We went here with a Bloomspot deal, and I have to admit, I had low expectations. Â You know when you get a Groupon or other social deal and you're a bit concerned that they're going to give the bare minimum to your bottom feeder self? Â We were really blown away. Â Mark was our kind, prompt, and helpful guide and the entire staff was friendly and courteous. Â We loved our cocktails, although they ran out of the essentially foie Manhattan, and our dishes- Seaweed, Filet and Duck, were all so good. Â My husband and I kept making the "ehhmeergeerd sooo gooood" face at each other. Â Â Dessert and coffee, great. Â Â We noted that even the bathrooms smelled amazing. Â Â Really cannot wait to go back.
Review Source:Solid 4 stars, prob would give Sprout a 4.5 if I could. To reach 5 stars, I would have needed a little more flavor in a couple of the dishes, and a bit better service, but really nothing big to complain about.
We saw a tasting menu online but it's not available anymore (they stopped it in mid-Feb), but our server asked the kitchen to course out our dishes as if we were doing a tasting, and they graciously obliged. I'm not sure how excited they'll be that I'm publicly announcing that's an option... but they were very kind about it! We had the licorice and the spinach to begin - both classified as "salads," although quite different and both delicious. Who knew that spinach mousse would be one of my favorite flavors of the night?! For our mains we had the lamb (expertly cooked, it was my favorite dish), and a whitefish which I now cannot remember the name of... the dish was literally unmemorable, and my least favorite of the night. Moving on to the "cheese" course - other reviewers have mentioned the grilled cheese with hard cider and it was SO good. Such a playful take on a cheese course, but still really good flavor. And we finished it up with the corn dessert - basically the lightest, fluffiest profiteroles I've ever had. All in all, really enjoyed the meal with the exception of the bland whitefish.
Cocktails - eh. I had something with raspberryand tequila that was too sugary for me, so maybe I just selected wrong, but at a restaurant of this calibre I would not have expected something quite as cloyingly sweet. My husband said the sazerac was good though.
Lastly, service. I thought our server was fine, she was knowledgeable, but she was quite stiff and it made me feel a bit on edge, like I wasn't hip enough to be dining there. But, like I said earlier, they were very accomodating by doing a modified 'tasting' for us, so I wouldn't say service was overall an issue.
the place is a solid 4 stars!!
we had licorice salad. it was good & unique. i can really taste + smell licorice and it was not weird, but pretty refreshing. Beet salad was good. We had steak + mushroom risotto for entree. I loved both of them. Flavors were really well balanced: some sweet, some pickled. We got amuse bouche after the entree. It was almost like grill cheese sandwich with apple & sautéed onions. So good!  Dishes were great but this grill cheese is my #1 for the night. We would love to go back again!
I went to Sprout last night fo our 5th year anniversary and was very disappointed.
The food was fine, but for the same price (it all came up over 200 dollars, without the tip), you can do much much better in Chicago!
Service was overwhelming and awkward.
For an appetizer, we got the veal cheek, very good and the spinach, which was ok, but nothing I could not have done at home.
My husband got the steak which was fair and I got the lamb, which was undercooked (it should not be too cooked but bloody, no thanks!), was served with potatoes, just like an omelette would be at a breakfast place, for a 32 dollar dish, I expected better!
Same thing with desserts, which were ok, but really nothing to write home about, priced at 12 dollars, I want to LOVE it, not like it.
In one word, if you want to splurge for an occasion,go to Sunda, MK, Boka... Forget about this place...
Overall I had a very nice experience at Sprout- would give a 3.5 if possible. Â Ambiance was nice, although I would have preferred to sit in the front room with the stone walls, the back area where we sat sort of lacked any kind of 'vibe' (we made the reserv earlier during the day on Saturday so thats to be expected)
The service was good, although when we asked the waiter if he had a recommendation he said no and simply reviewed the entire menu. I think its odd as a waiter of such an upscale place you don't have even one reco? Would have liked the waiter to ask about our a drink/cocktail re-fill a little sooner....
Food was delicious! Both the app and entrees came very promptly and the flavors were amazing. Â We ordered the Licorice salad, barramundi fish, chicapea vegetarian dish and the chocolate dessert (ah-mazing).
Overall I was very pleased but I thought the price was a bit steep for the amount of food. If you're going to by a 4-dollar sign kind of place, everything better be impecible, which I dont think it was. I'd still defintiely go back, but not with any urgency.
Not too much to say here, arrived 5 minutes before our reservation time, and upon seeing our OpenTable reservation comment that it was our 3 year anniversary, a short, snarky four-eyed kid offered us a table in the back corner, unless we "wanted the better center table by the window". Â
We sat down and my girlfriend went to the bathroom, upon which I chose two appetizers and a nice $125 bottle of champagne to order in the meantime. Â She came back from the bathroom, and we sat and talked for 15 minutes through the only person coming to the table being the busser bringing water. Â
No idea who our server was/wasn't, but we got up and left to go have a spectacular dinner next door at Via Carducci!!
