If you name a place after an adjective such as EPIC, then your goal is to exceed any preconceived expectations that you probably have given a customer from the name EPIC. Â To quote another reviewer, this place is far "less than epic."
I ate here once when it opened years back. Â Like any River North Restaurant/Club/Lounge (this seems to be the mold) it's opening months were it's prime. Â In a way, this business model reminds me very much of NYC -- why not just open a place with a goal of longevity, instead of a 5 year lifespan. Â I guess this is part of the service industry that I will never understand.
The food was mediocre, but being a veg, I really do not like to dish out bad food reviews since I am so bias. Â The portions were small (or shall we call it "tapas") and the service was just as sceney as the cliental they hope to attrack. Â
I came here once more and the place was completely desolete. Â A group of people actually warned us how terrible their experience was as they were exiting and advised us not to go. We ignored their warning just to check out this rooftop bar that we've heard about. Â
We get to the rooftop bar, AND.... crickets...
... we were the only people on the rooftop bar.
So, you'd expect excellent customer service - right? Â Hah. Â I asked the server if they served fresh grapefruit juice (if I'm paying over $10 a drink I want my fruitjuice to be natural, not ocean spray --highly processed and dyed with cochineal). Â She then radioed the manager and he came us to see if we were overly intoxicated. Â I suppose they are not accustom to someone caring about processed grapefruit juice (whatever). Â Every interaction here was just strange. Â This place did an awful job at welcoming us and making us feel at home. Â We left and shared the warning we had ignored to the next group of patrons. Â
Hey, River North, you're not better than the rest of the city. Â You are a strange combo of Wrigleyville bros, club hoes, and young professionals wanting some r&r via happy hour and conversation. Â Be kind to your customers -- maybe this is the way to create a better model for longevity in your business.
Epic? Â Not exactly, but a solid meal. Â Definitely a Patrick Bateman-esque establishment in the heart of River North. Â Go for the lamb carpaccio, and the short ribs, but pass on the risotto cake and the crab louis. Â Service is friendly, but very heavy on the upsell. Â The outdoor roof deck seems promising when the snow is cleared.
Review Source:"You want it all, but you can't have it. It's in your face, but you can't grab it." The song "Epic" by Faith No More is a perfect example of my dining experience at Epic. This chic restaurant has so much potential, but their just "ok" cuisine left me wanting more.
I went to Epic during Chicago's Restaurant Week. They provided a prix fixe menu for those who wanted to try a taste of what they have to offer. I concurred with one of the prix fixe offerings and shared a bottle of Tempranillo with a fellow tablemate. The servers we attentive and kept my glass filled and answered all my questions about the wine and the prix fixe menu.
I ordered the four course option on the prix fixe menu. This included the Lamb Carpaccio with Pickled Huckleberries, Manchego Cheese and Pecans, the Lobster Bisque with Calvados Cream and Chervil, the Braised Short Ribs with Scallion-Potato Puree and Baby Carrots. And the dessert offered was a Milk Chocolate-Banana Cake with Rum Anglaise and a quenelle of Mango Sorbet. All four courses for $44, not including drinks/wine.
Now the descriptions sound delicious and my meal was tasty, but like the restaurant's name implies, my meal was not even slightly "Epic." It was restaurant week and your restaurant is called Epic, I feel the food should have blown my palette away. I do not believe I am being unfair in saying what I really believe, my palette does not lie. I have had similar meals at competing restaurants with the same quality and preparation for half the price. I felt overcharged.
I wanted it all, it was in my face. I could not have it, nor grab it. Epic left me feeling overcharged, underwhelmed and a little hungry. I do expect more from a restaurant with such proclamations. The waitstaff did a great job being "Epic" while I feel the cuisine has yet to make it. Maybe I will give it another shot during next year.
I came here for Restaurant Week this past Saturday and dinner was less than epic. To be honest, I didn't look at the menu before agreeing to this place but I was fine with checking it out because I was going out friends and wanted to spend some time with them. Two menu options were offered - 3 courses for $33 and 4 courses for $44. I decided to get the 3 course meal option and a cocktail. To be honest, my meal wasn't really memorable. It was okay and nothing really stood out to me. I did enjoy my cocktail though.
