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Sepia
Categories: Restaurants American (New) Nightlife Bars Lounges American (New), Lounges [Edit]
123 N Jefferson St(between Washington & Randolph)
Chicago, IL 60661
Neighborhood: Near West Side
(312) 441-1920
- Nearest Transit:
-
Clinton-Green (Green Line, Pink Line)
Washington/wells (Brown Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 11:30 am - 2 pm
Mon-Thu 5:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Fri-Sat 5:30 pm - 10:30 pm
Sun 5 pm - 9 pm
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Valet
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Music:
- Background
- Best Nights:
- Fri, Thu, Sat
- Happy Hour:
- No
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Smoking:
- No
- Coat Check:
- Yes
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Good For Dancing:
- No
- Ambience:
- Romantic, Classy, Trendy, Upscale
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
405 reviews for Sepia
Review Highlights
"My cousin got the duck fat fried potatoes."
(in 19 reviews)
"my bf had the Flat Iron Steak with roasted potatoes."
(in 36 reviews)
"The Pork Porterhouse was absolutely phenomenal."
(in 19 reviews)
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405 reviews in English
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Review from Joel M.
1/28/2012 1 Check-in Here
Sepia is probably one of the more affordable Michelin start restaurants in Chicago, but this does not compromise the quality of the food or services.
The restaurant has a "rustic but refined" chic feel, highlighted by a full wall of wines and light brick interior. The seating is interesting, they really try not to seat people too close together which provides a more private and intimate setting.
The drink menu is full of trendy classic cocktails, all of which are presented and prepared with a careful attention to detail.
The food is amazing - the pork shank literally fell off the bone as I picked it up in my fork and the flavor was perfect. The pork belly (our app) was equally delicious - served with a peanut sauce (which was unique).
You really can't go wrong with this place! -
Review from Anna V.
Chicago, IL
2/3/2012
I hate when I go to restaurants I think are going to blow my fragile little mind and I end up leaving thinking... that it was interesting. And that's it.
The interior here is cool. It's an old print shop. Repurposed old buildings are all the rage in these desolate little areas west of center, and this one is no exception. Cool atmosphere up front. Very old printing press by the door. It's not as dark or as intimate as people would have you think.
Drinks were really potent. The Sepia Mule was my pick and even though I love ginger, the ginger infused vodka + ginger beer was overkill. I swapped it with my friend for the South by Southwest, a reposado tequila drink with rosemary and st. germain - much better. Dinner was the short rib ravioli with smoked trout roe (great) and shared braised pork shank with cheddar grits (pretty tasty) and flatiron steak with confit potato and bernaise (pretty good). Peanut butter and chocolate tart for dessert was nice too.
I don't know. This place is Michelin rated and I think I had unfair expectations of it because it seemed like it would become a staple. The food is good, the atmosphere is good, but neither is spectacular, and I think it tends to attract an older crowd than some of the other places the food reminds me of. Because of that audience difference it's much quieter, more sedate, and I think that has something to do with why I think fondly of it but don't crave going back. -
Review from Suana W.
Colton, CA
1/17/2012 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
before i dined here, i first tried to contact Sepia to set up a large-party dinner on sunday night. not only did the reservationist kindly email me back to let me know they were closed on sunday, she also helped me choose an alternate place by suggesting a couple of her favorite restaurants in the area, even offering to make the reservations for me! now that's service.
a few highlights from my meal there:
- excellent charcuterie platter
- oily but delicious fish
- good service
sorry i can't remember too much more detail, as that was the beginning of my fatass weekend in Chicago and i'm still reeling from the combined caloric intake. BUT i know it was good! -
Review from Tim C.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
I'm seriously confused by the Michelin Rating system. At least for the city of Chicago.
This is the third 2012 Michelin starred restaurant in Chicago that I've left thinking ... meh.
It wasn't bad, in fact some of it was amazing. But it really fell over where it counted, in the entrees.
For appetizers we had:
foie gras and bone marrow dumpling
slow roasted pork belly
sea scallops
All three were amazing. The sea scallops were perfectly cooked and didn't have any odor or 'fishy' taste. The pork belly reminded me of an asian dish, simple and delicious. The foie gras and bone marrow was my favorite if I had to pick a favorite out of the three. I could have eaten that for an entree and went home happy. They really setup a lot of expectations for the night.
Unfortunately the entrees failed to meet the bar that appetizers had setup.
We ordered:
Cider braised pork shank.
Chicken, bread dumpling.
Striped bass.
Arctic char.
Duck breast.
The pork shank was terrible. For some reason it left a strange taste in my mouth. I thought the sauce of it was too salty and I didn't really understand what flavor the chef was going for. Gravy? No spice or anything to kick up the flavor it was just.. boring. The cheese grits were salty and, having lived in the south, I am offended that someone cooked grits that poorly.
The chicken was strange. The breast was cold and had a grey tint to it. It tasted boiled?
The striped bass and artic char both had a really strong fish flavor. Fresh fish doesn't have a fish flavor. Where did they get their fish from? Some discount fishery?
The duck breast were ok but I didn't really care for how it was cooked. The duck was thinly sliced but the skin was left soft and fatty. Maybe a crisp on the skin would have helped the duck.
Anyways, I'm pretty disappointed so far by whoever is doing the Michelin reviews. I feel like they are trying to meet a quota of how many restaurants get stars vs actually giving out stars for good flavors. Either that or the chefs are upping their games when a Michelin reviewer is dining. -
Review from Chitown D.
