WOW was this incredible. Â Went here on a Valentine's day date and had their fixed special menu. Â Smoked salmon, foie gras, lobster, veal, the works. Â We were seated in a small room with about 4 tables, and were right next to the window facing east. Â The view was amazing, and it was nice that we were in basically a private room the entire time because we were between seatings. Â There was no music playing, which struck me as a little odd. Â Would have been nice to have something quiet on in the background.
Our waiter was very nice, and let me try several different small pours of Chardonnay when I couldn't decide what I wanted. Â He also brought us out a very nice glass of dessert wine on the house, which was a nice touch. Â
All in all, it was a lovely dining experience. Â I'm knocking off a star because the ambiance was a little off, and I did think it was somewhat overpriced for what you get. Â It wasn't super inventive and the menu seemed a little rushed...maybe this would be different if we came on a different night, as I'm sure they were just cranking out mass amounts of these plates since it was Valentine's day.
Have been here twice and had great experiences each time. The ambiance and view are amazing (you have to experience it at least once if you are a true Chicago foodie). Â I would only go here for special occasions as the bill we received for a groups of four were each $700+. Here's my breakdown of the experience:
Food- 4/5 For me, it depends on what is on the menu for the night but I remember the various appetizers we ordered were our favorites. This isn't a restaurant that you can just pick anything and expect to like it (some of the game dishes are intense) so I just went with the steak which was perfectly done. Desserts are solid also.
Ambiance/View- 5/5 Outside of the Signature Room, one of my favorite restaurant views in Chicago. Hopefully you can reserve one of the window tables for the night.
Service- 3/5 Dishes take some time to come out so be patient. Server could have been a bit more attentive but overall, not bad.
Also, be careful about your drink order volume (easy way to rack up the bill an extra $300 by the end of the night) as you will be there for a while with the wait between courses.
Incredible experience. The food is premium in every way, I could not complain about it even if I wanted to. What makes Everest above all is the entire package. The view and location are breath taking. Even if you live in Chicago it is an amazing view. The presentation and preparation of the food is the best I have ever seen. This place is VERY classy is you need to dress formal. Not somewhere you go for a "normal" dinner. Great place for a very special occasion.
Review Source:My review may be biased since my boyfriend proposed right before taking me to Everest.... Â He planned an amazing night in advance with the manager and everything was completely flawless. Â
We had a private room with an amazing view of the city. Â He had preordered the Champagne & the 9 course dinner. Â Each course was delicious, there was nothing we didn't like. Â The dessert was my absolute favorite. Â
The service is what definitely deserves the 5 stars. Â Our waittress was very attentive but not over the top. Â The timing of the courses was excellent. Â They even had a beautiful bouquet of flowers on the table for us. Â And made a personalized menu with our names. Â
Excellent choice for a very special occasion. Â I highly recommend Everest for a special night out in the city.
Revisited Everest with a close friend after many years and was quite disappointed with the new decor. It was boring and unimaginative. I would assume with great city views, one would put a little more effort into something that reflects the urban ambiance. Instead it looks more like a diner with white table cloths. yawn...
The food was good. My lobser appetizer was the best part of the meal and truly exceptional. I also had sturgeon with prosciutto which was... meahh decent. Dessert must have been nothing special , because I can't even remember what I had. Hmmm...
Our waitress was terrible. Zero personality and I'm certain she intentionally mixed up our water more than once. It seemed she had a problem with me not ordering wine (I'm guessing here because she really seemed to walk around with a stick up her butt). Well, people with migraines don't like to suffer the next day so the staff needs to be a little more sensitive that not everyone can enjoy everything this establishment offers.
The one person who saved my otherwise disappointing experience was the lady at the coat check. Such a nice and warm person. I would actually re-vist the restaurant just to talk to her again.
I went to everest for an important anniversary and was disappointed. The food for about half of the table was okay (I had the scallops and my dad had the venison). Â But my mom got really sick hours after eating there (also ate the lobster similar to another review). I've been playing phone tag with the restaurant but since it took about 4 days to get back to me I don't think they are too concerned (sadly).
Also despite making a reservation a month in advance and specifically requesting a window seat when we arrived we were placed in the center of the room (it wasn't busy). I had to get up and ask for the window seat, which they did seat us at. But why the extra request?
Overall I think it is a restaurant past its prime. The food is okay, service adequate, decor dated. But I am very unimpressed how they handled my complaint. Bottom line there are better, more interesting places to go in chicago.
Would NOT recommend Everest if:
1) You're looking for 5-star service.
All of the waitstaff need to be re-trained; order taking, timing, plate clearing.... everything was off. We had to wait 15 minutes after receiving our aperitifs before finally asking for a menu.
2) You want experimental, showy, avant-garde cuisine.
No foams, smoke, crazy presentation techniques in sight!
3) You want to order ala carte.
Sorry, only two options available. A three course meal from a selection of offerings ($95/person, no wine pairings), or a full desgustation tasting ($145/person, $125 vegetarian option, wine pairing an additional $95).
4) You wish to dine in a modernist setting.
There is nothing contemporary or modern about Everest's decor. It makes me wonder if they have changed anything since the 80's.... Gaudy mirrors on every wall make the dining room seem larger than it really is.