This place is only good for cocktails and maybe an appetizer, but not for dinner.
What a wonderful experience! From the time I entered the establishment, I was greeted with exceptionally warm, and friendly service. The ambiance in this place is epic as it is titled. The whole team worked cohesively and made sure the service was impeccable throughout the visit. I have to extend special recognition to Michelle, my waitress, whom was extremely knowledgeable, kind, attentive, and helped making a food selection easy. The food was freshly prepared and very delicious! Overall. I'd recommend this place to anyone looking to have a nice dinner.... This review is based strictly on the restaurant portion.
Review Source:Came here for Valentine's Day dinner and was soo happy I chose Epic for dinner. I was expecting it to be very crowded and OK service...that all was to the contrary. Not only was it not crowded at all, we were seated immediately and had the best view. Our waitress was a sweetheart and the food was to die for.
I had to Salmon w/ mushroom and spinach...this was DELICIOUS! My only disappointment was the size. Though I'm a skinny petite gal, my appetite is that of Bear and this serving portion was just enough to quench my hunger thirst. I would have liked to have a slightly larger portion. My date had the surf n turf and he LOVED it. His steak was Medium-Well  and it was cooked to perfection.
All in all, I would definitely return here for dinner. I've been here several times for Day parties over the summer and was in LOVE.
I have been here a bunch of times, mostly for the drinks and nightlife. Â I always loved the energy and the upscale lounge feel, good music, great design. Â
Last week we finally made reservations for dinner and were extremely disappointed. Â No one seemed to know what they were doing, they mixed up drinks with another table, they brought out my entree with the appetizers, AND gave it to the wrong person at the table who also ordered seafood so we didn't know until we were halfway done eating that course. Â After mixing up the dishes they offered no apologizes, the bus boy took our half eaten plates (with an attitude) and they brought NOTHING back in return. The half plate I did get a chance to eat ended up being cold, tasteless, and a tiny portion. Â I left starving! Â For being a higher end restaurant I was really disappointed. Â I suggest they get their act together or hire a better food service staff.
Epic. Oh Epic. Â Where do I begin? Â For starters, this is one restaurant that successfully lived up to all the hype I have heard since its opening. Â Judging by how hard it is to get a reservation at a decent time is a clear indicator that it is something special. Â When you walk in, the ground floor level is a more casual but sophisticated bar scene. Â They had VIP seating/booths for the high rollers with catchy dance music playing. Â However, once you ascend the stairs to the second level, you will find the dining room. Â Again, much like the ground floor, the vibe in the dining room is urban, trendy, and chic without being over the top. Â The service is impeccable and I noticed right away that management was circulating through the dining room, check with every individual table to make sure that a good time was being had, and something I have not seen to often. Â
Because it was restaurant week, I knew I was going to choose from the pre-fixe menu. Â I started with the shrimp and crab louie with avocado and tomato. Â The seafood was so ridiculously fresh that it was no surprise to hear that Epic brings in fresh seafood every single day. Â The shrimp and crab were sweet with their true flavors shining through because the dish itself was very simple. Â I really appreciated the simple but fresh flavors and can honestly say that I have not experienced seafood that fresh in Chicago thus far.
For my entrée, I chose the Braised Short Ribs with scallion-potato puree and baby carrots. The ribs were slow cooked and so tender.  Everything on the plate was paired and cooked to perfection.  The portion was also very generous and I had to take half of it home for the next day, not that I was sad about that by any means!
My boyfriend (who opted for the regular menu) ordered the Pumpkin Risotto: wild mushrooms, pablano and manchego cheese, topped with roasted pumpkin seeds. Â This dish was incredible. The risotto was creamy and tender and the toasted pumpkin seeds offered a nice crunchy contrast. Â It was a surefire hit!