Chicago, IL
1/8/2012
The ambiance is good, the wait staff are friendly enough, the drinks were good and strong, but the problem was with the food. Here's the lowdown:
To start: house made charcuterire - pretty good
Entree: chicken, bread dumpling, kohlrabi, walnut, bacon - terrible!!! The portion was good and it included two small breast parts and one thigh part. The thigh was warm, but the breasts were ICE COLD. There was also a cream sauce that was colder than the room. The chicken also had a faint grey color and the breasts were shiny and tasteless. Total waste of $27.
Sides: duck fat fried potatoes - hot and good
Sweets: malted milk chocolate mousse on peanut butter crunch, pretzel bark - the best part of the experience
Lastly, what is up with the music on their website. Seriously, check it out. It sounds like a reel from a cheap haunted house. I'm sure it's "significant" in some way, but it seems really disjointed and weird.
Overall, we won't be going back, unless it's simply for a drink and charcuterie plate or dessert. -
Review from Katie H.
1/3/2012
After having appetizers, drinks and dessert at the bar a few times, we finally got into Sepia for a full dinner on NYE. Wish I had not waited so long to try everything Sepia has to offer!
First off, I'm pregnant so sometimes these days I don't get my full value from a fancy prix fixe meal (since I can't eat everything on the menu). But Sepia was amazing enough to modify a couple of the courses so that I was comfortable, my meal was still delicious, and I felt fully satisfied. We started with a white bean gazpacho (with seared tuna for my hubby) which was perfectly flavored - not too salty and with many flavor notes instead of one-dimensional like some gazpachos can be. Our second course was mushroom pithivier (I learned a vocab word!) for me and oxtail-bone marrow-foie gras dumpling for my husband (I could never eat that, but he said it was to die for).
Our main course was really where Sepia stood out - my cod filet and accompanying roasted potatos & veggies was at once so shockingly light yet flavorful, I couldn't believe it. Hubs had the venison medallions and was equally impressed.
Dessert was a little weaker - both the caramel cake and chocolate banana mousse cake had great flavor but were a little dry. I chalk this up to having to make mass portions for NYE dinner, and honestly they were both still good paired with coffee, so I really can't complain too much. I think I'm just tainted by my first dessert experience at Sepia (a chocolate and blood-orange concoction) which was so delicious that I still dream about it, so I was expecting perfection.
Also appreciated Sepia's "mock-tails" (again, great for us preggers) and my hubby really enjoyed the Death and Taxes drink as well.
We will certainly be back! -
Review from Jovim V.
Chicago, IL
1/3/2012
Well, my girlfriend hinted she wanted to try it about 1 year ago. Special boyfriends remember to take note about subtle hints - this scores us major brownie points.
Went here for New Years Eve 2011. Hey, I have to take the lady out to a nice place - and damn you Yelpers - yall took the last reservations for Girl & The Goat.
They had a set menu for New Years, with limited options. 4 course meal for $75 each. I had the Cod, she had the Venison (hey my gout doesn't work well with red meat). I also had the foie gras.
The place was cool. It used to be a printing company back in the day. I thought this was cool because I run a printing business. Sepia - us dorky printers know what this is. They had a cool old school camera photo booth up front. The place is swanky, feels a bit pretentious (maybe it was because it was New Years Eve).
Anyway, we had a decent meal. Extra points because our waiter was extremely nice (got a nice tip from us) and extra points because he looked like the main doctor from the show House. *Waiter, if you are reading this, I am sorry, but you did look like him.
Extra points too because we got to tell all our friends and family that we ate Venison, Cod and Foie Gras. Yes we sounded snooty but sure beats their fried chicken meal. -
Review from Tiff W.
12/15/2011
My experience at Sepia was mixed. On one hand, I thought that service was spotty. Once we were seated, it was a solid 10-15 minutes before anyone came by to introduce themselves as our server, and it took another 10-15 minutes to receive our bottle of wine. On the other, the food was solid. It was good, but I thought some of it could have been better.
We started off with the charcuterie plate, which was awesome. It was more than enough for two people, and it included some rabbit liver mousse, some pate, salamis, hams, mustard, pickled veggies, and bread.
I got the cider braised pork shank and my dear BF got the duck breast. His was awesome. The duck was a perfect medium rare...the quality of the meat was also top notch. My pork shank was good, but I've had better elsewhere. If you say it's braised, I want it falling apart braised. The meat was soft, but I wouldn't call it tender. I still had to cut through everything with my knife.
We ended our night with a selection of cheeses, which is pretty hard to mess up, and they didn't.
Sepia is a really cool restaurant, reminiscent of a lounge-y speakeasy with beautiful decor, dark corners, and exposed brick walls...it's great for just cocktails at the bar and it's a very romantic place to take a date. I was expecting a lot, and unfortunately, I just wasn't WOW'ed by anything. I'm hoping that it was just an off night, and I'm willing to give it a shot again. However, given the abundance of nice restaurants in Chicago, I think I may pass next time. -
Review from Tyler I.
New Haven, CT
1/22/2012
One of those experiences that is almost excellent but just feels a little off. Went with my parents on a Saturday night, late, 9pm. The atmosphere is just what you'd expect from a place called Sepia. Beautiful muted tones, soft light, trendy funky decor that approaches elegant.
Had the SxSW cocktail. Sounded spot on. Tequila, st. Germaine, rosemary, bitters, something else. Sounds great right? Something missing though, a little bland. Not enough alcohol I think. Tasted more like fruit juice.
App was really good. Chestnut soup w duck confit. They bring the duck and pour soup on the spot. That's exciting, but I was concerned at first when they brought out an almost empty bowl. Lol. Turned out delicious.
