Oceanique

Great romantic restaurant in Evanston. We had fond memories from a prior visit but were absolutely blown away by both the service and food. Classic but updated fine dining!

Wow!! We came here for our 8th anniversary and it was magical. Excellent, friendly service who didn’t miss a beat, ever. We got the 7 course meal and only had to pay a bit extra to make it for 2. Also started with happy hour oysters, yum! Every single dish blew us away starting with a cold lobster salad that just melted in my mouth. Our favorite was the sea bass in a red wine reduction. They even brought out two full size desserts! My mouth was so happy, my tummy delighted, and my mood supreme after this wonderful celebration. We will definitely be back!!

This restaurant is so special! 37 years in business for a reason. Chef Matt is so creative and passionate.

The food looks delicious on the plate; however, I was sick within an hour after eating there. I had a single shrimp appetizer, the beet and goat cheese salad, and a salmon entree. Plus, the bill was over $200. Thank goodness there are so many other restaurants in Chicago!!

Oceanique is a gem on Main Street in Evanston! Chef Mark creates stunning, seasonal dishes that let the ingredients truly shine—from the Oysters topped with caviar, the Maine Lobster salad, to Scallops with a Thai twist to the most succulent Ora King salmon and a playful Steak & Eggs. Every bite is thoughtful and delicious. Don’t miss their oyster specials or the fun, Day & Night dessert—it’s as charming as it is tasty. Add in an excellent wine list and top-notch service, and you have an unforgettable dining experience. Highly recommend!

We came here for a meals on wheels charity event. Two tasting menus courtesy of the chef :) The kids came along. My son loved the lobster; my daughter loved the butternut squash, elotes and whipped basil potatoes were excellent. Loved the sea bass and the tasting menu! Pricy but wonderful experience !

I would give Oceanique 4.5 stars. I attended Evanston’s version of Chicago’s Restaurant Week with a couple of friends. As always, the fish was prepared to perfection. The house appetizer and pate were delicious, and the in between courses sorbet a welcome touch. The chef occasionally comes out to exchange a few words with the mostly tipsy and aging crowd, a very nice gesture. The place is old school, not a bad thing, but the decor, carpet in particular, could use a revamp. The nostalgia is nice but feels a bit melancholy. Perhaps that’s the half star, which is so subjective, ambiance, but also the prices for small portions, though the place seems to take pride in that exclusivity… but then upgrade the flooring please 😬 (to be fair, one of my companions loved the lived-in old school vibe). This review is based on a January 2023 visit.

Terrific seafood focused restaurant run by Chef Mark Grosz. All the fish is wonderfully prepared and other dishes are equally delectable. The bouillabaisse is a favorite of my husband's I lean towards the fish preparations. Save room for dessert. It's worth it!

An outstanding meal and service. Everything from the scallop appetizer through the dessert was top notch.

Great service from David. Chef visited our table. 9/10 on presentation. We had the seafood platter starter and everything in between.

Tonight, we tried Oceanique for Chicago Restaurant Week in Evanston. We had reservations and immediately sat at our reserved time. The bar area looked nice, the table seats were comfortable, but the decor was stuck in the late 7ps. White wallpaper, mirror on the wall with designs on it, etc. It's not bad, just dated. Our server was very nice and personable. He explained the options for restaurant week. The wines we bought were not included but our red and white were very good. First, there was bread...crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. The next little dish was a taster. It had mozzarella cheese with what appeared to be thin salmon and something else in oil. It was simple but tasty. For our appetizer, my wife went with the butternut squash ravioli. It was delicious. I went with the shrimp salad. It was good, but it was way too close pop small taster originally brought out. I wish the waiter would have advised something else a little more different, so I didn't feel like I was having more of the same (thenshrimp was big and cooked well, though). Our entrees were swordfish and salmon. Her salmon was delicious. My swordfish was tough but tasted good. We ordered the basil mashed potatoes. The basil complimented the fish, but the basil was a little strong that it overpowered the potatoes. Overall, the food was good. The issue we had was for the money at $59 a course, we aren't convinced it was worth what we got. The portions were small, and the flavors they meshed together just wasn't our style. It almost seemed like pot luck or abstract art. I'm not saying it didn't taste good, just it didn't knock us over the moon. The presentation was worth 5 stars, the taste and service was 4 stars, but the choice of flavors and food I'd give 3.5.