WOULD recommend Everest if:
1) You want excellent, solid, Alsatian cuisine paired with some equally as good wine from the region. Â
After surveying the dated decor and fearing the worst with our initial interactions with the waitstaff, all wrongs were righted when our amuse bouches arrived. All three of our following courses were equally as solid and downright delicious. Yes, the food was THAT good that nothing else mattered. The dishes weren't mind-blowing or revolutionary, just well-prepared with enough complexity and creativity to surprise. Hence, the four stars.
However, still IFFY about:
1) The view.
The view from the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange is beautiful, but Everest is set up in such a way that there are very few tables that actually have a decent view of the city below. We were initially seated by the windows but along a wall, and had to ask to be reseated as my back would have been to the windows the entire meal. If the view is important to your dining experience, I would call Everest personally to express that you specifically want a table where all can enjoy it. Honestly, however, I would go to the Signature Room for a more breathtaking skyline!
In short, the food is where Everest really peaks!
My wife has contracted food poisoning. The only two menu items we had that differed were the mains (she had the lobster) and dessert (she had the chestnut) so one of those two dishes was the culprit.
Needless to say we will not be revisiting Everest again. Thoroughly disappointed given the size of the bill.
It's nice when its 30 degrees outside and you can go out without a winter coat. Driving from an inside parked garage to the complimentary valet service . The parking garage entrance is on Financial North of Van Buren. Valet is waiting for you and directs you right to the elevator. These elevator trips almost add to the sense of exclusive indulgence. Check in with security in the lobby they direct you to the elevator to the 39th floor then transfer on the the special elevator to Everest. When you are greeted by the professional service walking in to the restaurant you almost get a chill. Especially seeing the city view in the background from the floor to ceiling windows. The service was very attentive and professional. Each course that was delivered to our table was perfectly timed and delicious. My wife loved the lobster and I had the duck which was tender and tasted wonderful . Desserts of chocolate pieces and sorbets were great as well. This was 5 star service from the time we arrived to when valet actually had the car waiting right outside the elevator when we arrived back to the parking garage. Everything felt special!
Review Source:This restaurant was very disappointing.
The decor is evocative of the Wall Street movie, but not the sequel. Â The first one. Â I don't think this place has been updated since then. Â I felt like I was stuck in a time capsule.
As for the food, it was very disappointing, particularly considering the price for two was over $300, including tip.
The amuse bouche was forgettable.
Between my girlfriend and I, I tried the seared foie gras, the pig cheeks, and the roasted lobster. Â The foie gras was the best thing I ate that night, but still nothing special. Â The pig cheeks were good; not great. Â The lobster was drenched in too much butter. Â
For main meal, the venison was good; again, not great. Â I also tried my girlfriend's halibut which was crusted with cacao nibs. Â Cacao nibs are bitter and need some sweetness. Â There was nothing to offset the bitterness. Â The plate just did not work at all.
For dessert, I tried the sheep's milk caramel and the souffle. Â The souffle was bland. Â The sheep's milk caramel was ok.
The service was friendly and very good, but the food was very underwhelming.
What a letdown.
Everest, one of the country's premier restaurants, is located on the 40th floor of the Chicago Stock Exchange building. The chef, J. Joho, is known throughout the world for his superb cuisine. As the owner and/or Executive Chef of the Eiffel Tower Restaurant in France, the Paris Club in Chicago, Â Brasserie Jo in Boston, and Everest in Chicago, he has made his mark across the world. The Everest, is an award-winning, Michelin-starred French restaurant that offers meat and vegetarian degustation menus. Having had some negative experiences in DC with French restaurants, I was hesitant to even ask if they could accommodate me, but after realizing how unique this restaurant was, I decided it was worth a try. I was pleasantly surprised to find that Chef Joho was happy to accommodate and proposed a menu to me that sounded incredible. So, I booked the dinner, and we headed to Chicago!
When we arrived at the building, it looked like your typical Chicago skyscraper. We walked into the building and as we tried to go through the turnstiles into the lobby, we realized they were all locked. The security guy remotely unlocked them for us and asked if we had a reservation. After confirming that we were on his list, he allowed us up the elevators. That was some serious security! We took the elevators up to the 39th floor, then took a different one to the 40th floor.
When we arrived, they escorted us to the River Room in the private dining area . This room offers breathtaking views of the Chicago skyline. My colleagues were incredibly impressed as we spent 20 minutes just standing and looking out over the magnificent city. They began by offering everyone drinks. I had chosen two wines for the night -- a Terlato Chardonnay from the Russian River Valley and a Bordeaux from Chateau Haut-Beausejour. St. Estephe. Â Very nice choices, if I do say so myself.
We eventually all took a seat at the large table and took a look at the menu. I had already chosen my entree so I didn't have any choices to make. To start, they brought out some delicious bread and while it was served to everyone else with butter, they brought me a little miniature pitcher of olive oil and poured it into a dish for me to use separately. I loved that little pitcher! Oh, and the bread was good as well.
Then, the chef offered an amuse bouche to everyone. Mine was a tiny beignet that was filled with vegetables served over minced vegetables in a tasty sauce. It was so cute that others remarked about its cuteness when they saw it! Â On the tasting spoon was a mixture of beans and veggies. It was delightful.
Next, we were served our first course. Mine was a fricassee of wild mushrooms beautifully molded into a cylindrical shape and topped with flash-fried greens. It was surrounded by beets on greens and served with a sauce. The presentation was beautiful and the food was exquisite. This course was incredible.