Dad's scollops were very nice and tender. High quality, but plain. That's kinda the theme of the evening. You read a menu description that sounds like it has a million ingredients then they bring the item out and its a big plate with a little bit of lightly flavored food.
I had the bass. Good but plain. Barely any sauce, barely spiced.
Dad tandoori some type of fish. Definite tandoori flavor. But just lightly briased, and most of the meat was bland.
Mom arctic char. Salmon esque filet but cooked medium rare like tuna. Interesting. Also pretty plain. Mom was disappointed by the "root vegetables" which meant carrots and onions. Not the most creative veggie side.
But I mean I am giving this four stars right? Even though entrees weren't spectacular, everything was solid, good. Maybe not worth the price though. But the whole feel of it is nice. It's just got the right mood, presentation. Isn't this exciting, you think to yourself in a sort of sedated way. Oh and desert was amazing, bitter chocolate mouse (a thin tube) on a flourless chocolate cake (think rich brownie) and stout ice cream (yes beer). -
Review from Amanda G.
Chicago, IL
12/8/2011
I went to Sepia for lunch a couple days ago. It was excellent. I loved everything about my meal. Starting off with the flatbread of the day then a duck consomme which was just divine, I wanted even more! Finished off with the trout entree which was light and perfectly cooked.
I will definitely be back to Sepia. The service, ambiance and whole dining experience was top notch! This is one of the best restaurants in Chicago in my opinion! -
Review from Peter C.
Chicago, IL
1/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Food was tasty but overpriced. Not particularly stood out to me but the atmosphere was nice.
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Review from Rina M.
Mountain View, CA
3.5 stars for service and delicious food, although it lacked the creativity and finesse I would expect from such a highly rated restaurant.
Service: The waitstaff was courteous and very knowledgeable about the menu, but I was initially peeved to not find our table ready with the champagne I had ordered in advance. After a reminder of this request, the sommelier promptly brought out the bubbly and doted on us 24/7 to make sure we enjoyed our meal. Some of my friends have quite a few dietary restrictions and they were more than accommodating for us.
Food: Seared scallops were perfectly crispy with a soft interior, I could have eaten 50 of these little monsters. The pot pie was also delicious, with a nice flaky crust and interesting blend of root vegetables. The rest of my group enjoyed their meals (pear salad, steak, artic char, brussel sprouts) but we were in agreement the next day that the food was not the least bit memorable.
Drinks: Wine selection was exceptional and also included a "libations" portion with speakeasy-type cocktails although we didn't try any of them. The Quattro Mani Franciacorta Brut and 08 Christophe Buisson Pinot Noir were great.
Overall: Nice place to go for a "fancy" meal but don't expect any over-the-top frills or highbrow/avant garde cuisine. I almost never wish a restaurant to be nicer than it really is, but my friends and I were being boughie and expected a little something more. -
Review from Jeff H.
Vernon Hills, IL
12/13/2011
I was here with visiting family in September and I love Sepia! Service, outstanding. Food, outstanding. Creative cocktails, outstanding. Dessert was a chocolatey, peanut buttery sinful thing that we seriously thought hard about ordering again, as it blew away their "death by chocolate" type of dessert, and that was good, too!
The tables were a bit crowded, for which I'd ding a 1/2 star, but that dessert earned 5.5-6 stars, so we're even. Looking forward to returning sometime. -
Review from jesy b.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2011
Not exactly disappointed, mostly just underwhelmed. I have been to Sepia twice, once for a cocktail and once for dinner. Both times were fine, but not quite what I would expect from the recently confirmed Michelin Star.
The cocktail list is good, pretty much standard with what you would expect in a fine-er dining establishment. No where near the selection of a proper cocktail bar, but I enjoyed my drink.
The food was fine. My pesky vegetarianism kept me from pretty much everything on the menu. The veggie option was satisfactory, but firmly on 3-star territory. Dessert, however, was really spectacular. Whatever malted chocolate pretzel thing we got was easily the highlight of the meal.
The restaurant itself is lovely - comfortable but stylish. The service was great, and being able to walk right in on a weeknight without reservations was a plus.
Maybe it's a better spot for meat eaters, but I'm certainly not in a rush to go back. -
Review from Cort J.
Deerfield, IL
1/15/2012
Been looking forward to eating at Sepia for a while. Meal tonight was disappointing. The appetizer - meat and cheese tray was very good, but the entrees were disappointing. The took a long time to make it up the table on a slow night, were luke warm at best and there was really no action when brought to attention of waiter. Felt like a restaurant resting on its recent laurels. My last visit to Sepia.
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Review from Rich W.
11/17/2011
Sepia is hectic at night. But when I visited for lunch recently, it was a relaxing respite from a hectic day of work.
The bread service was superb - a nicely crusted baguette and creamy whipped butter made by the restaurant. The squash and mushroom flatbread was very good - the sweetness and the umami paired to create quite an impact on the palate. The scallops in the entree was executed nicely - medium-well to a tee (a little crust would have made it perfect). The vinaigrette was punchy yet complimentary. A very simple yet accomplished dish. I had the coconut tapioca pirouette for dessert. The pirouette itself was an gourmet and exaggerated version of the ones you'd find in French or Asian pastry shops. It was delicious. The spicy cashew nuts and the rum-soaked pineapple were both interesting additions to the dish. Though I didn't think the three components worked well together.
Decor was sexy and contemporary. The vibe was casual chic and the crowd was younger and hipper than your regular Michelin-level restaurants. Service was casual and friendly, though not exactly refined.