A few minutes later I got an email from OpenTable saying Sprout had canceled our reservations. Â This removes it from your OT history to prevent you from rating the restaurant. Â This place is a joke, go next door and order off the menu!
Amazing food, one of the best dinners I've ever had in Chicago! Had 3 courses with wine pairings, filet was just amazing! They brought out a "surprise" intermezzo course , one of the best surprises ever- grilled cheese with ages white cheddar, honeycrisp apple and caramelized onions. Pricey but worth it.
Review Source:What a let down. I was here on Friday for my birthday dinner with my husband. While the food was good, it was all overshadowed by some major let downs that have me wanting to never return and feeling really disappointed:
- The biggest. My husband called earlier in the day to say it was birthday and to ask if  it could be acknowledged. the hostesses comment was that they would greet us with bubbly. That didn't happen, actually my birthday wasn't even acknowledged at all. We would have paid for said bubbly, and it really blows to be promised something that doesn't happen. Major fail
- Everyone around us got bread service. I asked the guy who brought food to our table and he seemed so indifferent. I asked if it needed to be requested and he said no. then he was like "do you want bread?" in this annoyed tone. Our server brought it over...no apology.
- We ordered three courses and after a cocktail we asked to have appetizer and entree paired with a glass of wine. For both courses we waited for a few moments after our food sat there getting cold for the wine to arrive. The glass of wine paired with a course should always be brought out before the food is. At a place in this price range this should be a no-brainer. Again, no apology
I have been wanting to eat at Sprout since they opened and have been to Frog and Snail and really enjoyed it. Â The menu looked great and the plates are beautiful constructions, but when my food gets cold while I wait for wine, and I am neglected by a forgetful server who treats my table differently, it really feels terrible.
We told a manager, who said they were understaffed, apologized and asked if we wanted a glass of wine at the bar, but at this point we just wanted to get out of there. She apologized but seemed in a hurry to just be done with us.
All this for over $200 bucks for two people. If the food weren't good, this would be a one star review.
Its been an on and off again love affair with Sprout. Â I came here when it first opened and was totally giddy about the "choose your own adventure" concept and the cocktails have always been fantastic. Â Then I took my boyfriend here and again we were awestruck. Â So we took some of his friends and found it slipping just a bit in food and service. Â This was before they added the new wing up front. Â Finally I was invited to the 1 yr anniversary dinner. Â Then we were fighting. Â The anniversary was a total bust. Â We were seated practically in the front door. Â Granted they probably over booked for the celebration and put in extra seats but still annoying. Â Then the menu and I say - no meat substitutions are available, right? Â Wrong! Â They gave me the old "when we called to confirm we noted that it was 1 menu" to which I said "yeah but I asked about no meat and you said fine" I was ready to walk b/c I'm not paying that much money for something I can't eat. Â They ended up saying I would double up on the fish when the meat came out but they weren't happy about it. Â Then Dale comes around but skips us. Â Hmmm....
So anyway I hadn't been back since. Â I thought someone maybe got too big for their britches. Â All the while my friends are like, noooooooo...... and then I see the Gilt City deal and I thought, to err is human. Â So we go again and this time I'm hearing that Foreigner song in my head. Â Yes. Â We're no longer fighting.
I got to eat in the new wing and I must say its so lovely in there. Â Even in the winter. Â The staff is super super friendly and helpful. Â The only complaint is that it did derail a little after we ate our mains but it was crazy busy. Â The guy making the drinks is a total gem. Â I want to sit at the bar on a slow night and talk to him more about making cocktails.
And the food. Â Even though I got that same minty fennel salad that I've always had, it was still fresh and yummy. Â The bread presentation has changed but that's ok. Â I had the salmon and it was a little summery but well prepared. Â
We will be back and this time bring more friends!
After all of the rave reviews, and the amount of time this place has been on my "must eat here" list, I have to say I was a bit disappointed with the tasting menu we had at Sprout. By no means was the food bad, it was just not amazing to me, and definitely did not meet up to other tasting menus in the city.
The good thing is that you can pick whether you want to go for the tasting menu or order a la carte from the menu. If I was to go again, I would probably go a la carte to ensure I got specific dishes that stand out to me.
I don't think I will be back again.
Last Friday, we enjoyed every course of the tasting menu with wine pairings at Sprout. Â Some standouts were: the potato soup (perfection), Veal (tender and tasted like home), and surprisingly the Licorice salad (minty fresh). Â Everyone around us had ordered the grilled cheese and the restaurant was buzzing about it, thus I will absolutely be giving that a try on my next trip back.