My main course was a smoked yukon gold potato stuffed with cannellini beans, carrots, and other vegetables and served with a vegetable medley of green beans, root vegetables, and carrots. I know this sounds like a lot of vegetables and may not sound that exciting, but it really was. The potato was smoked perfectly so that it was firm, yet tender and stuffed with vegetables that were cooked perfectly. But it was really all of these sauces that brought the flavors together.
For dessert, I was served a trio of sorbets -- a typical dessert for a non-vegan restaurant, but these sorbets were anything but typical. The flavors were banana lychee, coconut lime, and concord grape served over a concord grape coulis with fresh pomegranate seeds, mint, and nuts. It was scrumptious.
We also ordered a moscato, but the waiters brought out a special bubbly one for me to try, which was very nice.
Afterwards, we were served other delectable bites -- mine were pineapple vanilla jellies.
I requested to speak to the chef, but little did I realize that Chef Joho himself was cooking that evening. He came out to our table to meet me, which was a great experience in and of itself. He said that I am welcome in his restaurant at any time. So, let it be known that not only does he accommodate vegans, he enjoys serving him. That is something special in a restaurant of this caliber and not something I've been able to find often.
During the entire dinner, the staff was attending to our every need. The wine was being poured regularly and the dishes cleared quickly. It was if we had a team of people serving just our room. The food and service were exquisite and the view was spectacular. This was definitely one of the best dining experiences I've ever had. I only hope I have the pleasure of dining here again. Highly recommended.
My boyfriend bought me here, let me tell you it was such a neat experience. We were visiting Chicago for New Year, who doesn't like a Chicago in the winter? Not I because its too cold but when I walked in here, I fogot about the cold and I just felt so fuzzy inside with all the smiles the staff had to offer. The food is Delicious food, Amazing view only took us 3 times to find the perfect seat. The service is excellent. Our server was friendly and walked us through every course. The wine was excellent and I of course had to at least try a nice glass of Champagne. I recomment coming here to anyone who is looking for the best an amazing experience. Â We met a couple and they were from CA and we actually new of them through family such a small world.
Review Source:I just went today because of the amazing reviews. But it wasn't worth it. The scenery is magnificent. But after that everything went downhill. I had the Everest tasting option and it was probably the worst food I have ever had. The food was visually beautiful but let me tell you... It looks WAY better than it tastes. I was so disappointed. That's not the end. The food was so bad it gave me and my boyfriend stomaches. Please don't go.
Review Source:Being food fanatics, my boyfriend and I were extremely excited to try Everest for the first time during our weekend getaway in Chicago. This is what I have to say about Everest.
Food: While the chef's in-between-courses tasting plates did not work for me, I thought the courses themselves were delicious. Dishes that stood out for me were the Casco Bay Sea Scallops, Roasted Maine Lobster, Sautéed New York State Foie Gras, and the New Wave Souffle. The scallops were seared wonderfully and the butter and ginger sauce that accompanied the lobster was definitely unique. While I usually cannot take large amounts of foie gras, I found Everest's foie gras amazingly good and even though the serving was large, I ate it all and enjoyed every single bit of it. I thought the Dry Aged New York Steak and Loin of Venison entrees to be alright and nothing spectacular but of course, above average. I would suggest trying a seafood entree instead, but the Sauce Foyot that accompanied the New York Steak was pretty good. I think that was the only thing that stood out in the dish unfortunately. The New York Steak was a little overcooked (I asked for medium rare) and the steak knives offered at the restaurant were a little too blunt to be cutting through the overcooked steak which was annoying.
Service: Brilliant. The servers could not have been nicer.
Ambience: I love the setup of the restaurant, and luckily, my boyfriend and I got to sit at one of the tables overlooking the city. We ate while the sun was still up, so it got a little uncomfortably warm during dinner. I heard that the table next to ours was experiencing the same so take a note of that if you decide to choose to eat near the window. However, the view was breathtaking. In terms of the dinner crowd, my boyfriend and I were surrounded by older couples who were celebrating their 50th anniversary and such. I did not really see a younger crowd there, but that definitely wasn't bothersome in any way.
On a side note, guests definitely seemed to dress up to dine at Everest so I would recommend the same!
Food With A View
Had the pleasure of eating here for the first time last week, on a business dinner. Â
This place has a spectacular view (don't forget to walk around to other parts of the restaurant, not just the section you're seated in, to get other angles of the view). Â And that is probably the best part of the restaurant.
Service: Our waiter was a perfectly humorless little old troll. Â I'm sure he is a very nice guy when he isn't at work, but he just seemed to be going through the motions. Â As many one word answers as he could give seemed to be his immediate focus in life. Â I almost asked another server who stopped by if she could take over the table, as she was helpful, informative, and I'd guess her goldfish hadn't died that morning. Â But I figured if I had, he looked like the kind of guy who might drool on my food in the kitchen. At these prices, I expect bad attitudes to be left at the door.
But... the service by the rest of the staff was professional, if robotic.
The staff seems generally to be somewhat dour. Just an observation. I think it's possible to have top level service, AND be human.
Decor: Â Fortunately they kept it minimalist when they decorated. Again, the view is the thing here. Â It does still feel like it has an '80's kind of vibe however. Â The table we sat at was quite roomy, (there were 4 of us, all men) and that was a nice bonus.