Sepia is a bit of a hit-or-miss for me. I've had horribly executed fish-and-chip at lunch; but I've also had perfectly sous-vide chicken for dinner. I believe that on a good day like today, Sepia is a proper Michelin 1-star restaurant - great product, great execution. However, to get to the next level, it would need to up its game in harmonizing ingredients and forming a more compelling culinary point-of-view. -
Review from Stephanie S.
Des Plaines, IL
11/16/2011 1 Check-in Here
My three star rating must be explained because while I thoroughly enjoyed myself the service was beyond slow- slow like molasses. My Dad and I met for lunch. Our lunch lasted nearly more than an hour and a half. Who has that kind of time?
Upon seeing my Dad, the first thing he griped about was the parking. I told him there was a valet right out front, but to his point it was clearly unmarked. I could see why he overlooked it.
The hostess was very cordial, but while I was told my coat would be hung up it sat in a windowsill next to the front hostess stand. Um, thanks that was an expensive coat, and I'd much rather it sat on the back of my chair.
Now, the food. Dad and I shared the rabbit, chive and apricot chutney flatbread. It was ahhhmazing. My root vegetable pot pie was...interesting. while it included some of my faves of potato, celery, carrots, turnip, etc. the flakey crust sitting ON TOP of the "stew" was a bit odd. We wanted dessert, but we were too full.
I absolutely love the decor! The chandeliers were beautiful, the old camera at the front was pretty neat, and the back "room" / large table's space was intimate, chic, and beautifully decorated.
I hope to check it out again, and maybe sit at that marvelous table in back. Perhaps, they will get a few more stars out of me too. -
Review from Callie J.
Chicago, IL
11/22/2011
I went here on a Thursday afternoon with my boss for lunch. He was worried we might have trouble getting in without a reservation, and he was right. Luckily, there is a seating area at the front of the restaurant (I imagine this is the bar area at night) that we were able to sit at without a reso. Plus, it was right by the window, which I prefer.
I loved the atmosphere and details within the space. The building used to be a print shop and with Chicago antiques sprinkled throughout the restaurant, you can really feel the history.
The food was excellent. I opted for the slow roasted chicken with pepperonata, fennel and white beans. I literally cleaned my plate spotless because it was so delicious. My manager went for the pulled pork sandwich, which I can say looked delicious, although, a little on the small size.
The one draw back to this place is that our wait service was less than stellar.
I'd definitely recommend this place for lunch, just make sure to make a reservation. If I found myself in the West Loop at night, this would be a top pick to try in the evening. -
Review from Ari R.
Chicago, IL
11/18/2011
Went on a Sunday night for dinner. Quiet murmur, twinkling lights, relaxed atmosphere. The bread is made in house and is delicious. Started with the diver scallop, garnished with pig ear. I was relieved when the pig ear came out in a squiggle, rather than in anatomical ear form. Scallops were cooked perfectly, but the dish was saltier than expected. Get the chicken. The preparation-- poached and fried-- results in a tender, juicy, crispy chicken served with brussel sprouts and bacon. Yum!
Word to the wise, maybe avoid the "new, innovative" vintner. His eccentricities made one person at our table shudder and inspired two other grown adults with curious palates to make faces. -
Review from Joanne C.
Chicago, IL
11/7/2011
My bf and I came here for my birthday last Saturday. It was a very lovely evening.
For a drink I had an absinthe sour. Our server asked if I've ever had absinthe before as it has a very strong taste, anise/licorice-ishy. It was strong but I liked it.
For appetizers, we ordered the scallops and the charcuterie plate. The scallops were pretty tasty but I wished we had 3 pieces instead of 2. The charcuterie plate consisted of rabbit pate, country-style pate, a cured ham (forgot what it was called) and plenty of toasted bread. We both liked the country-style pate better than the rabbit pate.
For mains, I had the pork shank and bf had the flat iron steak. The pork shank was GIGANTIC. I mean, it was the size of my head. Ok not that big but pretty sizable. It was tender and juicy, although a little sweet for my taste. The cheddar grits were tasty, and I don't like grits. The steak was yummy but we weren't a fan of the bearnaise sauce. The confit potatoes that came with were very good. You could taste the duck fat it was cooked in.
For dessert I ordered the malted milk chocolate mousse.(They decorated the plate with Happy Birthday and a candle. That was a nice little surprise. ^_^) It was so good. Bf doesn't usually like sweets but even he liked the mousse. It was super smooth and silky.
It was a very nice meal and evening. -
Review from Scott L.
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
Dreamy bartender that had a handsome look translatable to any early 20th century decade who doled out well prepared cocktails fleshed out the upscale but maybe stuffy digs here.
I had a 14$ glass of wine which seemed overpriced, but my pals were in love with their speakeasy cocktails. We just had drinks before dinner at Avec, which I strongly recommend. -
Review from Dave L.
Chicago, IL
12/23/2011
My parents took me here for my bday awhile back. Everything was delicious except the wine that was pushed by the waitress. Some new fancy wine made by a chemist or something and it was gross. But the food was fantastic! I loved the way the restaurant was laid out as well as the decorations. The chicken was amazing and I will get that again next time I go back. Not 5 stars only because I felt the service was a little slow and again the wine was disappointing. Everything else was great and I'm excited to go back.
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Review from Jules S.
Considering we had to wait about 15 minutes for our table I thought the restaurant was packed for our lunch reservation in August. To my surprise, the place was half empty with 3 servers around. The one thing I despise about stuffy restaurants is appearances. Yes, your a 1-Michelin star restaurant, and, yes, we were early for our reservation, but c'mon...there is no reason to keep a customer waiting when availability is around every corner of the restaurant. I dropped a star for the bad hostess that made us wait in the unbearably hot lounge. It was a hot August day!!!