The food is fantastic. Our server was attentive, friendly and professional. The ambiance was classy, romantic and love to come here for date night again. A great place for dining as a couple, with friends or a reunion. Seriously the food was superb.

Maybe once or twice a year I meet a friend here after work on a Tuesday for their oyster and drink specials, we sit at the bar and it's lovely. If you order food, the chef sometimes sends over an amuse bouche of something tasty as well. This time around in addition to the oysters, they also had pan fried shrimp specials so we added a veggie side and made this dinner. An aviation for my friend and an old fashioned for me and it was a great way to catch up.

My husband and I brought my parents here for a nice dinner. My mother who is a trained French chef was very impressed. We ordered off of the five course dinner menu and everything came out in a very timely manner. The wait staff was very attentive, so much so that the one waiter caught us off guard twice in a pretty hilarious situation that startled us. We laughed about it when he walked away lol. The food was all cooked perfectly, and the flavors were all perfectly balanced. It was a little bit loud for my older father who was having trouble hearing us, but I didn't think it was very loud. Overall, we would like to come back here again during the warmer months when they seem to have outdoor seating.

Oceanique is an amazing culinary experience! Lovely decor, nice wait staff and incredible food. It's as good as any high class restaurant that you would see in downtown Chicago, only in a suburb. Definitely check out the 5-course tasting menu. You will NOT be disappointed!

OMG! ver give a 5 star because they have to hit on all 8 cylinders. This is one of the few that exceeded my expectations. We made reservations and were seated immediately. It was Thursday so no corkage day so we brought our own bottle which they quickly opened. They brought out this great bread with butter. (Not the sweet cream butter but it was ok.) My wife had the cosmo. We asked for the foie gras (FG) to start. Then I ordered the 7 course tasting ($130) and my wife had the sea bass and the basil potatoes. They brought out the FG first. OMG it was so tender that it melted in your mouth. It comes with a slice of brioche and a piece of their version of foccacio bread. why mess up the flavor of the FG with bread? OMG it was fabulous ... 3 ounces of decadence. Then they started with my seven courses. It was amazing they brought my wife smaller version of each even though she didn't order it. Who does that anymore? Every dish was outstanding. The main was a filet mignon with Foie gras. The Napoleon was totally amazing. Fresh whipped cream with fresh raspberries and blue berries. The only thing we weren't crazy about was the Basil potatoes with a parmesan crisp. And I like basil. Both the chef and the bartender came around to make sure everything was right. This was a memorable dinner and evening. What a an amazing surprise. I am so happy I live around the corner. My wallet won't be too happy but who cares?

My boyfriend and I came here for our anniversary. We decided to try the five course summer tasting. You get a chefs surprise, an appetizer of your choice, a palette cleanser, an entree of your choice, and lastly a desert that is also chefs surprise. We chose to get the butternut squash ravioli and the wild main lobster salad as our appetizers. Both dishes were amazing. Next, as our entrees we got the salmon and striped bass. Again, both were delicious. The palette cleanser was a berry sorbet and then desert was a chocolate sponge cake a walnut baked tarte. All the portion sizes were perfect and we left full. Everything was delicious and we even got to meet the chef, which was super cool. All the staff were also super nice and accommodating. I can't wait to come back!

Got this off Groupon for hubby's birthday and I am glad I did. I strongly recommend for a special occasion. Portion size were small but everything was great. The restaurant was very old and dated. Even the front sign was faded. But customer service was great. An FYI for those that bought from Groupon, we still ended up paying an extra $50 for service and tip.

