Maple & Ash’s Eight Bar Offers an Untraditional Omakase | Eater Chicago
"Located beneath that Gold Coast steakhouse, the tavern is being positioned to carve its own identity with a no-reservations, more casual counterpoint to the upstairs dining room. Guests can mix and match—ordering everything from burgers to maki with a glass of Burgundy—and now have a walk-in omakase option: the $150 Golden Omakase, a roughly seven-course, “customer’s whim” tasting (optional $75 beverage pairing) designed to be shorter and less formal than traditional omakase. Sushi veteran Hari Chan, with experience at Kaze, Macku and stints with Lettuce Entertain You and Hogsalt, oversees standards; menu highlights include a slow-roasted scallop served in its shell with ramps, a King crab roll, and playful surprises like a fried chicken sandwich for hearty diners. Staff check in around the fifth course to avoid overstuffing, and management sees potential to scale the concept to additional locations." - Ashok Selvam
