. -
Review from Kevin L.
Chicago, IL
5/24/2011
I don't understand how this place has an overall rating of four stars given all the folks on here who apparently had a dining experience similar to mine.
The food certainly wasn't awful, nor was it prepared inexpertly. The problem I had with Oceanique is that they charge $20 for a Manhattan and $15 or so for most of their cocktails and count sorbet (1-2 T of flavored ice between appetizer and entree) as a course.
Yeah. They charge $80 for a 5 course tasting and the food is good, but the first course is basically just a slice of a sushi roll (wouldn't count as a "course" in any other restaurant I've ever been to) and the third course is sorbet. Add to that they charge $55 per person for wine pairing and the wine is neither terrific nor plentiful. At the end of the night, we spent over $200 PER PERSON to dine at Oceanique and I honestly wouldn't return if they halved their prices.
The Soft Shell Crab Tempura was actually quite good, the Maine Skatewing nothing special, but it was cooked perfectly, at least. Dessert was good. $400 for my wife and I, though?. I would feel wronged if I paid those prices in Downtown Chicago. What a ripoff. BTW, the "$" sign rating system on Yelp doesn't go up to "$$$$$$$$$$", so I am just giving it a "$$$$" -
Review from Judy S.
Boca Raton, FL
8/25/2011
Groupon introduced me to this place, too, and it was my first full "tasting menu." I decided to splurge and pair it with the wine ($55) which was a great decision. First, the cost. The 5-course tasting menu was billed at $80; the wine pairing added $55, plus an automatic 18% gratuity, plus food tax plus liquor tax brought the bill for 1 to $99.13, with $80 deducted. So I basically had a $180 dinner for 1. Why? Because a single glass of wine starts at about $10 and a nice cocktail is $18-20+, so that's why I went with the wine pairing. I've never had a meal so expensive; however, it was a treat and I enjoyed every bite and experienced new flavors. Of course, since I'm not a fish lover, I would much rather have had rack of lamb or meat but ....
My courses were:
1st - one bite of cerviche (flavoful, made of haddock and I don't know what else) but I enjoyed it and did I tell you, I hate fish.
2nd - tempera soft-shell crab - really only tasted the "fried" part but it was my first soft-shell crab so that's okay.
3rd - two bites of chicken pate on crouton - very flavorful and rich
4th - haddock with a pinot noir reduction sauce -- made the dish
5th - potsau creme de chocolat - AWESOME!
No, I was not stuffed afterward but pleasantly full and a little buzzed from the alcohol. Each wine pairing was superb and complimented each course perfectly. Philip, the sommelier, was a master of the pour and a nice dude. Since I was alone, I ate at the bar, and since I didn't plan on stopping there, I wasn't exactly dressed appropriately but once they got over the shock of someone coming in to eat alone, everyone was very nice and pleasant and Philip made sure I had the opportunity to converse with him and few other staff persons. I don't know a soul in Illinois and would have loved to have shared this dining experience with someone. Since I had the tasing menu, I don't know how large or small regular entrees are but would definitely go back, particularly if someone else was buying! Truly a special for a special night out (or for no reason at all).
The reason I gave it 4 rather than 5 stars is because while everything worked and tasted great, I'm not sure it was a $180 meal. Maybe it was, juding by how many 5 stars this place got, but I'm not in that financial category, so my sense of value may be different. I don't think $6 for a McDonald's meal is worth it, either, but i do think $12 for an Edzo burger is worth it, so there you have you.
Go, enjoy! You only live once (which is why I even though unemployed I went and did it. I could die tomorrow!) -
Review from Ehow C.
5/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I had a pretty spectacular birthday dinner here with my boyfriend. He brought me here as a surprise, and it was definitely a surprise considering it's a very spendy place. Since I have no clue how much this meal was, I will only strictly base my review on the food.
We didn't have any wine, but stuck with gin and tonics. We started off with a smoked salmon amuse bouche, with some avocado, greens, and a potato chip. Delish.
We ordered two appetizers, the venison pate and diver's scallops with kimchi. The former had a number of elements on the plate, including a berry jam and tasty bread. The scallops had some pretty decent kimchi flavor, though I was expecting a little more heat from it overall. The portions were very generous with the venison plate.
This was followed by a palette cleanser, a five-berry sorbet with mint and blood orange. Pretty tasty.
We had a pre-dinner bite of a fish I can't recall in a pinot noir sauce. The sauce was very tasty, and the fish was cooked very well.