We bought a Groupon for the 5-course tasting menu. I would say the foods were creative but not mind blowing. First course was the chief's surprise. They gave amuse bouche. It tasted like ceviche and pretty fresh. My boyfriend wished they were more crisps to go with it. The second course, I picked scallops and my boyfriend chose lobster salads. The scallops were cooked perfectly with little charness. I don't know if kimchi was such a good choice to go with it. The Kimchi tasted more like regular cabbage to me. There was no fermented taste to it. But it would be weird to have fermented taste to such delicate and sweet scallops. The lobster was pretty sweet and taste. My boyfriend was not a big cheese and avocado fan so he didn't enjoy it as much. Next, we were given strawberry sorbet to clean our palates. The sorbet was not sweet at all and refreshing. For entree, I got striped bass and my boyfriend got the swordfish. We both thought they cooked the fish very well but they were under seasoned. A little salt would go a long way. Thanks god, we ordered the whipped mashed potatoes with basil to go with the fish. The mashed potatoes were pretty flavorful and added the saltiness to the fish. For desserts, we got vanilla bean panna cotta and pear tart. They were appropriately sweet and tasty. Also, their breads were fresh and delicious. Overall, everything was fresh and delicious but not mind blowing. They could improve a bit in the taste department.

Haven't been here in MANY years, used to be one of my favorites. It still has the superb quality food as it did before. But the veteran waitstaff that once gave this place its excellence and charm is no longer. At least in our case, as we'd gotten a very young waiter. Though he was professional and adequate, he made no suggestions or offered no feedback as I overheard a waiter at a neighboring table doing. After hearing his descriptions, I wished I had ordered something else, though it was too late. Still, I was quite pleased with my selection. We don't make the kind of money to come to these kind of places as often as I'd like, so it is a rare treat to do so. And when such a visit is within our budget, I don't mind, for example, paying $30 for a silver dollar sized piece of foie gras (because I love it so much). But what I don't appreciate are the surprises at the end, such as a "Restaurant Surcharge" added to the bill. I would rather they build these fees into the price of their food than sticking it to us at the end of our meal so we can make our decisions upfront. For example, if the foie gras was priced at $32, maybe I would have ordered the oysters instead. And although I "had the last laugh" by simply deducting that amount from the tip, it still had a negative effect and took away some charm. Me cheating our waiter by what the restaurant cheated me doesn't make me feel any better or proud. The chef stopped by and chatted with us a bit, and that was really nice. But the whole experience seemed more forced and mechanical than relaxed and delightful as it once was.

Went in for restaurant week special at 59.00....which was way overpriced for what was served...in addition the food was nothing to rave about...not even close to fine French Cuisine.....complimentary Ceviche was mediocre, then came the starter, Chicken Liver Pate served with what appeared to be aspic and a type of tapenade, not a great pairing....entree, Scottish Salmon, pretty good served on a thin slice of sweet potatoe with a bare minimum of corn kernels.... dessert lacked presentation, appeared rather messy and once again just ok. Finally, had a cocktail, Cucumber Martini which was sickly sweet and had to ask for one sans all the sweet syrup. Bill exceeded 125.00 with gratuity. Sorry, wont be back.....Bread was excellent. Waiter was not attentive.

Totally worth it for the price. The servings were huge, and you'll definitely leave stuffed. It's so hard to find a seafood-centric place. Food was good. The chocolate pot de creme was sinfully amazing.

FOIE GRAS!!! Amazing wine list, fresh fish every night and did I mention the FOIE GRAS?!?!?!!!!

Had a fabulous meal last night Great quality. Excellent service. Lovely restaurant. It was a special occasion and they really made it super. Highly recommend

Overpriced, sub-par food and pretentious service. We travel a lot and have dined a lotta places--but the food and service here aren't worth the prices. Apparently it used to be good. There are other places on the same street that are much better. Skip it.