Overall, the food was creatively homey, the service was friendly, and the dinner was perfection.
This was a case of a restaurant where I struggled to find something on the menu that excited me. Â So, when that happens, or when everything looks good, I ask the waitress for suggestions on what are her or patrons' favorites. Â Upon asking for suggestions, our waitress proceeded to go into minute detail describing each dish, in no way helping me narrow down selections. Â Rather than answering the question, she gave me more information than necessary. Â She did the same when I asked for help in selecting a drier white wine, as unfortunately, I am not familiar with French varietals. Â Service was awkward the entire night.
For a starter, I had the scallop and for entree, the rabbit. Â Neither were bad and neither were fabulous.
The ambiance is super cute. Â
Even with this mediocre review, I'd be up for going back. Â Since the menu changes fairly frequently, I'd just check out the menu ahead of time to make sure there was something on it that would capture my attention.
Went to Sprout last Friday with a Gilt City voucher for 2 that we picked up a couple of months ago. Delicious! We did a 3 course menu (with a 'grilled cheese and cider' intermezzo that was to die for!). Both my husband and I went out of our way to order different items on the menu and then didn't share because we each liked our own so much. The potato starter is a delicious soup with a nice hint of hotness to it. I had the licorice salad to start, which made me nervous because I actually don't like licorice, and it was great! Really nice, light dressing. For dinner I had the salmon with brussel sprouts - awesome.
Overall great time. Â We did the wine pairing with our dinner, glad we did, so good. Definitely will go back again!
We greatly enjoyed a three-course dinner here, which actually turned out to be four with the addition of a "surprise" course between the main and dessert. Â Everything was impeccable, including the service. Â
Our soup starter was brought out by the chef and was an amazing blend of textures and flavors--a real feast for all the senses.  The vegetarian main was a very successful combination of chickpea cakes and vegetables, with the addition of grapefruit.  I would never have conceived of such a dish but would order  it again without the bat of an eye.  It matched perfectly with a very fine Petrus ale from Belgium.  The filet was paired with an excellent vegetable and polenta mixture and the waiter readily omitted the worcestershire-based sauce, which it definitely did not need.
The surprise course was one that I can only describe as a toasted cheese sandwich gone to heaven. Â It was delicately-crispy sharp cheddar with fruit and other ingredients along with a dipping sauce--truly a match made in heaven. Â This was one of the few meals I've enjoyed where I might have thought a dessert was superfluous, but in this case our two selections held their own.
Finally, high ceilings with skylights and beautiful stone walls provide an excellent setting for the gastronomy. Â The noise level was quite acceptable, even as the restaurant filled up with diners. Â The Sprout is definitely on our list of places deserving of a return visit.
Rather disappointed as I had high hopes for Chef Levitski after Top Chef. Came here to use up my voucher and was given a special menu. Next table's entrees from the regular menu seemed much more generous. The veal cheek appetizer and trout entree were perfectly executed. Also had a bonus course of kicked-up grilled cheese sandwich and cider, which were ok. I liked the different flavors in the sandwich but thought it was kind of greasy. My dessert was a total FAIL. The peanut butter ice cream was so salty I couldn't get past my first bite (and I NEVER leave desserts unfinished). Service was rather cold and distant.
Review Source:Okay, giving 2 stars is serious business. Â I truly thought that for the type of restaurant it strives to be, it's decidedly a 2 star in its class.
Found this place through Gilt city. Â At $88 a tasting menu for 2 seemed worth a try. Â We both added wine tastings as well. Â These came out with the courses so slowly, I wondered if they forgot we added them.
After a lengthy discussion with my dinner companion about why she didn't care for foie gras (too heavy) she decides to go with the sweetbreads. Â For those not in the know (including us at the time) sweetbreads here consist of a dish centered around cow brains.
I opted to go the safe route and went with the potato. Â Turns out, the potato was a soup. Â It was creamy but overall a little too heavily salted. Â
I wish I could say that the brains were delightful, but they were on the heavy-side. Â Also, this may be my provincial side making an ugly appearance, but I just couldn't get over eating brains.
Next we both got the filet. Â It comes on the rare side, so luckily I like that. Â The quality of the meat and the cooking technique were nice, but the sauce was a little too much. Â I vacillated between liking and disliking it on each bite. Â It reminded me of hoison sauce, but really not as good. Â
We had almost finished our filet course and they hadn't brought out our wine pairing. Â I stopped eating because I wanted to save something to pair the wine with so the waiter stopped by to ask if he could clear our plates. Â I told him that I was actually just waiting on the pairing before finishing. Â He apologized for the late delivery and brought them right away.