We both had the same entree of swordfish, which came with purple potatoes and (gasp) a pinot noir sauce. Swordfish isn't necessarily a very flavorful fish, but it was definitely juicy and went very well with the sauce. I will say that given the caliber of the restaurant, i would have expected a little more variety between courses. Don't get me wrong, the pinot noir sauce was delicious, but I was hoping for a different flavor palette for the main course.
Finally, we ended the night with a pot creme and cake, followed by complementary rose champagne. The service was spectacular all night long, so I will give them props for that.
I just hope my boyfriend didn't have to forsake paying rent because of this meal. -
Review from Isabella W.
Chicago, IL
4/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Overall food 2.5 stars. Dessert was better than the food, which is rare in my opinion. Overall, the food felt very amateurish, and not a French "fine dining" place.
My husband and I went on a Saturday night with our Groupons - 2 Oceanique "Good for Chef's 5-Course Seafood Tasting Menu" for $40 per Groupon, which was said to be valued at $80 regularly.
This is what we received at the restaurant from the "Chef's tasting menu"
- 1 "amuse bouche" - tuna tartare -- we can count this as course #1 (typically amuse bouches do not count towards a course)
- 1 appetizer - seafood - Course #2. I had the scallops and kimchi, which was extremely confusing, as the restaurant's branded itself as a french restaurant with an American twist" . The scallops were also overcooked.
- Sorbet palate cleanser (portion = 1 tbs scoop in espresso cup) - more like a intermezzo palate cleanser vs. what was described as "Course #3". The waitress also presented this as a palate cleansder.
- Entree - Course #4 (The "famous" tuna unfortunately should be "infamous" - it looked grey, bulky, and it looked and tasted like it was microwaved. not visually appealing, and not yummy. the whitefish my husband had was ok, but it was fish I could've easily made at home.)
- Dessert - Course #5 (meyer lemon pie, chocolate cake)
All of the above "5 courses" added up still would not = $80 regularly.
The food is average, the decor and ambiance show they're stuck in the 90s, and the tacky service (ironing table cloths while patrons are dining), and the misleading offers completley turned me off. There are too many restaurants in Chicago to drive up to Evanston for this! -
Review from Scott S.
Chicago, IL
9/24/2011
Not sure why anyone likes this place. If you are under 50 years old and and don't have more money than you know what to do with then stay away. People were incredibly nice and service was great. Atmosphere is nothing special. Feels like a pizza parlor with nice table clothes. We had a salad as an appetizer and the salmon and lobster for entrees. $127 later we were severely disappointed and still hungry thanks to the incredibly small portions. If you are just looking for a fancy place for a special occasion don't go here! Save yourself some money and have a much more enjoyable meal elsewhere.
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Review from Lori W.
Chicago, IL
9/12/2011
We have wanted to go there for a long time. They've been around for years and years, so we figured it must be great. (26 years, I think).
Went using a Groupon. Neither one of us drinks, so alcohol didn't add to the cost. They call it a 5 course dinner for $80. I wouldn't really call it 5 courses. The first course was a small bite of something. When they servers served each course, they ran it by us so fast that we had no idea what they were saying. Since we didn't know what we were getting, ti would have been nice to have a little more explanation.
Everything looked beautiful. That being said, I've had better food. I wouldn't say that it was bad, it just wasn't as flavorful as I would have liked it to have been. Especially for the price.
The service was ok. Our server really didn't ask us if we liked anything, nor did she check on us until we were eating our last bite.
The best part of the meal was the dessert. Both desserts served were delicious. I think that the serving size of the dessert was larger than the entree and appetizer.
The total bill came to over $200 for 2 people. That's a lot for 2 non drinkers. I think that it's total nonsense that an 18% gratuity is automatically added on. Service wasn't that great. If gratuity is automatically added on, it should have said it on the Groupon or on their menu somewhere. We are always very generous tippers, but don't like to be told that we have to.
Anyway, I will not be back here nor will I recommend it to anyone else to go unless they just have money to throw away and don't really care how things taste.
We went home hungry. -
Review from Cindy H.
Chicago, IL
3/21/2011
Fine dining wanna-be - would give it zero stars if I could. The whole experience was actually silly.
From the wine - which, if you buy a bottle, they don't leave on the table but rather have the sommeliers ration out to you at their leisure - to the actual IRON they use on the tablecloths in between customers, it was almost like a French farce. Seriously, who IRONS the tablecloths with a KMart iron ON the tables with other patrons present??? Try upgrading your laundry service and ordering more starch. The staff was haughty at best and spent all of their time polishing the wine glasses at the bar, in full view of the dining room - servers, sommeliers, everyone. It was really weird.