For dessert, I had the Milk Chocolate-Banana Cake: Rum Anglaise with mango sorbet. Â Who knew that combination would be such a winner! Â I loved the chocolate/banana/mango pairing. Â I felt like it was a dessert I should be enjoying on a gorgeous tropical island so far, which is a pretty good feeling when you're in Chicago and it's 23 degrees outside!
To sum it up, I think it's safe to say that I have found me new favorite restaurant in the city.
I would have walked out (if my wife and I weren't with friends who made the reservation) when the bartender didn't know what a Gibson is. When I explained it's a Martini with cocktail onions as the garnish he said they didn't have any. Luckily, the barback knew where to find them. The meal was unispiring. The best part was the cheese plate. I ordered scallops and they weren't very good-kind of gummy and off tasting. No one in our party of four was impressed with their dinners. We won't be back.
Review Source:Went to lunch and ordered off of the restaurant week menu. We ordered the following: Â the chicken soup, the butter lettuce with shaved beets, the salmon and the hanger steak. The soup tasted homemade and it was delicious. The salad had too much dressing for my liking, pretty drenched. It also had radishes instead of beets. The salmon was overcooked and so was the hanger steak. I asked for it medium, but no pink in sight. The flavor was good, too bad it was chewy. It did come with these delicious herbed fries , best part of the entree. The most delicious part of this meal was dessert, not a big bread pudding type of person, but I would definitely go back for this. The bourbon sauce was perfect, great dessert! Besides the food not being great, the manager was not either. I questioned the salad and told him it was supposed to come with beets, which is why I had ordered it. The waiter said that it was a new menu so it was an oversight. The manager brought over 3 small dishes and said you probably expected to see these on your salad, but what we gave you were shaved beets. He was defensive, I was pretty surprised. I mean they looked and tasted just like radishes and the funny thing is when they were bringing out the salads to the nearby tables, it had the beets, not the radishes!
Review Source:A fine dining experience, but I can't say I'm blown away. I utilized Restaurant week to sample the cuisine of this establishment and I was quite happy.
The initial course had me enjoying a Crab & Shrimp Louie (with the largest shrimp I've ever seen). I also finished my counterparts Lamb, as he did not enjoy it. I, on the other hand, found it very tasty..and I'm not a fan of lamb. Paired with what tasted like raisins, some sort of nuts and Parmesan cheese. It was the perfect flavor combination to enhance the meat.
My next course was a Lobster bisque. Delicious. Creamy, rich and offering a hint of nutmeg (as my culinary friend explained). It was even too much for me, so the rest of my party also got to sample.
The main course was...nothing short of orgasmic. Truly. As an "out of the closet" carnivore, I LOVE good meat; and this was it. I chose the short ribs and enjoyed every minute of them. Perfectly cooked, melted in my mouth, just exquisite. Paired perfectly with mashed potatoes and carrots. Very rustic.
The final course was a miss. The cake tasted like it was out of a box and the mango gelato was...mango gelato. I was not impressed, particularly after my expectation were raised by my main course.
The atmosphere was very "downtown." High ceilings, bricked-exposed walls, loft-like ambiance. Even the light. Huge floor to ceiling windows exposing the downtown highrises. Can't complain. Oh wait, yes I can! The music. It was a bit....one beat for me. The music seemed as though is was just bass feeding into the speakers. The crowd (we noticed) was older than expected, so it seemed out-of-place to play such music.
All in all, I have no desire to go back, but had a good meal nonetheless. Oh, if you're planning on going, you need to put down a credit card with reservation, so be prepared.
Went here for dinner on a Saturday night around 6:45... The place was hoppin' with a light bar scene on the first floor. Â We were escorted to the second floor for a cozy but open and chic atmospheric dinner. Â
Our waiter was incredibly knowledgeable and able to assist in choosing a good wine. Â He gave great recommendations and we enjoyed some delicious appetizers, entrees and desserts. Â I have to say the tuna dish they had was phenomenal and one that I will get again if I go there. Â I have never had anything taste like that. Â Loved the dessert options and could not get enough of the bread pudding and the smores dessert.