It's clearly a fancy restaurant when you call to make a reservation and the hostess asks if you're celebrating a birthday or anniversary. My friend and I were just celebrating life and our 2-for-1 Groupon deal, but I agree this place is almost too fancy and certainly too expensive to come to when not celebrating a special occasion. I wish I could come more often though because every single dish of the five-course meal was exceptional! I especially loved the lobster/caviar/goat cheese second course and the halibut fourth-course. Oceanique also has an extensive wine selection which impressed my wine connoisseur friend very much. As for the final dessert course, I got very lucky to be served a chocolate cake, while my friend was served an apricot pastry.

Chef mark is a incredible and humble chef . Food tonight was amazing and I understand why he's has been in business since 1989 Amazing experience and thank you the amazing food chef

We celebrated a big birthday there and they made it a very special evening. Hard to decide which was better, the food or the service. Both were outstanding. And the restaurant is not too loud. The bouillabaisse was out of this world. Highly recommend.

Great foods , service and friendly. It's nice place to eat for special occasions. We used a Groupon with tax and service charge it is pricey but foods were delicious

LOVE! LOVE! LOVE! ** My friend and I bought the Groupon for 5-course tasting dinner** I was thinking we would be starving afterwards because maybe they will serve these small plates with fancy things I can't name (yes, judgmental much) and I am happy to be proven wrong! I am going to be honest, I do not remember the names of these food but what I do remember is the amazing experience we had because at the end of the day it's the feeling you had while and after eating that stays with you. My friend and I could not stop raving and devouring every plate they served. They gave good sized portions for each courses and we even got an extra tasting course because they are so nice like that. The best part, the chef came out to talk to us and get our feedback. I did not expect that from someone who bought a Groupon! He also gave us a free glass of wine which he recommended for my taste. I have never felt more loved and cared for by a chef! Most important to mention, NONE of the seafood items were fishy, dry, and under seasoned. They were perfectly prepared with the right accompaniment and seasoning to not take out the taste of the fish and just elevating it.

Amazing experience. Everything is fantastic and service is top notch. The baked oysters were to die for as well as the lobster salad.

I recently had the pleasure of dinning at Oceanique and trying the chef's five course tasting. This was my third time dining at this restaurant both prior times being more casual sit down at the bar. The chef's tasting menu is great; however the most memorable was the chicken liver mousse with quail egg. I loved it! I also liked the Wild Alaskan Halibut, which was fresh, flavorful, tender and flaky under my fork. I find Oceanique to be a very peaceful place. I really like the decor, the wall mural by the bar is beautiful. The service goes above and beyond to make the meal very special. I would highly recommended Oceanique for both special occasions as well as a nice place to enjoy a glass of wine and a small bite on the weekend with your significant other.

Renee and Mark are the most amazing people. I went there for a special dinner and was blown away ! From a call before I arrived to staying open late to we could enjoy a leisurely dining experience. The food was tasty, and impressively presented.

We had a very nice experience for the start of restaurant week in Chicagoland. The quality of the food was excellent as was the service. I would highly recommend trying this restaurant. It's a treat!

Went with husband with a Groupon. I really wanted to like this place but seemed overpriced. We did the 5 course meal. While I don't mind small portions these portions were rather small except for the main entree. I picked the lobster salad, which was ok, husband picked the green soup - forget what it was called. He didn't like it. The chef's surprise was a bit random, and very tiny. The sorbet was tasty. The main entree we both picked the salmon - I got the potatoes, which were green. The salmon was adequate I think in size, and flavor. The dessert was probably one of the best part, which was rather generous, and the chef picked the type of dessert. We paid over $70 for the Groupon, but they added 20% tip, plus food tax plus a COVID surcharge! I felt that was inappropriate. There were no masks, no sanitizer, nothing. Husband felt hungry after we were done, and had a large salad at home. The staff was attentive and well dressed, husband was impressed by the service, however the food left quite a bit to be desired. I can't disagree. The meal without Groupon would have been $90 - I would not have paid that. Unfortunately I don't think we will be patrons of Oceanique.