Food: Â Les amuse.. the spoon thing. Â eh. Â Nothing of any particular interest here, other than they were pleasant to look at.
Bread service was good, with a nice selection, however the flavor was less than I would have liked.
I had sweetbreads/risotto. Â I rarely order sweetbreads, for I know the level of skill that is needed to do them well. Â Mistake. Â They were on a small bed of shockingly green risotto (more of a chowder textured soup, with some rice thrown in for texture); they were puny, overly dusted, over cooked and plain not good. Â The flavors of the pea risotto were quite good, but the dish seemed odd in person. On the menu, it looked interesting.
The smoked salmon that I scored from a companion was excellent.
I had a baked sea bass that was superb. Â Classic Alsatian style. Â Only quip is the bacon was too thick. Â Other than that, it was very satisfying, and not over salted, as can easily happen when cooking with that much bacon. Â I wished the portion were more generous.
Dessert was a Kougelhopf (sp?) for me, and disappointing. Â Bland, a certain oneness of flavor. Dull. Not a good finish. Â The chocolates served at the end were good, but, again, at this price point I expect better than good.
Wine list seemed fine, I just didn't have much time with it, so I can't comment. Â I found one for less than a hundred, so I was satisfied, given the circumstances.
In sum, if I had a different waiter, and ordered slightly differently, I might be giving it more stars. Â But then again, a 5 star hits at all levels, regardless of what you order or who serves you.
Buona fortuna!
The service is exceptional!!  I couldn't find the complimentary valet  parking, and the host stayed on the phone with me until I found the garage. The staff was very polite, attentive and accommodating.
The decor is awful- totally 80's Miami Vice. The view is gorgeous.
The food is good, I'm not a fan of French food. So I'm not best judge. However the dessert, bordeaux, and cheese I sampled were amazing.
So this is where the "old money" of Chicago hang out! I'm glad I found them because I needed a loan to pay that bill. Â Actually, I was a guest of someone who had a large expense account, so thankfully I didn't have to pay for the opulence of Everest. Â The decor was amazing, from the awe inspiring view to the rich elegance of the furnishings. Â The service was very good, not as stuffy as one might expect, and not as polished as one might expect either, but still very good. Â The food was excellent and none of our tasting menu courses disappointed, from the lobster to the steak, to the deserts, all were executed perfectly. Â The wine list was extensive and offered many different price points, none of which was budget conscious of course, but still accessible. Â The sommellier actually gave us something from his private stock which was quite good and not on the list.
This is definitely a special occasion restaurant, at least for me. Â The other diners looked like they may eat there every day (see "old money" comment above). Â I was almost expecting Oprah to walk in, it's that kind of cache restaurant. But it does live up to its reputation and deliver the goods. No hype here, just delicious food and amazing ambiance with a view that can't be beaten.
Went there for a special occasion. Its way overrated.. Nice view, good food but the place needs to get refurbished. Dont like the 1000 mirrors. They have those because the place is pretty small and they wanna make it look bigger but it just looks tacky to me.
You think for that kind of  bill you could at least get them to call you a cab...Nope! You will wait forever..there were other couples waiting for a cab as well...so good luck getting one.
All in all price vs service and experience..NOT worth it!
My husband and I opted for the tasting menu, and the food was delicious. Maine lobster, foie gras, black cod were top notch. Â The duck was less pleasant, being too underdone for our taste.
However, service is also a huge part of the fine dining experience, especially when the bill for food and 2 glasses of wine costs over $330.
Sadly, Everest was THE WORST SERVICE I'VE EVER HAD at a fine dining establishment. In most cases, the server would set the food down, say the name of the dish, then walk away with NO explanation of the dish whatsoever! In this type of setting, I like to know what I'm eating (i.e. descriptions of each element on the plate). For the formaggi/cheese plate, the server set down the cheese without telling us what type of cheese each piece was!
We also had to wait 30 minutes for our table to be ready, but at least we got our cocktails for free and had a table by a window. Overall, I'd go elsewhere for a Michelin adventure. Decent food, extremely forgettable and inconsiderate service.
Oh Everest, what an experience!
My boyfriend has grown up eating here, I on the other hand did not. I've always been more of an easy going eater-but after this experience, I will admit that I can definitely get use to the good life ; ).
I must admit, the entrance was a bit overdone and I couldn't help but have a good laugh at the dramatic entrance leading us to our final arrival into Everest. We parked downstairs so in total we took 3 elevators to get to the restaurant! Although my boyfriend wasn't very happy, I laughed my way to our seat, it was just so dramatic-"I'm very busy and important" type exclusive (rather silly to me). I'm just poking fun because honestly the entire experience was just amazing!
The food and service was incredible. I find it very hard to believe that some reviewers actually experienced bad service...They were so attentive and extremely friendly without the snobby air.
The food was heavenly! The ingredients were practically picked out of the garden/ocean fresh and the flavors of each dish combined perfectly with each other. The view was also great and only added to the very "exclusive" experience. I would definitely recommend trying Everest out, if not for the experience definitely for the food.
For many climbing Everest is a milestone. It represents the height of ones pursuit of geographic glory. For me dining at Everest was symbolic of the peak of gastronomic glory.