We decided on lunch at Sepia because it's a good way to try a Michelin star restaurant for less. Sepia is a great deal for lunch. I had their FRISEE SALAD W/ CRISPY DUCK CONFIT, POTATOES, & POACHED EGG for only $12. Twelve buckaroos for Michelin quality food...hellz yeah. I did like my order a lot. It was good. I dropped another star for my cocktail though. I had a SEPIA MULE (ginger infused moon mountain organic vodka, lime, & ginger beer) for a little afternoon wake-me-up. I liked the drink a lot...don't get me wrong. I guess, I didn't like the fact I was a guinea pig. I was told afterward by our waiter that the bartender just invented the concoction. I guess they were revamping their cocktails menu and wanted live feedback. I feel used!!! Aside from being a guinea pig and all, I was very thrown off by their glassware. As a former bartender, I would never have used such unappealing glassware for a cocktail in the recommendations list. However, I was very impressed with the skills their mixologist showed for inventing drinks. Damn good drink! Being a paying guinea pig however...that's a NO-NO.
At least our waiter displayed Michelin star restaurant qualities. Sepia could do without the stuffy attitudes in the front though. I don't think I'd want to return to Sepia in my next trip to Chicago. There are other good restaurants in Chicago, but I was hoping this would be one I'd keep coming back to again-and-again. -
Review from Chrystell S.
San Francisco, CA
This one is a falling star for me... Sepia is a one-Michelin star restaurant that delivered value and good food but fell below par when it came to service.
We booked a reservation for lunch at 12:30pm and arrived about 20 minutes early. The hostess said no problem and asked if we could wait about 5 minutes for our table. We were happy to oblige. Strangely enough, she began seating lots of other parties that came in after us. I was getting antsy and thought the dining room was full. When we were finally seated, I was shocked to see a relatively small dining room that was only a third full. There were plenty of open tables yet we waited more than 5 minutes in the lounge. Not a good start so far...
Our waiter was very considerate and nice but throughout the meal, service was lacking. The bussers were incredible though and made up for the lack of attention from the wait staff.
Enough about the service and onward to the food. We started by sharing the house pate ($7) with pickles and toast. It was tasty but the plating was a bit odd. Instead of the pate being in the middle and the center of attraction, it was off to the side.
For entrees, we had:
- A duck confit salad with poached egg ($12) - this was a delightful dish that was full of flavor. It had symmetry and the components just blended well together.
- A flat-iron steak with fries ($18) - it was perfectly cooked to medium rare and was well seasoned.
- A blue cheese burger with duck fat fries ($14) - I personally didn't like the burger too much and I hated the bun. The duck fat fries were underwhelming. I expected so much more flavor from them. They tasted well but didn't quite live up to the hype.
We passed on dessert as our lunch had now taken much longer than we anticipated. Despite the fact that half of the restaurant was empty, the service was slow albeit gracious. Sepia is a good value as far as restaurants in its category goes but it wouldn't be worth a return visit for me.Listed in: Dining Under the Stars of…
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Review from Bobby S.
Chicago, IL
11/6/2011
Went for anniversary and had a great time. Good food and good service. Atmosphere was a bit pretentious, but that may have been bec of the people near us.
Good drinks at the bar (cocktails) but wine seemed a bit pricey. I asked the hostess for a table that was not in front of the bar because we were there for a special occasion. She had already planned on putting us in the main dining room. Waiter was prompt, good attention, and great recommendations! His wine suggestion was good and the vegetable pot pie was a good suggestion. They also didn't charge us for one of our appetizers bec they brought the wrong thing out at first. Nice gesture, but not necessary.
For food we had:
1. scallops appetizer: a little salty but very good
2. gnocchi: amazing!
3. vegetable pot pit: holy crap this was good
4. braised pork shank: never had a shank so big. wasn't greasy. just needed more grits. i couldn't finish it.
5. chocolate peanut butter mouse: tasted like the best peanut butter cup ever
Overall loved it and would definitely go back. We live on the far north side where places are more family oriented and not as "trendy" so some of the people at the bar seemed a bit pretentious. I can get over that when the food and service are as good. -
Review from Anthony N.
Playa del Rey, CA
***Sepia reminds of Palate in Glendale--a nice and approachable restaurant that serves up good, fresh and even upscale food that is noticeably less expensive than other restaurants in its class***
Sepia is located in one of the quieter parts of Chicago in the West Loop. It is in an old building (antique print shop) and has a great exterior as well as a thoughtful interior. While I was not a big fan of the decors at most of the Chicago restaurants I tried, I liked Sepia's design choices (particularly in the bar area). Sepia has a mix of industrial, old-fashioned and contemporary design. There are gray brick walls as well as large steel doors that you might expect to see in a factory or warehouse. The tables/seating are casual and straightforward. There are some older design elements in the room (like antiques, photos) and they come over as nicely placed (and not showy or over the top).
Sepia features an upscale lunch with some nice ingredients like scallops and mussels, but their prices are still reasonable. Most of the starters run below $10 while entrees top out at around $19 (with several options in the $15 range). Desserts are priced nicely at $6. The quality of the food, the prices and the way they have taken over an old building and transformed it reminds me of Palate in Glendale (though the team at Sepia has done a much better job with the decor).
My starter was the ricotta cavatelli, which came with peas, pancetta, pearl onions, and parmesan (they offer both a starter and an entree size). Even though most of the individual elements were not superb, it was still a very good dish. The cavatelli had a good flavor and was quite addictive. It was a little more doughy than I would have liked, but it was still good. The pancetta was also good. It could have been a little crispier, but it had a good meaty and savory taste.