Service comedy aside, the price was insane for food that was not even tasty. (For that price I could have made a car payment.) The ceviche tasted past-its-prime, which is less than ideal for that dish, and my main course was tasteless at best. Plus, the portions were comical. If I eat tiny "foodie" dishes, the flavors should explode in my mouth, not make me wonder what that sweaty t-shirt taste was in the last forkful.
Avoid. Avoid. Avoid. -
Review from Doug F.
Chicago, IL
7/11/2011
Went on first day of Yelp Eats, today, July 11th, as they advertised:
"Announcement:
Visit us during Yelp Eats (7/11-7/17) and receive 50% off select appetizers, entrees, desserts and drinks! More info: http://goo.gl/yDqv3"
BUT THEY ARE ON A TWO WEEK VACATION UNTIL JULY 12th.
Not sure who's to blame, but I wouldn't advertise "July 11th through 17th" on your Yelp page, and not open until the 12th.
Won't bother to go back, so they can stay closed for VACATION more often. -
Review from Zand S.
Chicago, IL
12/1/2011
Impressive wine list and excellent service, but the food wasn't impressive or tasty enough to go back. Unfortunately this place is one of those "been there, done that"...and nothing more
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Review from Mark W.
Evanston, IL
6/14/2011
I went to Oceanique for my birthday using a LivingSocial coupon for the tasting menu. It sounds like that is how most people are doing it lately. The "five-course" proclamation is a little weird since it includes the amuse bouche and the sorbet as courses, but if you checked out the menu before you bought the coupon then you'd know that. Stretching the definition of a course, perhaps, but not hiding that fact.
We started with a little smoked salmon amuse, then for the appetizer I had soft-shelled crab, which was excellent. It didn't hold a candle to the venison pate that my wife had, though, which is the best thing I've eaten in a while. The sorbet came and it was fine. Very citrusy, but it worked as a palate cleanser. There were three fish entrees when we went, a skate dish that I ordered, a halibut dish that my wife ordered, and a salmon dish. First we got a little taste of the salmon dish, which was nice. It had a lot of Mexican influence to it with poblano and cilantro. My skate was great and the halibut was very good if a little underseasoned. Our deserts were a lemongrass creme brulee that was very good and my wife got a chocolate sponge cake that had a great spongy texture and a nice mousse filling.
I think a lot of the recent reviews here are a little unfair. Yes, the place is a little more expensive than it should be, but I don't think it's ridiculously so. We have to remember that we're in Chicago, and we don't just pull skate or salmon or halibut out of the lake. Fresh seafood of the highest quality costs money. The cocktails are pricey, but they have an extensive wine list with lots of reasonable wines (and lots of expensive ones).
The service was great and the waiter was very helpful. The atmosphere was nice (though the fabric ceiling was weird once I noticed it) but wasn't stuffy. We've been there one other time a few years back and went there without a reservation when Campagnola didn't have room for us. The wife was wearing a hoodie and I was wearing a polo and jeans, but they didn't even bat an eye. The nice laid-back attitude and the great food is why we went back.
If yelp gave me half-star control, I'd rate this a solid 4.5 stars. It's a really great place and we're happy to have such a nice restaurant nearby. We would solidly recommend it. -
Review from Jen M.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2011
Oceanique aspires to be a fine dining experience. Maybe "aspires" isn't the correct word, perhaps "pretends" is more suitable.
The food lacks the "wow" factor that is requisite for the obscene prices and the decor is outdated/elderly.
Everything tasted fine. The highlights were the scallops and the sorbet. Like other reviewers stated, the green mystery mash and radishes accompanied too many courses.
Oceanique really needs to reevaluate their self. -
Review from Angela J.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2011
We went here on an $80 Groupon for a 5-course seafood meal, which was valued at $160. The dining experience was not very memorable for the price we paid, minus the PUBE my boyfriend found in his "chef's surprise"...what a disgusting surprise! Waiters were not too friendly about it either. The worst part was they still charged us 20% gratuity ($32!) on the original price...if they hadn't conned this undeserved tip money from us I may give them 3 stars for the tasty appetizer and entree. Oh, and if they didn't count sorbet as a course.
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Review from Rodger W.