The intermezzo surprise was a deconstructed grilled cheese with a sparkling hard cider pairing. Â The grilled cheese was my favorite part of the meal, though the components made it too heavy to want more than a few bites. Â
For dessert I got some sort of grape mousse and my friend got the chocolate. Â The chocolate was rich, and not nearly as good as the chocolate I'd just tried at Graham Elliot. Â The grape mousse was tasty and refreshing, but it failed to be memorable.
Overall, this meal was very hit or miss with many of the flavor components ultimately not coming together quite right.
For the final price tag, there is an entire list of other restaurants I'd hit before coming here again.
I had this place recommended to me while visiting Chicago. I never would have found it without this tip as it is removed from the downtown areas.
Although pricey, the tasting menu is a real treat. Each course is beautifully crafted and delicious. A focus on fresh ingredients, interesting combinations, and technical gastronomy, it is a delight for the senses. The restaurant is beautiful and the service both kind and personable. Highly recommended!
If you have not experienced Sprout yet, you are missing out! Â To be in the presence of Jeffrey Sills' skills is an amazing experience. Â I had a chef inspired tasting menu and every course was a mouthful of flavor and quality. Â When you go, you must have the pumpkin soup and bibb cleansing salad. Â Each bite you recognize how much effort went into the dish and that Sprout will consistently provide ingredients from the best farmers. Â The portions are so filling too and the meat/fish are paired with great sides and garnishes that are all edible.
The waitstaff and service was superb! Â I have ZERO complaints and would recommend this to anyone visiting Chicago as well as I believe everyone in Chicago should try the experience at least once. Â You will be impressed by Jeffrey as his dedication and passion shines through his amazing dishes. Â EVERY bite I tell you was a burst of flavor and so different than anything I have ever experienced. Â Check out SPROUT for a unforgettable dinner experience.
It wasn't bad. Â But it wasn't amazing either. Â
The best part was the service. Â It was really excellent.
But, I was really looking forward to the tasting menu with the wine pairings, unfortunately only 1 or 2 of the dishes really stood out. Â The others were ho hum to me and a couple of the dishes weren't seasoned that well, and it was complex. Â There was just too much going on in some of the dishes. Â I really was hoping for more.
I bought a bloomspot voucher (79 bucks for two 3 course dinners) and brought my husband here on a Saturday night. We had to make a reservation before 6 or after 8 or something like that based on their rules which I thought was kind of lame. Anyways, we made a reservation for 6. When we arrived the restaurant was pretty empty, but it was early so it didn't seem that strange. The ambiance is nice and the servers were attentive; however, I found the food very disappointing and for this reason, we won't be back.
For the first course, I had the pumpkin and apple cider soup. It was lukewarm and the flavors were pretty bland. My husband had the sweetbreads and those were better than my soup, but nothing special. For the main course, I had the salmon which was well cooked but the portion was really small. My husband had the steak and he was also shocked by how small the portion was. Although the meat was nice and rare. Then they brought out a apple and cheese grilled cheese sandwich as a free taste from the kitchen. This was paired with a little glass of apple cider. This was probably the tastiest course we had all night. The flavors were great and the cider was awesome. The bread was also really crispy and thin. We enjoyed this. For dessert, I had some sort of lemon cake and my husband had the chocolate dessert. The desserts were meh.
I feel like more effort went into the plating than the actual cooking. I also found all the accompaniments on the plates to be a bit pretentious. All the foams, dusts, and elements that didn't really add to the flavor of the dish. Overall, we were not impressed and found the food to be overpriced.
I went with the intention that I'd have a good meal. After all Top Chef Dale L is highly esteemed. However, it surpassed any expectations I brought to the table.
The decor, candidly, didn't impress me. Very reminiscent of a relative's home. But it represented the character of the menu. Deconstructed elements (like exposed brick walls), elegance (like the furniture), and surprising features (such as the fixtures and lights). This is reflected in the cuisine and thus, authentic.
About the menu. When I was young I read Bret Easton Ellis and his lengthy fine dining descriptions and thought them quite outlandish and hyperbolic for comedic effect. How naive and provincial I was! My untrained palate had no idea of the kinds of ingredients and juxtapositions of such could be made.
They have a good wine list and cocktail list. We had Aviations- a gin cocktail botanical in taste.
We ordered:
Foie Gras with banana, cocoa nib, miso, and mushroom.
A bit unctuous and rich. Inventive take on a French standard.
Scallop with sepia, Buddha's hand, scotch bonnet, and avocado.
Buttery scallop, the Buddha's hand citrus brought out the flavor, and the scotch bonnet lent a peppery kick. Great! All parts complemented each other.
Salmon with cauliflower, escarole, faro, and meyer lemon.