I liked the moist pearl onions. The peas were fresh and good as well while the parmesan was excellent. It was softer and creamier than most parmesan I've had and it had a great sharp flavor that really completed the dish. The sauce for the pasta was a light lemon dressing, which gave the dish moisture without being overpowering or heavy.
My entree was the scallops with mustard greens, golden beets and a rhubarb and currant puree. The scallops were really good. They had a nice outside sear with good caramelization. They also had tender and moist centers (the scallops were better and cooked much more appropriately than the ones I had at Naha).
The sides were good too. There was some fresh golden beets as well as mustard greens, which did have a distinguishable mustard flavor. The rhubarb and currant puree was a lightly sweet accent. I liked everything about the dish though I have had more satisfying scallop flavor combinations at other restaurants. Still, this was a very good and enjoyable entree.
Dessert was good too. It was kind of a German chocolate cake. The cake consisted of somewhat moist chocolate cake layered with pecan cream. It was tasty and the garnishes were great. There was some chocolate sauce and butterscotch as well as crispy (almond tuille-like) pieces on the plate. There was also a good ice cream. The ice cream was creamy but also thick and firm. It was a coconut ice cream and the coconut flavor was not as pronounced as what I have had at other places.
I sat at the bar and this may have impacted the service experience. Service was personable and polite (nice and welcoming staff). Food also came out at a good pace. However, attentiveness was a challenge; in the end, it was not that bothersome though it was noticeable. The main dining room was busy and I think when you have a bartender trying to serve bar guests as well as make drinks for the main dining room, it can be difficult. I have seen other places manage this more effectively.
Sepia is a good spot because the food is upscale but not overly formal or outrageously pricey. (As I mentioned) in many ways, Sepia reminds me of Palate in Glendale--good, fresh and somewhat surprising food that is significantly cheaper than its competition. Sepia gets busy for lunch and it is a good spot for a more upscale lunch. It also seems like it might be worth trying for dinner.
I am not sure what the parking situation is, but like nearby Blackbird, Sepia is not in an area with a lot of congestion. Therefore, you might be able to find street parking easily.Listed in: Ranking Michelin Starred…
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Review from Yvonne O.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 10/13/2011 2 photos
Still a huge fan of this place - from food to service to atmosphere. The fall menu is out and we came back to sample on a Tuesday for lunch. We had the flatbread of the day that had squash, cinnamon, capers and mushrooms (YUM!). My friend had the potato and leek soup that he said was great. We then had seafood entrees - me the scallops with grits and jicama and radish (and tiny cantrelope balls that I ate before remmebering the panic about listeria - hopefully that won't affect me!) and he the trout nicoise. All was perfectly cooked and expertly presented.
My only complaint is the pacing of the meal. I don't expect it to be 45-60 minutes, but at the 90 minute mark, I didn't have time for dessert and I really wanted to try the grilled pineapple with pineapple rum offering!!
I've got to remember to come here at some point for dinner when I have more time and see if the experience is equally amazing!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/6/2010
Went here for lunch and did not want to leave! Flatbread with duck and fig preserves, scallops with… Read more »
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Review from aldrich b.
Chicago, IL
12/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
The wifey took me here for my birthday dinner and we had a great dining experience. Plus it's only a couple blocks from our place, so super convenient.
The decor is a combination of old world gets a contemporary twist. Old fashioned crystal chandaliers enveloped in a sheer shade, old shcool cameras, and a funky wicker light piece give it a nice luxurious feel. The crowd is a bit older, but still has an upbeat energy...not pretentious or snooty at all. Unfortunately, we were seated at a table in an area that was a bit cramped, but at least our neighbors weren't obnoxious or loud.
Started off with a couple drinks, I had the Sepia Mule and the wife had a French 75, both were perfect to start off the meal. For starters we had the soup(butternut squash with duck confit...I think) and the short rib raviolis.....yummo. Both were great, but I could have had the short rib raviolis as an entree, and I would have been happy. Mair course we had the pork shank and the flat iron steak. The wife usually gets a fish or seafood item, so she threw a curve ball on me....and sure enough, she barely put a dent in the pork shank. The portion was pretty big, and the seasoning was amazing. You can definitely taste the savory pork flavor but with a hint of sweetness coming from the cider braising. The steak was good, not great, but good. In hindsight, I should have ordered either the pork shank or the walleye. We also had a side of brussels sprouts which were awesome!!! I think they baked it with honey vinegar. I didn't even care about my steak, I just wanted more of the brussels sprouts. finished the meal off with an applce spice cake with sage maple ice cream and caramelized apples, which was amazing....not too sweet, but just the right amount of apple spice to sweetness ratio.
The service was great, our waiter was very attentive and nice. He answered all our questions and gave good recommendations on drinks and dessert. The only thing i can point out about the service is that they didn't fill our water glasses timely. We had to ask the waiter for more water towards the end of the meal. Other than that, the service was fine.
In summary, I would definitely recommend and will come back again. Worthy of a Michelin star fo sho! -
Review from Ben K.
11/30/2011
It's not that there weren't some great highlights to this meal, but I walked out feeling like I hadn't been all that impressed with the overall experience, and I am certain that I ended up paying more than I should have for what we received.