Went to Oceanique with Tresa yesterday, and as always, I left very happy. We went in for French week meal but ended up just ordering what we wanted and had a beautiful evening. I love how throughout the meal, starting before mall plates, title bites that chef Mark creates are brought out. Always interesting and very tasty. The strawberry sorbet was soooo good, as was the whitefish bite, and I'm not a big fan of whitefish. Items we ordered, lightly smoked salmon and crème fraîche and Hudson Valley Foie Gras for starters, halibut and veal for entrees, and the Day and Night cake and the Napoleon, as always, for dessert. I've been eating the Napoleon here for about, well, as long as I've been going here....excellent! Finally, the wine. Their wine list is listed as one of the 750 best in the world. We had an '05 Margaux that was recommended by the somm Judd ( I really hope I remembered his name right!) an amazing bottle to share with an amazing woman. Last, Chef/Owner Mark came out to the table to see how everything was. Always a very nice touch. When I came for dessert and coffee with me of my daughters, he stopped out then too and she felt ru special meeting the chef :) Open since '89 and doing amazing things ever since. Thank you! (Photo comments will be posted later)

We had the scallops on the menu. The scallops were old as the smelled and tasted like ammonia. They served it with kimchi which I thought was odd but it masked the smell and flavor of them being old. Guess that's why it was cooked that way. Most may not notice it but it was evident to us. The food was subpar and I would not go back nor recommend to eat here unfortunately. For the overall price point they present on their menu there should be better quality control. We used a Groupon and paid the full cost for all hundred taxes and fees they charge now. Money is better spent elsewhere.

Pros: Nice ambience. Good selection of wines. Good food. My glass of wine was a blend which was very good. The appetizer pate was delicious. The pecan crusted dessert was excellent as well. For the main meal, I got the halibut. It was decent, but not terribly flavorful. The dish was beautifully plated though and the accompaniments were good. Cons: Mediocre service. The server seem to have a bit of an attitude, first when we asked for the non pre fixe menu, and then when some in our group wanted to get the lobster special. On the positive side they did bring complimentary desserts for those who hadn't ordered from the pre fixe menu.

We had a delightful Mother's Day dinner at Oceanique. When I rated Oceanique "as good as it gets" I am very sincere. The service by all of the staff was impeccable, selection on the special menu (Mother's Day is the only Sunday of the year that they are open) was excellent and our meals were delicious. We somehow missed being able to give the Chef our complements- but I hope that he reads this and understands that we appreciate his artistry and his consideration. Oh my- please do not forget to order dessert! C'est fantastique!

Very good food and ambiance, but expensive for what you get. Easily double what a nice dinner at a nice restaurant with a nice bottle of wine would cost. I'd definitely go back for a lower price, but will probably not return.

This place is average . Definitely not worth the price! We went for a Groupon for a 5 course menu. Nothing special in each course which they were very small. The main appetizer was a lobster salad which lacked of flavor, no salt , little dressing. It was like a bunch of ingredients throw them together without purpose. I ordered the striped bass for main entry also not exceptional , it was ok, good but nothing that I would retry again. We left hungry and with the Groupon we ended up spending another 150 dollars , the tip was added to the bill and it was more than 20%!!! I can make cook better food at home and definitely much cheaper!!

We always enjoy our time at Oceanique. The food and presentation is just exquisite, and the service is excellent. They always remember us, and the staff are very personable. We love spring this small business, and they pay us back in kind. The Groupon makes the 5 course tasting for two very affordable, and it allows us to indulge in some drinks during dinner, too. We'll keep coming back! Thanks!