Will recommend, go back and enjoy.
Mixed review. Started with Shrimp Cocktail, it was great... Then I ordered the Arugula Apple Salad with Chicken Breast (upon request) and absolutely loved it. However, My friend got the braised short ribs and he said his was sub-par.
I was disappointed in the lack of the menu. If you like Duck, Fish... this is the place for you. I asked our concierge at The Wit for light, fresh food, with Chicken as a main course and he sent us here, which had one weird Chicken dish. I was surprised for dinner it was dead... maybe 2 tables. The manager was very friendly as well as the hostess, waitress and bus boy. I would def. go again for the salad.
W had Champagne for our beverage and it was good as well.
The decor is great we sat upstairs and over looked the road haha which happened to be some kind of fuss and tons of fire trucks. Kept us entertained a little bit ;)
Epic-ish. Â They do have tall ceilings. Â I thought the food was pretty good. Â Maybe I'm eating out too much these days (my scale thinks this is true) but I feel like this is one of many really pretty good restaurants that have popped up over the past 5 years in Chicago. Â Had it hit the ground 10 years ago it would have been a huge item in my mind. Â As is, it's solid. Â I don't think you could go wrong with it but am not rushing to send all my friends there as they visit the city.
Review Source:Me and my friends went to NYE 2013 here, paid around 150 bucks for the tickets. When we arrived we noticed that there was a long line, in 15 degree weather, but since we had bought the tickets online we figured there would be no wait... We ended up languishing for about 35 minutes in the arctic weather. I understand about holding a line to make the place look hip and trendy but there was no open admission that night, everyone had already purchased their tickets online, I have no idea why these jerks made us wait outside in line. Typical I guess though,trendy night clubs like this thrive on treating their paying customers like garbage.
When we finally get inside I ordered a redbull vodka, turns out paying 150 bucks for all you can drink doesn't include redbull, only a long wait in the freezing wind.
The only reason I don't give it 1 star is because the atmosphere inside was enjoyable and the staff inside were friendly and accommodating.
So outside of a random drunken walk in I will never be here again.
A girlfriend and I randomly stumbled upon this place after dinner in search of somewhere to grab a cocktail. This place was perfect. It wasn't too crowded, and the ambiance is great! Since we were there around 9pm, we had the entire couch section to ourselves. The drinks were reasonably priced for River North, and mine was very good. The server was really sweet and even sat down next to me to help me decide which cocktail to order. An added plus: they serve ranch seasoned popcorn to munch on!
Review Source:Epic indeed. Love the exposed brick throughout, high ceilings and grand staircase and huge windows. We asked to sit in the front room at the tables next to the windows looking out on Hubbard and it was perfect. Perfect place to dine with your date or go with a group if you are looking for a unique, elegant setting.
We came on a Monday with an early reservation (6PM) and it was pretty empty. However, as we were leaving a few hours later, the place was pretty busy for a Monday night. I hear that on the weekends, this place turns more into a night club, but we didn't experience that.
Food
To start things off, we ordered the pork belly and it was the best I've ever had. Succulent, crispy, melts-in-your-mouth good! After sharing it with my husband, I secretly wanted to retract my entrée order and just order 2 more servings of the pork belly - fantastic!
I decided to carry the pork theme through and ordered the apple-brandy glazed pork chop. The portion was HUGE and with braised greens and apple-cherry chutney that had such a unique flavor and paired wonderfully with the pork chop. Even the greens were excellent - not salty and flavorful. My husband had the salmon and he loved his meal as well.
For dessert (it was my birthday after all), I ordered the s'mores tart and it was nothing short of amazing. Milk chocolate melted on a graham cracker streusel and toasted marshmallow ice cream! Get it. The best part about their dessert menu is that every month there is a featured dessert where all proceeds from that dessert go to a charity - what a wonderful idea!
They also have a large cocktail menu and a HUGE wine list. I ordered "the Passionate" with passion fruit puree, agave nectar, and orange liquor and it was also very tasty. So much so that my husband ordered one too after having a Manhattan.