Walking or driving in Chicago, you can only see a little way in front of you, a little way behind you, and if not too crowded maybe far off buildings or a field. But if you go up high and look down you can see the entire courses of the city streets. You can see where they begin and know where they end. In a sense, the aerial view is like being given a vision of the future; at least as far as the city paths are concerned.
Gazing down the window tableside I saw a full view of what brought me there and what the evening would bring. A person I respect very highly told me of great reputation, then brought me for a special occasion, so I knew it would be a (slightly over the top) treat.
The idea of the menu degustation was intimidating (due to the granduer, and fact it's a preset tasting menu) but when in Rome . . . Excuse me! Pardon! Alsace. You do as they do, go French or go home. And do it long and decadent. Hell they have a rep for a reason, ooh laa laa.
We had:
Terrine of Foie Gras, Alsace Vielle Prune, Black Mission Figs
Foie Gras is one of my faves and it was very good. The prune and figs was an inspired touch. If you order ala carte I highly suggest it as an appetizer.
Roasted Maine Lobster with Alsace Gewurztraminer Butter and Ginger
I've only had boiled or steamed lobster. This was roasted and served with a thick sauce that was wine and Ginger based, thus a new experience. Very rich and buttery but not too sweet. The shining star.
Filet of Wild Halibut with Fricasee of Tomatoes
Fresh, but not imaginative.
Filet of Wisconsin Veal, Wild Chanterelles, Corn Galette, and Summer Squash
Extremely tender and flavorful. If I wasn't such a shellfish lover this would be the top course.
Selection of Midwest Farm Cheeses
Just ok, if you do the wine pairings or order a bottle (they only have a list of a few hundred...so it's really great for an aficionado. We did not order either). And neither of us are the biggest cheese fans. I wish since it's a French restaurant they used FRENCH cheeses, but respect their commitment to keeping it fresh and local.
Tarragon Gelee, Lemongrass Tapioca, Strawberry Glace
Refreshing
Alsace Plum Styled Financier, Fromage Blanc Tuile, Cinnamon Glace
Very good and complemented each other well.
Minardiers and petits fours
I wanted to Hulk Smash the table when our charming server presented the tray. Then I dug in and almost recreated the When Harry Met Sally scene. Wow!
The whole space besides the insane views and elegant decor has outstanding works of art- paintings and sculptures. This commitment to beauty is extented beyond the views, decor, and art. The food is gorgeously presented and a few courses resembled Salvador Dali's surreal paintings and art using food to look like faces or phones. Some of the garnishes reminded me of Pollock.
The service was perfect. Nothing was too stuffy but it still was elegant. It was a great treat for a special occasion.
I may never climb Everest. But I had a special time at Everest.
Been there twice and had a great experience both times.
- Fantastic food -- worth every penny.
- Attentive, courteous service.
- Lovely view of the city in a classic dining room. On the quiet side, so it's more for romantic or professional dinners.
* Getting to the restaurant itself is tricky if you haven't been there before, so ask how when making reservations.
Let me write this review and put Everest in the past as quickly as possible. Â I want it to be clear that I cannot think of anyone or any situation where I would now recommend a visit. Â
We sat through the evening waiting for the experience to become great. Â It didn't happen. Â Nothing was bad. Â But when you are ready for a top-end fine dining experience, that's not sufficient. Â A few examples: Â
Service: Â When paying $140 for one of their cheaper wines, you don't expect the waiter to stand next to you and ask if you would like anything else when your water glass has been completely empty for 5-7 minutes. Â That's about the same time we waited before anyone came over to our table and greeted us after we arrived.
Food: Â If in the hospital on a bland salt-free diet, I would be very impressed with this food. Â But I wasn't. Â Risotto, sea bass, skate - all tasteless. Â Excellent bread and great vanilla ice cream.
CLASSY, GREAT VIEW, GOOD FOOD - A PLACE YOU SHOULD GO TO AT LEAST ONCE.
Went here for my b-day dinner this week. Â Overall a very good place. Â The food overall tasted and was presented well, the wine pairings were good, and of course the view was lovely. Â Everyone should get to go here for their birthday at least once!
First - it was a little bit tough to find the entrance what with all of the construction off Congress ave. Â Glad we took the truck because otherwise we may have been looking at damaged rims. Â After that it was all good. Â They have complimentary valet parking inside the garage. Â Even the garage looks ballar. Â Going upstairs I thought this place must be REALLY special - it took 3 elevators from the garage to get to the 40th floor! Â
The dining area is small but feels large with the mirrors and plenty of space between tables to allow for private chat (or crazy billion dollar business deals). Â We got a great table by the window for the special day. Â We were asked if we wanted champagne to celebrate. Â Of course we do! Â But WAIT! Â It turns out it's not a complimentary little glass of house brut- they plopped the menu down in front of me and asked me to choose - $18-65 per glass! Â YIKES! Â I thought that was a little tacky, but even tackier to change my mind, so we each enjoyed a $28 glass of champagne, thanks to the BF.
We had the 7-course tasting menu with wine pairing. Â We got to take the menu home including the wines we had, which was nice. Â Everything was delicious, particularly the veal, which was absolutely melt-in-your-mouth tender and delicious. Â The menu was pretty simple, but the quality and combination of flavors was the focus of the meal, and well-done. Â The local cheese plate was nice, and the Zin that paired was amazing. Â Presentation was good, service was very good. Thorough and attentive, but not too stuffy like some other French-style places.