Nothing about it stood out to me.
Ricotta with kumquat, kale, truffles, and garlic.
The shining star! Very savory.
Everything was well plated and artistically presented.
The service, though, good, was a touch mechanical.
I would recommend it. If you're looking for an imaginative twist on French fare look no further than Sprout.
Diner was good but for that price you can expect better. Too many ingredients that do not necessary go together, all not at the same temperature when served in the plate. Overall, the chef is willing to make too complex. There is definitely room to make simpler and better.
Service was pro and efficient. Nice place for a romantic diner.
One word disappointed.
I sought out the perfect restaurant for my boyfriends 33rd birthday. Â Sprout seems to be the perfect fit, great location, amazing menu, and well-known chef. Â I made a reservation Oct.13th at 7:00pm through OpenTable. Â I noted my allergies and also that it was a surprise to my boyfriend and that we would be celebrating his birthday at Sprout. Â I received the standard confirmation email and once Saturday came along, I received a voicemail from the hostess confirming the Chef had been made aware of my allergies and that he had prepared a special tasting menu and that I would be able to pay extra for a special birthday dessert or celebratory welcome glass of champagne. Â I called the hostess back and a gentleman answered, he then once agin confirmed they would provide a welcome glass of champagne for him.
We arrived right on time, the host confirmed once again the chef was aware of my allergies and that everything was taken care of.  We were sat and then the waiting game began, 15 mins in no celebratory champagne, we placed our order of two tasting menus with wine pairings- and again we waited some time.  When we asked what was taking so long for  1) wine 2) the first course, our server said the Chef was not prepared for my allergies and he was now working though what items to serve. Â
At this point, we have had no champagne (as I had already confirmed three times) and no food. Â By the time the courses starting coming out, disappointed was the only word I can find. Â I had to remind our server that I was the one with the allergies and that we had ordered wine pairings as well. Â On a number of occasions we had to wait to eat our dish because we had not received our wine. Â At one point we were two pairings behind our dish. Â And add insult to injury, the dessert course came and not one single recognition from our server in regards to my boyfriends birthday. Â I am in the industry at a 5 star property and this is extremely disappointing. Â How many people should I have told that we were celebrating a special occasion.... apparently three was not enough.
I paid as much for supper for two here as I paid for my first car (a Chevy beater in 1969), so it was hard not to choke from time to time at the thought of forking over $145 per person (plus cocktails and tip) for the tasting dinner and accompanying wine flight.
Notwithstanding the expense and some menza-menza courses in a leisurely night of noshing, the over-all experience rates 3.75 stars for the ambitious but fussily presented cuisine and 5.50 stars for the table-side elan of our server. Â Net: Â This is a solid four-star, once-in-a-lifetime experience. But you really need to do it only once.
As well it should, the menu changes according to the season. Our night in mid-September featured cold cucumber soup garnished with creme fraiche, a small but lovely licorice salad, a pair of brilliantly executed fish courses, some fine bites of filet mignon fried in duck fat, and two desserts. Â Any meal with two desserts rates an extra half-star in my book. Â
Everything was competently prepared and painstakingly composed, but the flavors in some courses, as noted by other reviewers, were strangely subtle.  While I celebrate  chefs who don't overpower the ingredients, I didn't leave Sprout with an indelible memory of any dish - or an urge to get a second mortgage to hurry back for more. Â
In contrast to the un-memorableness of all but the crispy, creamy preparation of the mahi mahi, I loved the wine flight, which took us around the world in a series of sips that perfectly complemented each course. The pours individually seemed a bit  grudging but any more wine would have rendered us insensible to the depth and texture of the dining experience. Â
This is splendid place to take your honey for a special occasion, if s/he is a fellow foodie. And you can cost-average the price of the experience by taking said honey to dinner each night for the next few months at the Burger King conveniently located next door. Â You might even spot my Chevy beater in the parking lot.
Have you ever been made love to?
It was like that.
Sprout was most likely the best dining experience I've ever had. Â Arrived with three other friends and were treated to a dinner like no other. Â We enjoyed the tasting menu with wine pairings and I left wishing every meal could taste like this. Â I truly believe the tasting menu with wines is the only way to enjoy Sprout mostly because it's their way of designing the meal around their strengths.
Cucumber Soup: served cold with sour cream, herbs, and a flower. Â Taste buds were pleased, the wine pairing shot me through the roof.
Watermelon : with foie gras and lime. Â I didn't know watermelon could taste like this.
Short Ribs: tender, delicious, wonderful.
New York steak: with house made worcestershire was a moment worth extending as far as I could.