Service
Our server was very friendly, knowledgeable about the menu and had perfect timing in terms of checking up on us. The bus boys were great too. We also liked that one of the managers came by to ask us how everything was that night.
Overall, we had a wonderful experience all around. Can't wait to be back - especially in the summer months to check out the rooftop patio!
I see a lot of people complaining about there being old people, there being a line, or whatever. My review is based on our great experience we had for an early dinner (reservation for 6:30pm).
We came on a Monday, which is half price wine night (only bottles, not glasses). They also offered a four-course tasting menu for $48, with optional wine pairing for $70. I did not partake in the tasting menu, instead opting for the salmon ($28). It was very good, but we were even more pleased with the pork belly appetizer ($12). All in all, the food was excellent. The portion size of the entree was huge! The only slight let down I had was the sorbet desert (the flavors were pretty bland), but it wasn't bad enough for me to go down from five stars for this review.
If you are looking for an elegant location with good service and good food, dinner at Epic is for you. It is very nice and the food is very good. Best of all, it won't break the bank (at least based on normal fine dining prices). Also, if you look on Open Table they have some 1,000 point table reservations that you can take advantage of.
If you come late at night or on the weekend, I can't speak to that experience. But we were very happy with our early dinner!
Okay, i'll admit, part of why I feel Meh about this place is b/c I've stood in line for it a few times and finally made it up to the rooftop... which is on the 3rd floor (maybe 4th). Â Um epic...? Â Anyway, the decor up there was nice, the vibe trendy, the music decent, but I feel like if you're going to name a place Epic, it better be... well epic.
Had the fish tacos here and they weren't bad. Â I mean it's not touted as a Mexican place so it probably wasn't the best decision for me to get tacos but unfortunately that contributes to my feelings of Meh on this place.
It's alright, not bad. Â I think the music they play is relevant to today's young age group. Â I think they need a coat checking place(unless I missed it somehow) Â had to carry my coat all around. Â Cute little club on Hubbard, right next to NV Penthouse. Â The line was quick and the bouncer was cooperative.
Review Source:Coming from Orange County, maybe I'm not used to the bar scene but I seriously thought the food here was orgasmic. I'm kind of bummed the reviews on here aren't that good :( Didn't have any drinks here but we ordered the braised pork and the pork chop and OH MY GOD - if my food senses could scream in delicious, tingling sensation they oh so would. A week later back in SoCal and I'm still dreaming about the delicious perfectly cooked pork chops that I was savoring in my mouth for as long as I could. Swoon.
The location itself was really nice- pretty much in the middle of downtown across the street from an Adult Novelty store. Very hip and modern feel to it. That first floor bar was incredibly crowded but we were seated on the second floor where the majority of restaurant-ers were.
Service actually was pretty good for us and as the hotel made reservations for us 15 minutes before we got there on a Friday night, I'm assuming it's not that bad of a wait.
Talk about UNepic. Cue in rotten tomatoes to throw at the bouncers during the weekend.
A group of friends and I were dressed to a tee on a Saturday night - similarly as we would if we were to go out on the town in NYC (very different culture in the MidWest) --- and we were surrounded by a flood of haggard women wearing baggy tshirts, momjeans & platforms (because that's fashionable). Now, I totally understand that places have to "hold the line" so it looks like inside is really good and difficult to get in. Â Smart Marketing - but when the ratio of people is 20 leaving the restaurant every 5 minutes vs 4 waiting on line. Let's be serious. Bottomline - if you're ugly, obese and unattractive - this is the perfect environment to party it up on a Fri or Sat!
We took our money elsewhere and decided to pop 3 bottles at Sub51 down the street. An absolute 'must-go' if you're looking to have a great time with incredible music.
UNepic.
No issues getting in, but we were there at 8pm. My other friends said the bouncers have been jerks before and they did have issues getting in.
By 9 pm the roof was pretty packed. Â The drinks are good, but very pricey. Not a lot of seating (only 3 small tables and some stools at the bar) unless you reserve something. Staff was not that great, but the view is awesome! Worth a visit at least once.