Overall it was a very tasty meal, and for what it was, the price was actually reasonable. Â I've been to a lot of really awesome places with tasting menus (Topolabampo, Trotters, Alinea, Moto, etc.) and this place isn't the best, but it's solid, and definitely the best value out of the ones I just listed. Â Plus you get that fabulous view of the city, which no one else can offer and still get great food. Â We might or might not go back, but it's still a place you have to try at least once.
When you go to a michelin rated restaurant of this caliber and price range you expect to be blown away. I was only kind of blown away.
We had the tasting menu when we went. Any time I have a tasting menu at a place like this the part I look forward to the most is the elaborate descriptions gives by the servers. They were lacking in this department. I think it takes away from the meal because its supposed to be a whole experience and not a guessing game of that you are eating.
All the dishes were great and everything was cooked to perfection though I have to say the veal was a little bland in terms of flavor.
One special note I have to make is with regards to the butter. It is absolutely amazing. Best butter Ive ever had hands down.
Everest's pre-theater menu is hands-down, the best value for a Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago. My husband took me here for my 30th birthday and the food and the experience did not disappoint.
I heard the theater menu is three-courses, but it was more like a 5-course meal. It opened up with a course of three amuse bouches. There was a seafood broth foam and a tiny taste of an asparagus cream soup that was really mind-blowing.
I've had venison at several other restaurants, but it was by far the best at Everest. The tender meat was perfectly seared to medium rare with no gamey taste at all.
After dessert, we were presented with a plate of beautiful cookies, cakes and candies-- and we were told to take as many as we wanted.
The food was spectacular, as was the service. The sommelier was knowledgeable without being pretentious. We picked a bottle of wine and she politely steered us in a different direction, selecting a much better option for us. We started our dinner at 5:30 and stayed until almost 8 -- they didn't rush us out at all, and our waitress was extremely friendly.
If you have a special occasion to celebrate and don't want to drop $300 on dinner, you can't beat the pre-theater menu at $54 per person for 5 courses of some of the best food in Chicago.
$100 on dessert!!!!!!!!! I nearly passed out when i saw the bill : /
Here's the story:
On Saturday nights during the summer months, Navy Pier does a fireworks show at 10pm. So i had the bright idea of watching the fireworks display from a nice view, while sipping on some wine and enjoying some dessert.
Well, i looked thru our hotel guide book and found that Everest (located at the top of the Chicago Stock Exchange) was a block away from us and according to some Yelp reviews has "THE best view in the city". "Sweet!" - i thought
So we're at the restaurant and i feel COMPLETELY under dressed!!! Patrons at the restaurant look like they stepped out of a Dynasty episode - in their gowns, finest jewels, tuxedos, and i'm in skinny jeans and a black sweater : P
I'm completely uncomfortable at this point, and a little flustered, so when i skim thru the dessert menu i failed to notice that the prices of $10-$15 listed below each of the desserts were the prices of the 'suggested' wine pairings, not the pricing of the desserts (the prices of the desserts were not listed).
Mind you, i'm thinking that the $10-$15 range are dessert prices so i decide to splurge and order TWO desserts b/c "hey, why not order $25 worth of dessert, i'm on vacation and deserve such a treat". Ironic, no?
We end up ordering 3 desserts plus a got a glass of Moscato, which i order off the 'Wine' menu not the 'Dessert' menu. We get the bill: the cake slice was $16, my strawberry/rhubarb souffle $30, my sorbet trio $20, and the glass of Moscato $12 + tax + 20% tip = slightly over $100!
I can't justify paying that kind of money on dessert, i mean i could've gone and ordered a Filet Mignon instead of a $30 souffle!
Were the desserts good? Yes, they were excellent!!! Definitely worthy of a 5 star rating, but the uptight atmosphere and overpricing knocks out a star for this restaurant review.
p.s. we never saw the fireworks, the restaurant faces the opposite side....go figure?
I hear the view is spectacular from Everest's 40th floor location in the Chicago Stock Exchange building. Â Unfortunately, we happened to dine there on one of the many cold, cloudy nights we had in Chicago this winter. Â The dining experience was so lovely, however, that I didn't even miss the view.
I'm not exactly sure how long the restaurant has been there, 25 years maybe, but it carries the vibe of a very classic American-style fine dining place. Â It's not over-the-top gaudy or showy, not boisterous or pretentious, just simple, beautiful and elegant. Â The food is not deconstructed or petit or very fancily plated. Â It simply is what I imagine fine dining used to be.
It is one of those places, however, that sneak in extra courses when you aren't looking. Â I have to say, I kind of love that on one hand. Â I mean, who doesn't like surprises (especially delicious ones!)? Â On the other hand, I wish I knew what was coming so I didn't end up stuffing myself silly. Â In this case, we ordered 3 courses and ended up with 8. Â Yeah, big difference. Â Silly, stuffed silly. Â But they were all so beautiful that it's impossible not to indulge in at least a bit of each! Â So we did, happily.
As I said before, the meal was quite lengthy so, I won't bore you with every detail of it. Â The best part are the photos, anyway, so I'll let you indulge that way with little snippets from me. Â Here goes...
One must begin a meal like this with a glass of bubbly. Â Don't you think?
