Grace, W Randolph Street, Chicago

Some restaurants look very unassuming from the outside, so it can happen that you walk right by Grace in Chicago. Luckily modern smartphones and two minutes of international roaming help you get back on track. Grace has two menus, one catering to vegetarians and a second one for people who tend not to be led down gastronomical ill-fated paths (aka meat eaters).

The formality of the dining room is spectacular. All these casual dining trends put aside, here there’s an air of sophistication and one feels that you’re in for an experience. The description of the menu items is rather frugal, three/four components are called out, with one emphasized in capital letters. Look at the pictures for the level of attention to details.

While every dish is open to discussion, the only truly negative thing to call out is that some of the ingredients are rather exotic. Do you really need Miyazaki beef to go with salsify ? Is Idiazabal an ingredient you’d expect in Chicago ? The style and technique of the dishes are good, but it would elevate the level of the restaurant even more if a stronger local focus would be incorporated in to the menu.

Nevertheless the experience at Grace is highly recommended, make sure you bring your large wallet and enjoy, the flimsical dishes, the perfect service and the beautiful setting.