The also had heaters on since it was a little cold, but they were really only by the reserved tables.
The one thing this restaurant has is size. Â The first floor bar area is huge. Â Seems like someplace that you could stop in to get a drink and find a spot to enjoy it. Â
We were here early on a Wednesday, so the place was pretty empty. Â We had a drink up stairs on the roof, which you are probably better of taking the stairs to get up to rather than wait for the elevator. Â It just felt like the roof has seen better days. Â Things look a little more worn in the day light.
I'll start the dinner portion by saying that the service was outstanding. Â Our waitress was very friendly. Â That actually feels strange commenting on, but it really stood out for me. Â Then there was the food part of our dinner. Â Not so stand out. Â The pork belly and goat cheese starters were OK. Â We were told to avoid the steaks by someone just before coming here, so we both went for the fish. Â The halibut was cold and there was just nothing exciting about the pea ravioli that came with the scallops. Â Overall just an average dinner.
I have been here for a work function on the roof and for drinks in the downstairs bar.
The Epic Sky is beautiful on a nice day, though it gets really crowded as the sun dips. Â If you're lucky enough to score a cabana you'll feel very VIP. Â Servers were making the rounds and were very efficient. Â We just had standard bar service, plus some munchies. Â The sliders and skewers I tasted were ok, not bad but certainly did not wow. Â Based on that experience, I was satisfied with my night but not thinking I'd come back.
But I did. Â I met a few friends here for happy hour and we sampled several of the libations. Â First off, the names are hilarious and make you want to try everything on the menu. Â I can't open the cocktail menu on the website, so I'll have to do it from (hazy) memory, but think along the lines of "Sex Panther", because that was one of them. Â The drinks are not exactly craft cocktails, but you get bang for your buck (ie you'll be drunk off two). Â Plus they have complimentary DELICIOUS popcorn! Â Service was also very good, our bartender was quick and friendly. Â I will keep Epic in mind for a post-work cocktail.
We didn't have any issues getting in. The bouncer was nice and the place was cute. We didn't eat downstairs; this is just the Sky Lounge review.
We went the Sunday night before Labor Day so it wasn't crowded nor dead. I ordered at the bar and...... this bartender was not the friendliest bartender. It felt like he did not want to work and instead would rather chat with his coworkers and that my order was disrupting his fun.
I ordered a vodka tonic from him and I swear there was barely any vodka in my tonic. I was pretty upset. First for his attitude, and then for the crap drink. If I am going to be paying excessively for a mixed well drink I would prefer some actual alcohol in my drink. Anyhow, I told him I would prefer some vodka in my tonic and he gave me a really rude attitude.... but he did at least add more vodka.
We sat down and ordered a few small appetizers while we chatted and they were good-- the mussels and fries. I ordered my next drink through the waitress this time and it was much better. I'm not sure which bartender she got it from but I'm sure it wasn't from that nasty one.
Anyway, I would not willingly go here again nor waste my money here for the crap attitude I get as a paying customer.
I attended Epic for a day time roof party this past weekend. This review is more so for the venue as an event space and not on their food, etc.
The location is awesome with their rooftop stealing the show. I also found the staff to be friendly and their bartenders very nice.
The overpriced drinks, averaging $13 - $16) was the one drawback to Epic. I think you're paying for the location and fancy drink names. I was actually a little shocked at their drink prices, but ordered nonetheless.
I would attend again for a private event and am interested in trying out their food, though I may opt to skip cocktails.
I'm going to bypass any  terrible EPIC puns. I'm not better than that, I just feel they've probably all been done. Â
The space is beautiful, giant windows overlooking Hubbard street (and the adult shop across the street), and reminds me a lot of those sexy 90's lofts which everyone in movies seemed to live in. Â Bare brick, high ceilings, and an industrial feel.
The service was very attentive, friendly, and professional, although at times forgot to bring the wine paired with the dish.