The amuse bouche:
Such a gorgeous presentation, isn't it? Â I wish I had one of those funny spoons with the little stand on it at my house. Â I'm not sure what I'd do with it but I'd figure something out. Â I'd probably eat cereal with it every morning. Â Anyway, our favorite of the four, by far, was the sunchoke soup (second from the left). Â Sooo flavorful and creamy. Â The others were a cod fritter, crab salad and some soft mousse of sort.
My 'official' first course was an herb risotto with escargot. Â It was delicious in a little bit of a 'cheater food' kind of way. Â By that I mean that everything was prepared properly and the flavors were balanced very nicely, but then the flavor lingering in your mouth was that of the butter it was finished with. Â It didn't need it.
This is when drenched-in-butter is a good thing. Â Our other first course: Butter Poached Lobster. Â Yeah, it was pretty much heaven. Â Sweet, delicate, tender. Â It was hard to share this one.
Seared foie gras seemed like the logical next course. Â Yes, more decadence, please! Â It too was, obviously, fantastic. Â It's like silky meat-butter with a caramelized crust. Â This one happened to be served with some lovely seasonal ingredients. Â You can see the fiddlehead ferns curled up to the left and the beat puree underneath. Â Who really cares, though, when there's melty fatty goodness running all over the plate? Â :)
Next was tongue and cheek... Crusted Birkshire Pork Cheeks and Poached Veal Tongue. Â Now, this is still our 'second' course, mind you. Â This may have been my lest favorite. Â It think frying pork cheeks is just tooooo much. Â Plus, the crust was a little greasy and since the cheeks are so fatty anyway, it was too much of one thing. Â I suppose the salad was there as its counterpart, offering some brightness, but it just wasn't enough for me. Â And the tongue was fine but I think I was having flashbacks of peeling that thick first layer off of an enourmous boiled cow tongue (including the buds) in culinary school. Â Ick. Â
I guess our 3rd course wasn't as much of a stand out for me, since I can't tell you what the accompaniments are on this pork dish. Â Yes, more pork. Â This time it was a lean one, though: Â the tenderloin.
And that should have been it for us. Â The chef was kind enough to let us replace the dessert course with a second appetizer course, allowing us a 3 course meal of all savory items, since we didn't want to go overboard. Â Hah! Â Well that didn't stop them.
First they sent a little celebratory sorbet. Â Very sweet of them, I thought.
Then we got a chance to go check out the kitchen and speak to the chef. Â The kitchen is tiny and he was very nice. Â He decided that we should maybehave just one dessert to share. Â Come on, just one!
But that also entails a 'pre-dessert,' which is what this is. Â I'm not exactly sure what it is, but some sort of fruit soup with a floating cream mousse. Â It was fab. Â We slurped it right up!
Then, the actual dessert arrived. Â Rhubarb parfait with strawberry compote. Â This photo doesn't do it justice, but it really was quite pretty inside.
When these beautiful little confections arrived, I knew we'd finally done it...we reached the end. Â We live! Â But don't think that we had to share this little plate between the two of us. Â Oh, no. Â We each got our own and we each cleaned it off. Â Not a crumb left.
The service at Everest was quite nice, as you can imagine. Â It wasn't
I would not bother to come back here again. Just not my scene.
I love fine dining and all that comes with it. This place was just way too uptight for my taste. Decor was minimalist traditional if there is such a thing.
The host, waiter and sommelier all spoke in whispering voices the entire time. The crowd was mostly older (45+) with few exceptions. The lobster bisque was great but the rest was just very simple and not memorable.
We had a window view for the sunset which WAS beautiful.
We also asked for a cab and were told to go downstairs because it was on it's way. It's not like any restaurant that you can just go back in if something goes wrong. That's a lot of floors to travel. When we got downstairs, there was another couple waiting for a cab as well. They had also been told by the restaurant that a cab would be waiting. Eventually, both of us had to walk the city to get our cab because  a cab never came. That has never happened to me at this kind of restaurant before.
Thing is, with so much great dining all over Chicago, why come back here?
Two stars is probably a bit much, but a lot of the food was good and they had a nice champagne selection. Â The place is horribly outdated - even down to the food presentation - Â and a tacky version of luxe (leopard carpet, Louis XIII style furnishings).
Despite some dishes being great, paying $800 for a wicked case of salmonella (thanks, oysters! Â they were the only things the table shared and we were all ill) really sucked. Â We should have gone to Alinea. Â
Also, when I called to let them know the situation (I wasn't trying to get anything out of them compensation-wise, but was calling to let them know the oysters may all be bad), I was completely dismissed... no apology, effort to rectify the situation, not even an "I'll look into it." Â JESUS. Â
Stay away!
Very expensive. Â Very OVERrated.
We were disappointed after reading for years about Everest.
The view is OK, not spectacular.
The service was good. Â The food was good. Â The wines overpriced.
Once was enough for us.
Six friends went together and we ordered several bottles of wine to share, a different one for each course plus before dinner cocktails.
We didn't stint ourselves, but I just don't want to go back again.
It seemed that they are floating upon past repute rather than maintaining.
SNOOOOOOT! OK, so, I pride myself on being able to dine anywhere and fit in perfectly. Never have I been so annoyed by the attitudes of those around me...I'm talking about the waitstaff mostly. I found the decor to be dated, and the service annoying. When we did not want to order a bottle of wine, the waiter snottily asked, "What would you like to order...water perhaps?"