I'll admit my taste buds were probably biased because I didn't just have dinner, I enjoyed an experience. Â The tasting menu felt as if every dish with its wine was designed to caress your taste buds and leave you wanting the next. Â We commented on how any salad we've ever had always tasted like lettuce and ingredients; the salad here felt as though every part belonged there, nothing tasted out of place. Â I tried to make every course last as long as possible. Â I was amazed.
I thought I knew what great food tasted like. Â Wow. Â The price is up there but I'm definitely saving up so I can come back.
Service: knowledgeable, professional, yet casual.
Atmosphere/decor: a mix of rustic, country, and farm-esque.
Food:
Scallop appetizer: It was perfectly cooked and served a good portion of vegetables and orange. Only one scallop though.
Halibut: Also perfectly cooked. Mild. Served with a lot of vegetables for a balanced and healthy dish.
Donuts: fresh, homemade, and not too sweet. But it came with some very sour almost rancid sauce which was gross.
The food was no doubt excellent but there was minimal seasoning which I think is the point. That way guests can taste the main ingredients but I must say that I love spices! So I may return when I have crossed out restaurants I've been wanting to try.
Dat soup... so freaking good. In my top 3 soups ever. Â If you see the English Pea Soup on the menu, don't miss out! Â Speck, purple haze, radish, mint - that's pretty much how all the dishes are listed on the menu, so you never know how it'll be prepared. Â The soup is served cold, with thin sliced rolls of speck (juniper ham), stuffed with purple haze goat cheese, and also some radish & mint. Â All the flavors just went so well together, making for some damn tasty soup.
First off, I really dug the dining room, which had high ceilings, stone walls, Â hardwood floors, and was brightly lit. Â Felt like I was in a large cottage. Â The service was great and overall very friendly. Nobody likes a crabby pants.
We got the tasting menu, but I couldn't resist ordering the Foie Gras - banana, cocoa nib, miso, mushroom. Â I was disappointed at first that it was just some mousse, but I ended up enjoying it a lot. Â Just the right amount of sweet and salty. Â I also really enjoyed the Ricotta ravioli... all I remember is truffle + garlic.
The Rhubarb beignets were okay, but the meal overall was great. Â My friend wasn't as happy with her dishes, so I guess I made the right picks. Â English Pea soup FTW!
Went with another couple and did the tasting menu and the wine pairing to try a large amount of the menu items. Â The pairing was done well, reasonably priced, good pours, solid matches, enjoyed the full list.
Great: Â Foie Gras, Burrata, Scallop, Soft Shell
Good: Â Veal said escargot but they were small and minimal
Skip: Â Foie Gras... not the right preparation or way to serve Foie... it's great on it's own do not over engineer it, Meat dish wrapped in Nori... overpowering Nori ruined this dish
Do not take this listing as negative as overall the experience was excellent. Â Great service, great cocktails, knowledgeable staff, very good food.
I would rate this 3.75... wanted to do a 4 but two of the dishes just dragged it down. Â I would return, I would suggest the location, I would order off the menu trying new and some of the same dishes skipping the ones that just didn't work. Â Thing of it this way... I like a classic preparation for Foie... maybe a twist like strawberry and habenero pepper if I want something more modern, flash freezing it and grating is a terrible waste as you lose the texture of the meat and that's part of the selling point with Foie
Just had dinner here again after a one year lay off. Â Sprout remains fabulous and is clearly one of my favorite restaurants in the city. Â Why is it not on more top restaurant lists? Â I can only think of three reasons....location, location, location.
What's not to like?  Dashi accented with Jalapeno (which, let's face it, makes everything better.  It's kind of like the bacon of the vegetable world) with clams, mussels, and crudo.  Followed by duck fat poached lamb chops with anchovies and olives - salty, sensuous and super yummy.  Dale Levitski comes up with some wacky stuff, but it  is so good.
My wife had zuchini, beet, coca nib cake with curry frosting for dessert. Â Holy cow, who comes up with this stuff but once again it was a homerun.
Service remains stellar and the cocktail service outstanding. Â For you Manhattan drinkers out there, try the Amaro cocktai (Bourbon, Scoth, Bitters, Organge Flower Water) for a little change of pace. Â The bartender suggested it when I mentioned my Mahattan affectation and it really delivered. Â Well played, sir.
Very unimpressed! Â I went here for my birthday recently with some pretty high expectations based on what some coworkers and friends had told me. I thought the food was average to above average at best. Â We ordered 2 apps, 2 entrees, and a dessert and shared everything. The rabbit was actually wonderful with the gnocchi. Nothing else really stood out. The salad was very bland and the tuna tartare app tasted too fishy and all around weird.
On top of the just ok food was the ambiance as atmospere...or lack there of. We got there at 7pm and were literally the only people in the whole place. By 730pm the patio had filled its 7 or 8 tables but the demographic was a little older. Minus myself and my sister the median age had to be 50 years old. Â Just not a fun or happening place to be.