Where do I begin? We came in with reservations in one of the scariest weather conditions . We had to call to tell them we would be a little late. Snow storm would not stop our anniversary dinner. When we arrived we were the only ones in the restaurant. We had the whole place to ourselves and I can't tell you how spoiled we felt and how the chef went out of his way to make us feel special on our big day the food was insanely good and I appreciate the links that they made to make us feel appreciated even though we were the only ones in the restaurant you could tell that the Chef and staff really cared about their guests.

Just fabulous all around. We were there for resturant week...and one good thing followed by another! Service was excellent and fun,

Bummer that this restaurant turned out to be so bad. They think that by fancy plating and weird combinations of ingredients they can call themselves fine dining. In fact they reuse the same prep in multiple dishes without thinking much about it. Food is only as flavorful as the ingredients alone, nothing seems to come together to create a cohesive experience. Bread with butter was the best and that tells a lot. Waaaayyyyy overpriced for what it is. And trust me, I am willing to pay for culinary innovation and prime foodie experience. Oceanique is not that. Shame we celebrated a very important occasion there, wish we went somewhere else....

We came here for a 5-course prefix dinner. Have to say -- this is truly a hidden gem in Evanston. Upon walking in, you can instantly tell that this place has its history. At the same time, its music and table layout created a great atmosphere. Our waiter was super nice and attentive. Thumbs up for him! The first course was a chef's surprise -- a trout and halibut ceviche. The presentation was elegant and looked amazing. I was surprised to see the toasted seaweed pieces on the plate at first. Yet after trying to wrap the ceviche with the seaweed, I was sold on this combination. To a certain extent, the dish gave me a Japanese vibe hahaha. As for the appetizers, we chose the lobster salad and the scallops with kimchi. The lobster dish was right on point -- all the ingredients in the salad worked well together. With cheese and lobster, can I consider it as a surf and turf? lol. On the other hand, the scallops dish were a bit let down. The scallops themselves was perfectly cooked, yet their slightly sweet and delicate flavor was overwhelmed by the kimchi. I was expecting a more refreshing flavor. The main dishes were for sure the highlight of the night. Normally, I'm not a big fan of the swordfish, as its texture can get pretty tough when not cooked properly. Oceanique definitely did the swordfish its justice. It was still a bit translucent in the center, leaving the texture of the flesh firm, yet not dry at all. The trout dish had a great flavor profile. I was a huge fan of the cheese corn on the side. My only concern was, yet again, about the fish skin. I was a bit confused why the chef would choose to first peel the fish skin from the flesh, and then hidden (?) the skin beneath the fish piece. As far as my preference goes, fish skin only tastes good when it is crispy. I couldn't break the fish skin into pieces using any of the silverware provided. And I certainly did not want to eat it as a whole. In a word, it was a wonderful place for special moments. Maybe I'll be back in the future!

Finally experienced Oceanique on Thanksgiving eve! My mother, stepfather and 2 year old joined us for dinner. The toddler had the most delicious chocolate pot de creme, and as he worked his way through it, we ordered wine, enjoyed lovely little bites of ceviche, the day boat scallops and a side of well-executed "white boy" kimchi, and then our mains. It was Wednesday so lobster was the special. My mother ordered it and it was the most beautiful presentation of lobster and so delicious. My stepfather ordered halibut and husband ordered swordfish, both were great, but not nearly as incredible as my bouillabaisse. The bouillabaisse will be etched in my memory for a long time. Complex broth and perfectly cooked seafood, topped with a small piece of toast and saffron aioli. You have to try the bouillabaisse! I forgot about the pallette cleansing sorbet before the mains. We had room for just one dessert which we took to go as the 2 yr old was running out of steam. We live just around the corner and are excited to return for happy hour oysters and more bouillabaisse!