8/24/2010
I do not profess to be a fine dining expert. In fact, I almost never indulge in a meal that is as pricey as this. That said, I really enjoyed my meal at Oceanique and recommend it highly.
Before the appetizers were served, the chef sent out a small treat that was delicious, but I cannot remember exactly what it was... :(
I love oysters, and for an appetizer our table shared a dozen Massachusetts Peter's Point oysters; 6 served with Jalapeno-Red Onion Salsa & Radish-Seaweed Salad and 6 served with Osetra Caviar & Chive Cream . The caviar dressed ones were my favorite. I wish I had another dozen! We also had a plate of the Butternut Squash Ravioli, with /Michigan Asparagus, Parmesan, Crispy Sage & Walnuts. They were delicious, but the oysters were my favorite.
A palate cleansing berry sorbet preceded the main course. I had the Wild Alaskan Halibut, Slow Roasted with Tropea Onions, Heirloom Carrots, English Peas & a Port-Pinot Noir Sauce. The combination was delicate and delicious, and the fish was perfectly prepared. I also tried the same Halibut, but prepared with Elote, Butternut Squash, and Poblano-Cilantro Sauce. The dishes were both equally delicious, and perfectly executed. I also tasted the Wild Maine Skatefish with
Corn, Yellow Beans, Purple Potatoes and Lemongrass Essence. I have never tasted skate, but really liked the taste and texture. The entrees were beautifully presented, and paired nicely with a Sauvignon Blanc that one of my enophile table mates selected with the assistance of the sommelier.
The portions were not huge steakhouse sized affairs, thus leaving room for desert. I had the Napolean, which is Three Tiers of Puff Pastry filled w/Vanilla Mousseline & Berries Chocolate Sauce. It was one of the most delicious deserts I have ever had. The pastry and cream combination was dynamite.
All told, my meal with wine was probably north of $150, but I think it was worth the expense given the innovative menu and excellent, attentive service. -
Review from Evan S.
12/20/2010
Great meal all around. I had a prix fixe menu as I was there with a group. The Pear Maytag Blue Cheese Salad was a fresh start (with watercress, pecans, and buttermilk dressing). It was actually envied by colleagues of mine that chose other options.
The Prime Filet Mignon was a tender, delectable, filling entree with purple potatoes, escargot, and french horns. I made the ultimate faux pas by drinking white wine with my steak, but i started off with white from the cocktail reception prior to dinner. *These are what we call "white collar problems."
What I had for dessert escapes me, but rest assured it was good.
The atmosphere is nice and quaint, and the location is nestled away on Main St in Evanston. If you're anywhere near the area, it's worth the trip.
Stay classy foody friends,
Ev -
Review from Max C.
Naperville, IL
9/6/2011
This was one of the most enjoyable dining experiences I have had in a very long time. The service is 2nd to none. The attention to detail and to the customers needs borders on overwhelming. The wine list is impressive to say the least and the food is superb. I enjoyed 2 bottles of chardonnay with my brother and order the John Dory as my entree. I would love to go back again.
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Review from rebecca g.
Chicago, IL
7/14/2010
Went with 2 friends and a Groupon...was not impressed. Service was great and I appreciated the chef's memorable little touches like several amuse bouche, but I was dissatisfied with my entree.
First of all, the portion sizes were just plain silly. When they said "Yellowfin Tuna with Bacon, Morel, & Asparagus", I should've taken that literally, as I got ONE mushroom & one asparagus spear. It's just hard to grasp the flavor of a dish when you only get one bite of it.
It's possible I just chose badly, but nevertheless I felt totally cheated on both size and flavor. To be fair, my friend adored her Bouillabaisse and it was quite good, of a normal size, and actually justified the $30 price-point. -
Review from Vincent C.
Evanston, IL
7/2/2011
My fiance and I had the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing and it was good, but the problem with Oceanique is that it's just good. Great would be better though. Of all the good things we ate that night, the one thing that stands out is the scallops with kimchi and lobster broth. Who would have thought that kimchi would pair so well with seafood? If only unexpected things like that had continued over the whole meal. Doh. The wine selection is quite excellent, but the pour is just enough to get a taste and that's it. I mean, if you're going to boast about how spectacular your wine list is, the least you could do is share, the bottle is already open for crying out loud. I had a good meal here, you probably will too, but don't expect great.
Listed in: My Neighborhood
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Review from Eric B.
3/20/2010
Oceanique is an overpriced restaurant that serves excellent food. Its a YesBut restaurant.