Maybe I just went on a bad night but based on this experience I'd need go back and chalk this up as a very forgettable meal.
I came here on a Wednesday for a 6:00 pm reservation. Beware: As I am an out-of-towner, I wasn't aware of the brutal traffic situation to get here from the Loop. It took over 30 minutes! When I got there, I was surprised to see the restaurant fairly empty, only a couple seated tables in the very front section.
The staff was attentive and friendly and offered up some insight on how to interpret the menu descriptions. I would've loved to try the tasting menu, but instead opted for an appetizer and entree. Following the suggestions of my waiter, I chose the Veal appetizer and the Rabbit entree. The Veal was super tender but the escargot tasted somewhat bland. The Rabbit was served two ways and tasted great. I was a bit surprised to see the blueberries
My friend had the Zucchini for dessert which I tried a bit of. It was an experience of flavors that I thought would never work together. Zucchini topped with curry...carrot ice cream...beets...chocolate crumbs...
Overall, it was an interesting dining experience. There were some unique combinations of flavors that were completely new to me....some that worked well and some that were just OK. The presentations were lovely for every dish.
My wife and I love the city of Chicago but traffic can sometimes be a hassle. Â One way to enjoy all the city has to offer is to go in on Sunday mornings. Â Nope, we are not headed to church but rather to brunch. Â As we prefer to avoid lines, we are trying all the places that will let you make a reservation and luckily, Sprout was one of them.
We parked right in front, the waiter and manager even assured us it was legal. Â We had morning cocktails and with bacon buns. Â Yes, you read that right, bacon in the buns. Â I could eat those every Sunday. Â I then had an omelet with seafood and it was probably the best omelet I have ever eaten. Â Trust me, I have eaten a lot of them. Â
Great service, wonderful food and no traffic. Â I love Sundays.
Brunch at Sprout was a magical, perfect day. Â The morning sprouted with great weather and sun, a portend of wondrous events yet to happen. Â
We arrived early so my husband pulled up right outside the restaurant and I ran in to see about valet, which they don't have for brunch. Â Our waiter came all the way outside to tell my husband he could park right outside the place, no meter, no problem. Â It was like a fantasy come true!
We had reservations but we were early enough that we wouldn't have needed them as it didn't get crowded until we were leaving. Â I was glad we were early because the tiny tables are close together but we felt like it was very spacious as people were scattered. Â
It was such a good day with sprouts of fun and sunshine that we started off with cocktails. Â I had the Afternoon delight because two of the four ingredients are on my loved list - raspberries and prosecco. Â Cheers! Â We then split an order of bacon buns. Â Say it again, bacon buns. Â Only the best bread you will ever taste. Â They are Red Hen Bakery bun dough chock full of delicious bacon. Â Chock full!
I followed that with a lamb eggs benedict which was simply amazing. Â It had polenta and green onions with the lamb plus a poached egg, peas and pea tendrils topped by perfection in a sauce. Â What a dish!
The service was sublime; my favorite part was that if you left the table, they folded your napkin. Â When my husband returned, I told him I had done it. Â Then just because I am immature, I left to use the bathroom and sure enough, my napkin was folded. Â My husband told me he had done it and we had a good giggle. Â The coffee and oj were fabulous. Â It just was a perfect day, a sprout of love and happiness!
Before, if you said the word sprout, I thought of the Jolly guy's sidekick,. Â Now I just smile and think of marvelous flavors AND a folded napkin.
The tasting menu is where it's at.
Oh, and the cocktails, too.
Unfortunately, the cocktails rendered me unable to remember everything on the tasting menu, and it's not on the Sprout site, so...
You'll just have to trust me. This was one of the best meals I've had in quite a while. The service was friendly and laid back without that fine-dining tight sphincter. Some highlights: the pork rillette, the split pea & something soup, the Sazerac cocktail, the Vodka cocktail (I swear that's what it was called), and the potato & chocolate ice cream. Really, I loved every single thing except maybe the beef dish. But with ten courses, who cares?
For a place called "Sprout," I was expecting the menu to be more veggie-centric. There are in fact surprisingly few vegetarian dishes, though the options increase if you're open to fish/seafood and a few things can be made sans meat.
A note on the menu: The dishes are named after the primary ingredient, and some, but not all, of the secondary components are listed below. Our server let us know that many other ingredients are not listed. Also, you can't tell what form the dish will take until it comes. Although I suppose you could ask but that ruins some of the fun, doesn't it? So, for example, we ordered "english pea" for an appetizer and got pea soup, and ordered "lime" for dessert and got lime cheesecake. Some things are more groundbreaking than others, but a pretty cool concept nonetheless.
