Ever since I saw Ever, a two Michelin Star restaurant featured on the TV series, The Bear, I wanted to try their ten-course tasting menu. My fine dining experience was limited and I wanted to do something special. So for my birthday in July, while on a Chicago food tour based on The Bear, my husband made reservations for Ever for the end of August, which was the earliest we could get in. We went a couple of weeks ago, and it was a truly amazing experience.
We were seated at a tiny banquette, which made for an intimate experience, especially because the space didn’t have windows. The lighting was slightly dim and the atmosphere quiet. We were able to have a conversation without yelling. I liked that the tables weren’t close together like other fine dining restaurants I’d been to.
Though my husband opted for the wine pairings, I chose the non-alcoholic pairings because I’m not much of a wine drinker. Also, I figured I’d have the kinds of drinks I couldn’t have anywhere else. However, I appreciated that the sommelier addressed me and not just my husband when presenting the wine. My second drink (above) was a blue corn with sauvignon blanc jus and nasturtium served in a tall glass with a long ice cube that resembled a stack of old flash cubes. The drink after that was coconut water with verjus and tiny yuzu pearls that burst pleasantly when my tongue hit the roof of my mouth. It was a neat sensation.
Our first course was a caviar dish and my heart sank. I hate both caviar and roe because of the fishy taste. I’m kind of a picky eater, but I told myself I’d try every dish that night. It turned out to be the best caviar I’d ever had. Not at all fishy, just slightly salty. I even ate eel, which I found delicious, prepared in the way it was. The image above is of pea soup with puffed millet adhered to the sides of the bowl with a garlic purée (I think). It was the second course, and ours was actually a corn soup so imagine it as yellow instead of green.
The bread service included four different types, including a pretzel twist, which was my favorite. The butter and herb butter were shaped like a yellow ribbon and green florets. Fancy.
The seventh course was miyazaki with sunchoke, peanut, and basil, which the server said was wagyu. A bite of the beef and the accompanying grapefruit cube together was phenomenal.
Finally, there were three dessert courses (actually four because we celebrated my birthday). One of the desserts was a fun ice pop made of ice cream that was a piña colada flavor. It was like those frozen treats in a plastic tube. We shared a small, dome-shaped slice of chocolate cake topped with ube mousse and a gelée for the birthday dessert.
The presentations were fantastic. We had three servers and a sommelier, all dressed in black suits and ties, and white shirts. They were attentive and professional. I liked how instead of asking, “Are you still working on that” they asked, “Are you still enjoying that”. Just that word alone, to me, made the difference between a fine dining establishment and a restaurant that isn’t as elevated. I’d never experienced anything like it.
So lovely. I’m glad you and your husband were able to experience that treat.
Thank you for this report - it sounds wonderful!