I found the food to be just OK, nothing to write home about. I'm happy for those of you who didn't notice the attitudes around you. As for me, I wouldn't go there again. There are too many nice restaurants in this city to waste my time at a place where the wait staff makes you feel like you should be serving them.
I'm with Paul on this one - get over yourself, Everest! Â I went here with my husband on a weeknight for dinner and was truly unimpressed with the snooty attitude shown us. Â We came straight from work and were early, so it is not like they were crowded yet, but we were still ignored. Â We ordered and were criticized on our choices and when I only ordered a glass of wine (he doesn't drink it, and I'm not a booze hound yet so I'm not ordering a bottle!) you would have thought I washed my hand in the water glass!
The worst part was that the next morning, I awoke with severe food poisoning - so bad I had to call for my mom to help me get to the hospital.  When she called the restaurant to see if anyone else had reported symptoms (to try and help diagnose what caused it) they told my mother I must have eaten "bad food" elsewhere that day.  Giving them the benefit of the doubt, I called the restaurant where I had lunch and they were very kind and sympathetic, but had no calls or problems (plus, what  I had there was not meat or seafood and couldn't be undercooked).  I sicked the City Health Department on Everest for their crappy behavior and eventually found out that it was tainted seafood that had caused the illness.  I will NEVER go back to this over-priced and under-clean hell hole.
I got engaged in 2005 and after he popped the question we went to Everest. Â
It is a lovely restaurant -- I love French food and French wine. The view is fantastic. Â The prices are exorbitant. Â The service is excellent. Â The food is ridiculously rich -- wowza. Â
They gave us a book when we left about French Wine ... I still have the book. I don't have the fiance anymore. Phew. Dodged that bullet! ;)
I'd go back on a special occasion. Â It's very expensive.
Before I proceed I need to divulge that when I went to Everest I was an employee of Lettuce Entertain You and so I got 50% off. Â Also, the sommelier at Everest used to be the sommelier at Brasserie Jo, and he hooked us up with some great wine. Â Yes, I am a very lucky girl!
Everest is by far the nicest restaurant I have ever been to. Â The view is incredible (I've uploaded a photo). Â The place was like a museum, though: everyone spoke in hushed tones, and the servers watched us like security guards, wearing suits and saying nothing as they stood with their backs to the wall. When it came time to actually wait on us they sprung into action and were very cordial and knowledgeable. Â
We had a 6 or 7 course meal, starting out with an amuse bouche that consisted of a platter of unidentifiable food items arranged on little spoons. Â They were delicious. Â Everything was delicious. Highlights included escargot risotto and a single dish on which rested five different kinds of chocolate dessert items. All scrumptious! Â Chef Joho himself came out of the kitchen to thank us for coming, and provided a complimentary soup course. Â When I requested tea at the end of my meal I was thrilled to be offered a tea menu, even more thrilled when the busboy brought out a tiny teapot of looseleaf tea and asked me how strong I wanted my tea. Â When it was done steeping he returned and poured it for me. Â I laughed when we got the bill and I realized that the tea was $10! Well I guess they made it worth it.
I don't know if I'll ever have the opportunity to return to Everest so I am glad I visited it while I could. Â If you go, ask David the sommelier to help you choose your wine. He's a great guy who really knows his stuff.
Food: 5 stars
Wine: 5 stars
Service: 5 stars
Atmosphere: 4 stars
Cost of meal, when getting 50% off: 100 stars
Everest will cost you $400 for dinner, but the valet is free!
Nice for a special occasion, perhaps, but at the end of the day there's no escaping that Everest is overrated. Some people really get off on dining at these kinds of places, where the presentation is as important as the food itself. I don't know, it makes them feel important and glamorous like they should be profiled in CS or something. If you're one of those people, then you'll probably love Everest so check it out. Maybe head to Rush Street afterwards.
I'm not just hatin' -- I really wanted Everest to be as good as advertised. I took my wife here for her birthday, but the truth is if you've ever eaten at one restaurant like this before, then you've eaten at them all. Don't bother unless you just want to cross Everest off your list.
The food is good, but for this price shouldn't it blow you out of your shoes? I can find you 20 places with better food for half  the price (or even less). I will concede that  the service is great, but again, how much do you really require out of your waiter?  Pick a neighborhood restaurant and start tipping 25%. It won't take long for you to become a V.I.P.  and you'll save enough to buy new golf clubs.
I am going to break some Chicago-an hearts with this. Â But last night Everest was the height of disappointment after all the rave reviews. Â Ivo Soldoni's sculptures on each table were perhaps the only highlight of an otherwise stodgy even if grand setting.
Everest has a good selection of wines. Â The food was not extraordinary, although I must concede the risotto was delicious. Â Here are at least three blemishes that we experienced during our short dinner:
1) When we asked for forks at one point, a member of the staff reminded us in a thick French accent that we were supposed to eat right off the cup/spoon--not sure if thanks are due for this lesson in fine dining. Â Bravo!
2) The server dropped a bread roll that bounced off the table on to an unsuspecting colleague's lap. Granted, a pardonable sin. Â What was less acceptable was that there wasn't a hint of apology. Â Hilarious!
3) To top off our experience, our favorite server spilled a generous amount of water on our dessert menu, and was too pre-occupied with who knows what to even take notice. Â Cool!
I will not go here again unless I particulary enjoy scaling the Stock Exchange building and enjoying the views from Everest. Â Without having to pay for it, of course.
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