Vegetarians will want to skip the prix fixe and order from the a la carte menu. For appetizers, you can choose from squash, licorice, or the aforementioned english pea (without the speck). Â If you add seafood, you can also get a shrimp dish, which I got and loved. It was a single shrimp atop a puff pastry stuffed with shellfish with a curry apricot sauce. Rick got the english pea and didn't love it. I tried one bite and agreed. The mint and radish flavors just didn't work. Plus, it's served cold which almost always kills a soup for me. Even it's pushing the boundaries on flavor, a lot can be saved by making it warm (and creamy). More sophisticated palates might love it, who knows. Next time I'd get the squash or licorice.
There is only one vegetarian entree, the ricotta. Luckily, it was amazing. It came as ravioli in a rich and creamy sauce. Rick loved it but would have been happy with a bigger portion. I got the salmon (there was also black bass to choose from). It was fantastic. The fish didn't come in an unusual form, but the preparation was spot on. And I LOVED the cauliflower and farrow salad. Just delicious. Would get this again in a heart beat.
Dessert was the highlight, because you really didn't know what you were getting when you ordered. The lime cheesecake was yummy plus you got to put all the components together yourself. The apple is essentially just apple cobbler, but Rick loved it. I asked about the chocolate and was told it's cake with potato ice cream. Sounds pretty epic. There's also a donut, though the main ingredient is pineapple and that sounded pretty sick, actually.
The food was almost all spectacular and the service was great though a little condescending (but how can you not be when the house forces you to ask "Can I explain your dish to you?" I know this is a "fancy" place, but like, barf). I also had two of the vodka "creations" (again, barf) and they were so delicious and not at all overpowering like some craft cocktails places that want to "let the vodka shine though." Um, no thanks. I prefer my vodka obscured to the point of undetectability.
Our bill hit ~$180 with tip for two appetizers, two entrees, and four drinks. So not cheap but definitely worth the price. It's worth noting that the front space is pretty relaxed and casual so you shouldn't feel like you have to dress up. The back room is a little fancier, with white tablecloths. I would have been happy to finish up the night at SmallBar's patio next door.
I recently got soooo lucky. Â I married my dreamy husband, AND received a ton of love from friends and family in various forms including cards and gifts. Â One card contained a gift card to Sprout, since the giver heard from a little birdie that we'd wanted to try it. Â
The menu that came with the gift card was very minimalist: one ingredient/item, followed by three or four others with no verbs or further description. Â I am a girl who likes a little more info, so I was hoping our server could elaborate (she could). Â As it turns out, they also offer a prixe fixe option. Â It was a great choice because the entire menu was available, with the addition of a soup and cheese course in between. Â
1: I had the licorice salad with goat cheese, macadamias and pear. Â It was four great tastes that apparently do taste great together. Â The salad contained licorice greens, but then the server shaved fresh licorice root onto it as well. Â Tasty and fresh and light. Â I overheard another server telling a guest it had been on their menu since the beginning and had earned its permanent spot. Â I'm thinking that is possibly due to the fact that it's the only vegetarian option, though it is very good regardless.
2. The soup. Â Lord, have mercy, Â It was a shot-size portion of squash bisque with cracked black pepper and creme fraiche. Â Give it to me. Â Sweet and creamy and snappy. Â Have you ever felt greedy for a soup? Â Prepare yourself.
3. The black bass was just fab. Â It's seared with the skin on, so there's some saltiness but the rest of the dish is simple winter vegetables including carrot, sunchoke and eggplant, so it's balanced. Â
4. The cheese course was a grilled cheese quarter with cheddar and apple, accompanied by a shot of Scrumpy's cider. Â I didn't think I'd be excited about it, as I am a take-it-or-leave-it cheese consumer, but it was pretty great. Â It was actually so rich I kind of needed a nap afterwards.
5. Â The dessert description was chocolate: peanut butter, banana, maple. Â It was a cake whose flavor was too subtle (maybe banana?), but it didn't matter because it was on top of chocolate sauce, and underneath a dollop of maple cream and a dollop of peanut butter cream. Â The peanut butter cream was topped with three salty peanuts. Â In addition there were toasted banana slices, which were kind of like the sentries trying to guard the cake from my mouth (nice try). Â I tried to pace myself and take dainty lady-bites but seriously, it was chocolate and peanut butter and maple and banana. Â I was outnumbered, man!
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Other than the food, the service was very good and our server made sure we were out in time to make our play date. Â The seating arrangement is orderly but possibly too close together. Â We "enjoyed" our neighbors' conversations (and lengthy, inane requests, as it turned out). Â The music is kind of a distraction, truth be told. Â Very upbeat but sexy. Â Â
Overall though, very, very good. Â Lucky girl indeed.
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