The food, which is I'm sure is why you're reading this. For what you're paying, the wow factor just never arrived for me. Â On a tasting menu from the chef, of four courses, none jumped at me. It felt like flavors were missing, textures were left out, and the courses small, even for a tasting menu.
A tomato-based appetizer was good, but didn't have a fresh-clean finish which I expect from that sort of dish. Â It was flat, and squishy, there was no change in texture. Â The scallop was cooked well, the gnocchi that came with it was also very nice, although the sauce tasted way too butter-drenched. The lamb in the main course was cooked well, although was incredibly fatty, mouthfuls of gristle. Â The dessert was a flour-less chocolate cake which sort of seems 2004-5ish, but the ice cream served with it was delightful.
The cocktails were a bit heavy handed on certain ingredients, like bitters, and there were a lot of "promotional" cocktails, such as whatever the hell the new trendy flavored vodka is. Â I understand why they do these, but it just left a lot to be desired.
I wouldn't be back.
I've been here twice. Have felt supremely inferior to everyone else in the place.
Don't care for the vibe. One bit. If snippy comments and long side eyes are your deal, this place is perfect. It feels like one giant disgusting meat market. You can feel the desperation as you walk in.
The rooftop is amazing. Yes. If you can find a place to stand and aren't being shushed around by people who are protecting their precious table territory.
I wouldn't trash this place completely, after we'd had enough we went downstairs to the inside bar (technically Epic, no longer Epic Sky). The bartender was really sweet and chatty and we ended up spending a lot more money with her.
I've only been here for lunch and after work drinks. Â I loved their lunch menu and their service for lunch! Â They are quick and responsive, one of the few restaurants in River North that understand that people have to work. Â The atmosphere is trendy, they have seating inside and on the sidewalk. The menu for lunch has lots of options, sandwiches, salads, and entrees. Â I had the salmon which was delicious! Â But, there were several other items that I wanted to try. Â Everyone in my party loved the food that they ordered. Â The service is quick and responsive, your drink will never get low, which is really nice. Â
For after work drinks the place is a trendy spot, but I'm not a fan of the crowd. Â They also have a rooftop which is awesome for summer!
The only downfall of this place is that the staff is a South Beach/Jersey Shore mix. Â So the girls dress provocatively and have 0 personality, the guys are typical Jersey Shore. Â And for drinks the crowd is more that type, which isn't my style.
I recommended having a bachelorette party for my friend. Â He is very particualr about his food so I made sure there were a few options on the menu for him. (yes him). However, everyone else were foodies so I wanted to do good. So, of course, I wanted to find a hip, trendy, awesome place to eat downtown.
After doing some research, I came across Epic. Â Per everyone's responses, no one had ever been here. So, it was perfect.
The place was awesome! Â If you want that downtown, hip, young, full of energy feel, then this is the place. Â The staff was fun. Â Our waitress was cool. Â She recommended that the word of the evening was "Balls". Â So, anytime the word was said, we all had to take a drink. Â LOL!! Â Needless to say, we had a lot of drinks at this place.
Everyone loved the appetizers and their meals. Â I would definitely go back here for a meal with either one person or a group!!
I've been here a few times for drinks at the bar, which I've mostly enjoyed, even though their cocktail list is heavy on the vodka and brown liquors and none of the bartenders there who've served us have been particularly knowledgeable on their selections. They've been friendly women, if rather unprofessional; one told us she'd drank too much before coming in that night, and the other revealed that they didn't carry a specific tequila anymore because the distributor rep got into a fight with the manager. Other busboys and managers who have popped behind the bar have done so with their backs to the customers, and usually don't seem to be in a good mood.
The food has been solidly average. Nothing has been disgusting, and nothing has blown me away. Popcorn at the bar has always been this side of stale. *shrug*
I like the layout of the first floor (haven't been but there and Sky). I like the lighting, the design, the wood, about everything. I noticed a little spot which may work very well for a small party in the future.
Last time I was there, my friend and I went up to Sky as part of a scouting mission, as I plan parties for my team at work. While the people were an interesting cross-section - which I liked - the music was loud and bad and no employee was visible, but for one bartender. We went back downstairs.