Yes, they make a great manhattan and dirty martini, but $16? In Evanston?
Yes, the lobster appetizer was perfectly executed, but where was the lobster? (OK, expecting a lot of lobster in an appetizer is probably a bit much, but still)
Yes, the whole roast quail with foie gras is scrumptious, but $38? In Evanston?
Yes, the modern dining room was crisp and minimalist with matching wall art, but the floor tiles were straight out of a 70s McDonalds.
Yes, the linen towels in the bathroom are a nice touch, but airplane sized bathrooms done French rustic does not a practical combination make.
And so on and so forth. Oceanique, in the end, is a schizophrenic experience. The food and drinks were excellent, as was the wine list, but everything was overpriced. As I alluded to above, the decor varies considerably - the bar had a lush, elegant carpeted feel to it, but then one dining room goes modern and minimalist, while the other dining room seemed to go family Italian (I only got a glancing look).
If you go, I recommend focusing on the food, and letting someone else foot the (considerable) bill. -
Review from Matt L.
10/6/2008
Eh... Sorry Oceanique, but you guys have some work to do. Nothing was bad, but when you're charging over $30 for almost every entree, things should be a lot better. Of course there were some high points and some low points. I found myself crying at some intervals and laughing at others. It was better than Cats.
We had a family gathering of 8 to suffer through, and my dad decided on Oceanique because it's quiet, serves seafood, and roughly halfway between us city slickers and our North Shore cousins. Now I've questioned my father's judgment on some matters before, but based on the yelp reviews this looked like a wise decision. Sometimes though, yelp is wrong, and sometimes, you see your father adhering to his carb-free diet so strictly that he literally uses his fork and knife to cut a piece of butter and bring it to his mouth, ignoring the bread basket altogether. Times like these are both hilarious and sad. Such a combination of emotions can only be brought forth by a Broadway musical or a place like Oceanique.
I guess I should actually give you some information relevant to our meal now, but I really just want to get back to the yelp talk. Peace bitches. -
Review from Dee W.
2/1/2008 4 photos
Despite the weather, the husband arrived home and treated me to a nice dinner there - they participated in the 2008 Restaurant week where a 3 course dinner there was only $20.08! What a steal! They also have a 3 course tasting menu and a 6 course tasting menu. This was a really fabulous French seafood place.
Our service was courteous and attentive. We were given a tasting sample courtesy of the chef - something with coulis and avocado and simply melted in our mouths. Their wine list is very extensive. I had their salad which included parmesean cheese sliced with thin slices of prosciutto whereas the husband tried their salad with cheese and pear slices. Both were divinely different than the usual. In between our salad and entree, we were given a pear sorbet to cleanse our palate. I was ready for more sorbet after that!
Our entrees were generously portioned and each bite was so flavorful! I had their whitefish which was perfectly steamed and each bite was a moutful! The husband had their shrimp linguini (which I'm sure was good but I don't like shrimp). And dessert was heavenly - we received a dessert platter! We each had a slice of their day/night cake and delicious fruit and a different dessert - I had this lemon raspberry custard concoction that was out of this world. Whereas the husband received an almond, nut tart that was incredibly sweet and sticky instead of the lemon raspberry.
I'd love to come back here again - service was wonderful and the food was fabulous. This would be a nice date dinner location, as well. -
Review from Erica E.
Chicago, IL
8/13/2010
This is a good place to go if you want to impress a date.
Service: Excellent service. You have many people bringing by silverware, filling up water, there's a wine sommelier, etc. I felt very taken care of.
Food: I had the grilled calamari appetizer, the skatefish entree, and a nut tart with basil (!) ice cream for dessert.
The calamari and the skatefish had the right flavors, the only problem was that they were far too oily. The chef needs to tone down the oil, my food shouldn't look shiny and feel slippery in my mouth. Especially when it's that expensive.
The dessert was fabulous! The nut tart tasted delicious and the basil ice cream was very unique.
Also, have to mention that the amuse bouche was fun and the between course sorbet was good as well.
Overall, an okay place, I wouldn't venture here again unless someone else was footing the bill. -
Review from Sandy N.
Updated - 1/19/2011 2 Check-ins Here
Went here last night to redeem a Travelzoo voucher (5-course dinner for 2 people, $79.50). Please bear in mind that this is based on my 6th visit to Oceanique (3 times on Wednesdays for the lobster special).