What was great:
-The duck breast entree, perfectly cooked (all our entrees were perfectly cooked), served with delectable duck jus and a bit of some kind of cherry reduction, and accompanied by some slightly sour cabbage and delightfully salty spaetzle. A big winner here
-Sea scallops, always fantastic when done right, and served here with a nice parsley root puree and a thin slice of pig ear that we had forgotten was on there and fooled our table into thinking it was just a delicious thin cut prosciutto
What wasn't great:
-Duck fat fried potatoes - I had heard all about these and was quite excited. Was I missing something? They cut fingerling potatoes in half and seared them crispy, presumably with duck fat, but there was nothing special about these. Don't get me wrong, we ate them all, but they were extremely underwhelming.
-Charcuterie plate was pretty disappointing, with a liver mousse that really hit all of us poorly.
-Cocktails - I had heard a lot about these, and certainly the presentation and general bar setup are impressive. Unfortunately the two bourbon drinks on the menu unexpectedly turned out pretty sour. I was disappointed and regretted spending $12 per drink
-Walleye - again, well cooked, but underseasoned and a little bland
-Wine list - pricy. almost nothing in the under $50 range, and the $50-$70 range didn't seem particularly compelling to me. We spent $60 on a bottle of burgundy and were disappointed with what came out.
So yeah, four people, four cocktails, four appetizers, four entrees, a bottle of wine, and $375 later, and we left slightly disappointed. -
Review from Steve H.
Oklahoma City, OK
12/18/2011
Spent a few days in Chicago and ate a Sepia Friday with friends. Nice place, about what I expected. Food was great, typical "foody" fare. Waited at the bar, which was great. Always love interacting with the bartenders.
But after we were seated, and during the appetizers, the waiter stopped by to top off the wine. When he set the bottle back down he bumped my wine glass. It fell on my food, the glass shattered, and I was drenched. White shirt took most of it. The staff jumped to action, cleaned the mess, replaced the food, assured me they would pay for cleaning, and gave me instructions of who and where to send charges. So far, right what I expected from a good restaurant.
When they brought the bill at the end of the meal they had discounted half the bottle of wine. Not really sure what I expected, but thought they could have done a bit more to make up for the problems suffered. Certainly didn't expect a comp of the entire meal, but maybe a bit more concern. Things happen and I understand, but sure seems they weren't really concerned about making up for a problem I didn't cause.
That all being said. For the price point and the current food trends, I think there are better places to spend your entertainment money. It was OK, but not really special. Nothing I looked up from and said "WOW" -
Review from Kyle H.
Chicago, IL
6/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yes, I am biased because my boyfriend works here. But I have only ever been there WITH him, never waited on BY him, so I don't think there is a conflict of interest. :)
I have been here a few times, both for drinks and for dinner. Before my boyfriend even worked here, we came for our second anniversary, and everything was phenomenal. Most recently, he and I went with my mother, and it was even better. The drinks are delicious, but I can get a bit impatient with such a fancy list, and will usually have one original creation and then switch to a martini or to wine.
The menu is outstanding. They use quality ingredients in a really creative way, so you are getting what you're paying for. I really loved the steak with bernaise that I got, it was a perfect medium rare and if you can go wrong with a sauce made primarily of butter, I was unaware. Yes, it is a little pricey to be a regular dinner joint, but it is perfect for special occasions.
Plus, everyone who works there (not just my boyfriend!) is good looking, which is always a plus when you're people watching! ;) -
Review from Jimmy G.
6/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
Mrs. and I celebrated our 7th anniversary here, and Sepia shined for the occasion.
As it turns out, a guy we knew back in college works here, recognized our names on the reservation list, and arranged to be our waiter. This was an excellent bit of good fortune and it was great to catch up.
We started with a couple drinks at the bar: I had a glass of Two Brother's Red Rye, and she gave the bartender a little direction and he put together the sort of cocktail she was looking for. Good start.
For wine, Sepia has a fantastic special on Sundays where anything under 90 is half-price. Jared recommended a very nice 09 Oregon Pinot that qualified.
We started with some perfect scallops and the burrata with beets. And for mains, I had some gently fried rabbit and she had the halibut. These were complimented by some sides of asparagus and potatoes fried in duck fat. Each dish was rounded out with english peas, fava beans, shallots, or whatever other fresh ingredients would deliver the high impact, yet balanced flavors that new American dishes are striving for.
Finally, our dessert came with a happy anniversary message printed in chocolate on the plate and our waiter generously served us a glass of fine champagne, gratis.
The room is trendy but subdued, with some modern takes on chandeliers emitting low light. It's classy here, and the crowd is dressed up nicely, but it's still far from stuffy.
An elegant anniversary. -
Review from Tessa G.
I am only giving this four stars because I only consumed beverages from here. I met up with my counterpart and his pal here on Halloween. Right away I liked the setting and felt comfortable, dim and dazzling. I sat down at the bar and within seconds of looking at the drink menu, I was sold on the Sepia Mule, which was delicious and rather dangerous. I have been dying to try a Moscow Mule for quite some time and I knew this was my chance. You could gulf them down without knowing there was any alcohol when there in fact was plenty to get you going. There were other drinks that I was dying to try, but being strapped for cash, two "old tyme-y" cocktails had to cut it. The Boston Martha sounded divine and the French 75 looked rather enticing, but they will be on my tab next time. I love the idea of using the egg white within the drink to create the froth. Things like that send me over the moon.
The bartender was great and talked a lot to my counterparts pal about mixology and various drinks. He made some stellar cocktails...
Unfortunately, that was the only thing I came here for, but the menu looked delicious. I really wish I could have consumed something more than alcohol and bread. I would definitely head back here for more drinks and some tastes off the menu. -
Review from Lisa H.