I called them today to inquire if they take reservations for Sky. I was put on hold without being able to eke out a word. Okay, they're busy. This is good. When I wasn't picked up after 7 minutes, that wasn't good. I called back and immediately got the same person who put me on hold before, but this time she could help me. I asked my question and she told me to call Joe at what I assumed was a personal cell number. I asked her who Joe was, and she told me he's the guy that can tell me how to book a table at Sky.
Sigh.
So I call Joe, and he sounds like he just woke up (4pm). I ask him about reserving at table at Sky and he puts me on hold for a few minutes. Now I'm getting impatient. He comes back and tells me their table minimum and I thank him and tell him if we decide to proceed, I'll call him back. He says "Yup. Bye." and that's it.
We would likely go 2-3x higher than the quoted table minimum. I'm certain my team would like the space, and it's close enough to get to. But I have no faith that it wouldn't end up some kind of douchey disaster, so we won't be spending money there. I'm fine with coming in for drinks after work when it's chill, but I'm not going to involve myself professionally with people who openly act like they don't want my business.
For the purposes of helping yelpers searching for a Chicago roof top scene find this review....ROOF TOP, ROOF TOP ROOF TOP!!!! Hopefully, this review will reach you through the powers of the search engine.
I can't vouch for the food, but having ascended to Epic's rooftop three times in the last week and a half, I'm thinking that this might be the most popular rooftop in Chicago. The first trip was after a networking event next door at NV's empty rooftop; the second trip was a packed networking event; the third was for a quick drink on a Tuesday after 9pm. On all occasions, the service, drinks, and space was fantastic. Even at its most crowded there was still room to move and refresh your drink. The dj isn't bad either.
The only reason I'm withholding one star is that I haven't tasted the food and that the rooftop also happens to be the destination of both super-cute yuppie types AND groups of very drunk divorcees on the prowl.
The food was perfect. Â Seared scallops were amazing. They were so perfectly cooked. Â
I was on a double date at Epic and it was an amazing time. Â The atmosphere was so nice. It is super trendy and upbeat. Â The food was great, but the atmosphere was what really stood out to me. Â It is a great place.
It's what I consider your typical large downtown venue-type place - very nice decor, expansive space. Â My firm hosted a happy hour here and it went off without a hitch. Â Service was excellent, but bartenders had a very hard time understanding that Johnny Walker Black is different than Jack Daniels (and yes, I can absolutely taste a difference).
Nice place for an event, would consider coming back for dinner too.
First of all, I must admit that I usually would not choose to go to a place like this anymore. If it wasn't for a good friend's birthday party, I would probably never entertain the thought of going to the hip, happening downtown bar. Â Having said that, I didn't have an awful time.
Of course there was the required Saturday night line outside in order to make the place look busier than it really is, and of course there are the "precious" people who feel they are too important to wait in a line and pay the doormen to get in, which made our wait even longer. Â Altogether, we waited about 15-20 minutes in line before we got in.
Once we did get in, the doorman told us that the rooftop was full, but we could still have a drink in the lounge area. Â Whatever. The birthday girl was waiting for us upstairs, so we went up there anyway.
The female bartender was nice, but of course I was bypassed a couple of times for 1) the girl who looked like a supermodel, and 2) The guy with biceps the size of my head. Â But once I was the only other person waiting for drinks, the bartender was polite.
The space is pretty nice overall, but looked just like any other rooftop in the city. I could have went to a friend's rooftop and saved myself $10 for every drink (yes, $10 for each drink..i guess it makes you feel like you are in a more elite club) that I purchased. There were some really nice seating areas up there, but they were all reserved...even though no one was sitting in any of them. I guess they save them for any potential celebrity that may show up.
Overall, the experience was okay. Â It didn't feel as pretentious as other downtown clubs I have been to. Â All of the bartenders and doormen were polite, even thanking us for coming when we left. If another friend decides to throw an event there, I guess I would go back.
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