The dinner was good, although by this time I had noticed that their amuse bouche is always a ceviche with flavored oil, radishes, and a potato chip. So nothing new there. Sorbet was blood orange, which was good and which I've also had before. As our appetizer course, my friend and I ordered the day boat scallops with kimchi, which were perfectly done and very flavorful. I had the seared Hawaiian tuna and my friend had the Artic char. Both good, though I highly recommend the char. The tuna paled in comparison. The portions were tiny, which I will attribute to the fact that it was a multiple course dinner. For dessert, we had the chocolate cake (delicious) and chamomile-infused creme brulee (not bad, but not sure I like the chamomile addition).
My gripe is this: being a pretty regular customer, I'm familiar with their course setups. Their 3-course meal is amuse, appetizer, sorbet, main course, dessert. So.. basically my 5-course dinner was a 3-course dinner (I did not expect this). That's okay considering I still saved about $5 off the price of each 3-course dinner.. but wait, there's more. According to this voucher I was redeeming, the value of the voucher was $160 and a gratuity of 18% would be applied. First of all, the value of the voucher was probably more like $90, based on it being pretty much exactly like the weekday 3-course special. Fine, whatever. But then I was charged 20% gratuity, even though "18% gratuity added" was hand stamped on my receipt. So, I was charged $32 instead of $28.80 on a bill that was worth $90 (which would have made 18% gratuity $16.20). I hadn't noticed before I handed them my credit card, and it seemed like a huge hassle over $3. In the end, I paid a total of $127 which was more than the ~$115 or so I would have spent just getting two 3-course dinner specials straight up.
So, the lesson is this. Oceanique has great food, but for your money's worth, either get a http://Restaurant.com gift certificate or book with VillageVines. Then again, you probably wouldn't be able to order the prix fixe menus in combination with those offers. This "deal" and my server overcharging me on top of overcharged gratuity pretty much killed any future desire I have to return.
Don't get me wrong, it's great food. If you want to save money though, just go for the Wednesday lobster special. Everything else will probably end up costing you, a lot. At this point, I'm not sure if it's worth the price tag because of the tiny portions. Also, there's not much variety month to month. You'll probably want to end up coming back on a bi-annual basis.. maybe the creativity was there once, but I think it's petered off.Listed in: Prix Fixes & Specials
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/30/2010
I've been here three times now, and I would definitely be willing to come back.
Oceanique has a lot… Read more »
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Review from Meagan L.
Chicago, IL
1/29/2009
Came here on a Wednesday for their $19 lobster deal. $19 for lobster that was delicious is an amazing deal. Well made martinis and decadent deserts were also a plus. My only complaint is that its ridiculously pricey. $13 for a martini and $11 for dessert. I understand main menu items being around $30, but usually desserts run under $10 and a simple martini around $10 as well.
Great atmosphere, very small and cozy. It would be a great place for a special night out or a romantic date, but be prepared to spend at least $50/person. I'd probably only come back here if someone else was treating or I was trying to impress. I just really can't get over the cost. The food was really good, don't get me wrong, but I can get equally good food for less in the city. -
Review from Jean C.
4/17/2010 1 Check-in Here
I took my husband here for dinner this past Friday night for his birthday. I had purchased a Groupon and with the expiration date quickly approaching, I made a reservation with a few days to spare. I made a reservation for 5:30pm and since he was going to be at Northwestern for grad school, it would be convenient for us to be in Evanston. The reservation was almost unnecessary since the restaurant opens at 5:30.
We got seated immediately, and was greeted by our server who was phenomenal! After looking at the menu, I ordered the chicken liver pate and linguine with shrimp, eggplant and white asparagus and the hubs ordered the raw oysters and bouillabaisse.
While waiting for our appetizers, we were pleasantly surprised with an amuse bouche. It was just enough to whet the appetite. The chicken liver pate was delicious. And filling. I got toasted bread, pickled vegetables, mustard and toasted walnuts. After finishing that, we had a little pomegranate sorbet with mint to clean the palate. I was too full to enjoy my linguine. The pasta was good but lacked a little flavor. It was missing something and I don't know what. My husband likes to think of himself as a bouillabaisse expert and thought this was one of the best he has had. He loved the pesto aioli that came separately to mix in with the bouillabaisse.
Our dining experience was so lovely that I highly recommend Oceanique for a romantic meal for two or with a small intimate group of friends. They do have tasting menus available but with the Groupon, we were unable to partake. Overall, the price for the evening out was more than reasonable even with the Groupon.