San Francisco, CA
11/12/2011
love the ambiance! feels like stepping back in time to an old saloon.
I thoroughly enjoyed the scallops and walleye. truffled potatoes were just okay...couldn't really taste the truffles.
waitress also recommended a spanish bottle of wine that complimented the meal.
brownie points for being close to the metra so uber convenient. -
Review from Leslie G.
5/20/2011
I recently went here with my boyfriend for our anniversary and loved it. The ambiance is classy without being stuffy. They had noted it was our anniversary when my boyfriend made the reservation and made a point of congratulating us when we came in.
The service was great as was the food. I started with the sea scallop appetizer, which was superb and not overly filling. I had the halibut for my entree, which was also excellent and was a normal sized portion. I often find that the sauce on fish dishes obscures the flavor of more delicate fish, but this was a perfect balance. I could taste the sauce, but I could also taste the actual fish. For dessert I had the napoleon, which was also very tasty. In addition, they brought us a sorbet sampler on the house for our anniversary.
All in all, this was a lovely experience and I would definitely return. The only reason I'm not giving it 5 stars is because I generally have to go somewhere more than once to give it that high of a rating.Listed in: Restaurants
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Review from Hannah B.
Chicago, IL
6/11/2011
The atmosphere and service is great. I just wasn't that blown away by the food. I'm not a big meat eater so maybe that's the problem? Like if I had ordered the rabbit prepared three ways (crazy, right!?), maybe I would have been like "this is the best place! My new favorite food is the RABBIT!". Also, the wine list is too high maintenance for me--there is like a short story about each wine...not really my style. They have a good selection of mixed drinks but it was weird ordering them from your table, I would have liked to talk with the bartender about what I wanted to order. Next time I'll ask the server more about what I should order because what I ordered was way sweeter than I thought it would be/than I wanted.
Basically, the food was good but I guess I'm just not really sure if it's worth the price and the hype? I'm glad I checked it out, but I'm not going to go out of my way to go back. -
Review from Shirley L.
San Francisco, CA
I had the pork shank with cheddar grits entree, and it was amazing. Portions were huge enough to share. For appetizers we had the duck fat fries and scallops, which were both impressive. Great service recommended a medium, fruity red wine to pair. Overall, great ambience (dark and trendy, crowded but not too noisy), great service, and good food. Would definitely come back.
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Review from Katie Q.
Chicago, IL
6/29/2011
The rating is actually 3.5 stars, but since I'm an optimist I always give the benefit of the doubt.
Arriving at Sepia isn't the problem: It's cozy and quaint while still inspiring the mind with phenomenal interior design executions. The look of it alone assures a pleasant dining experience, and the host was incredibly friendly and lovely.
I was with a group of 5, a co-worker and her cousins. We were seated at a table in the back, sort of hidden away from the rest of the crowd. This is because we were all either A. Questionable and not swanky enough ( I suppose I was sporting an obvious 12.99 forever 21 bag) or B. Uber chic and so good looking that we had to be extolled from the rest of the peons. I will go with option A.
Anyway - the food was 'ok' - for the rave reviews I was reading, I would say that these small plates were sub par. My taste buds were not particularly impressed. In fact they were yawning and twiddling their thumbs, yearning for more.
Our waiter was also quite the treat. Because we only ordered a ton of small plates and a plethora of libations (accompanied by 2 entrees ...not 5, 2.) he was not exactly 'pumped'. I suppose our already 600.00 bill wasn't enough to suffice this man, since no one took interest in the right side of the menu. But I digress.
I was offered a free cup of tea at the end of dinner...but too late Sepia, you aren't mine.
Sepia is a-ok...probably better for a date atmosphere up front by the bar or in the common area...but I wouldn't know what that's like. -
Review from Patrick W.
Chicago, IL
10/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I really, really, REALLY like Sepia. I was in for my fiance's birthday dinner and we enjoyed it from beginning to end. She had dined there before but I had yet to. I will say that the fall menu is wonderful and I pretty much everything called to me.
We had a reservation and were seated immediately upon arrival. The decor in dining room is fantastic. I really loved the feel of the space. We ordered cocktails & opened a bottle of wine to have with dinner. The absinthe sour was amazing. I'm a fan of pretty much any cocktail with an egg white in it but this was beyond my expectations. Way beyond them.
We split the butternut squash & coconut soup with seafood sausage. Very, very good. One of the better soups I have eaten. We also got the scallops, which I enjoyed very much. The sear could've been a little harder but that was my only nit pick on an otherwise, great dish. My fiance had the arctic char with rye gnocchi and I had the duck breast and chicory cake. Both were very excellent. The duck was perfectly cooked & the flavor combinations were, obviously, well thought out & everything played off of each other quite well.
I very much enjoyed the evening as did the birthday girl. We will surely be back for more. -
Review from Jennifer N.
Chicago, IL
5/23/2011
What a fantastic meal! There were six of us seated in the lounge. This was a business dinner, but some of us are very good friends (even family!). The atmosphere was comfortable and relaxed - though be aware that, even with the shades down, it's rather hot sitting with your back to the window when the setting sun hits you.
I did have a lovely glass of white wine to keep me cool. And the warm bread! I could have eaten many, many pieces, but restrained myself after one. We then shared the agnolotti and sweetbreads to start. Divine! For entrees, three of us had the fish, halibut with pea shoots, light and yummy. Two others got the chicken and I wish I had asked for a taste based on their enjoyment and clean plates! And our sixth man ordered the flat iron steak, also ending in a clean plate.
We were much too full for dessert. But with the excellent food, attentive staff and lovely atmosphere, we will be back!