Terrific food, excellent service, great wine and other drinks!!! Hard to beat!!! Will go there every time I'm in town

Overall pretty mediocre dinner experience. Went here with a Groupon for 50 bucks a head(including tip) and still felt ripped off. The meal is structured as a 5 part course with bread and butter to start of course. You only can choose course 2 and 4 the rest are randomly picked by the chef. Course 1 Halibut and salmon ceviche. 5/10. Didn't have a lot of flavor and the texture was kinda funky. Course 2 Lobster salad. Which was lobster on top of assorted greens with tomatoes and mozzarella. 5/10. Also lacking flavor. Course 3 Mango sorbet palette cleanser. Actually pretty good, 7/10 Course 4 Salmon entree with assorted vegetables and corn. 6/10, it was good but nothing to write home about/have had better fish cooked at home and elsewhere. Unsure if I enjoyed the taste of this more after the previous mediocre courses. Course 5 My partner and I each got unique deserts. I forget the name of what she got but it appeared to be a vanilla custard. However I got the chocolate pot de creme with Hazelnut. 10/10 the best thing on the menu, and sadly the only saving grace of the meal. Overall I'd advise steering clear of the place. Between the very small portion sizes as well as the lack of memorability about the menu, I can't even imagine paying full price. Also an earl grey tea on the menu was $7, lmao glad to know the owner has a sense of humor as well.

I absolutely Love this restaurant! Everything was spot-on from the time we arrived to the time we left!!! My boyfriend and I came in for a Romantic dinner and we left Very Happy! Our server was attentive and helpful, the cuisine was refreshing and full of flavor, and the ambiance was elegant and lively. We ordered the Chef's Tasting Menu and enjoyed all three hours of our stay-- yes, this had been another lengthy and intimate dinner. The Tasting menu, consisting of seven courses, was exquisite, delicious, and timed just perfectly so that we were not rushed or felt too full at any point. We dined on the following: Wild Maine Lobster with Caviar, Bufala Mozzarella, and Avocado. Wild Maine Diver Scallop with Fiddleheads, Kimchi, Lobster Soybroth. Butternut Squash Ravioli with Walnuts, Prosciutto, and Crispy Sage. Organic Spanish Turbot with Favas, Artichoke, and Lemongrass. Indiana Quail Apricot-Mushroom Stuffing with Fois Gras, Belgian Endive, and Honey. Raspberry Sorbet with minced Apple and Mint. Apple Tart & Blueberry Tart. This was Fantastic and we will be back for another visit SOON!!!!

Ordered the walleye-tiny portion of fish with even smaller accompaniments. The plate was warmer than the fish. I had trouble scrapping the walleye meat away from the skin, I ate many scales. Great service and nice room. Very pricey. Drive thru McDonalds on the way home.

my wife and I had our first date here and we have been back many times since. came here last night for our 25th anniversary and Mark out did himself. wonderful meal, very creative and we tried a lot of stuff we would not normally order. atmosphere was jovial and service was superb. can not say enough about this place.

My husband and I like to try out new restaurants and if they are expensive ...we check to see if they have a special within the restaurant, or check out Groupon/Living Social. Hubby found a Groupon special for one of our date night. I must say, hubby takes me out to the finest places and is able to find great deals. Ok I will stop tooting the 'good hubby' horn. But seriously, this to me is a hidden gem in Evanston and if I may say so over shadowed by other restaurant in Chicago because it is in Evanston. It rivals any of the restaurant in Chicago in its class with service, wine selections, and cuisine.

Thank you Chef Mark for an amazing dinner experience! This restaurant was highly recommended to me by a friend, and it did not disappoint. Not only do they have daily specials, but the food is truly outstanding. I would have loved to be able to taste the whole menu because each dish we ordered was better than the last. Chef Mark even found the time to come out to our table to make sure we enjoyed our food. I loved everything about the food, the staff, and the atmosphere of this restaurant, and will most definitely be returning in the future. Make sure to take advantage of $1 oysters on Tuesdays!

We always dine here whenever we come up to Chitown for either biz or visiting family nearby, and have NEVER EVER been disappointed. Mark is a fantastic chef who always takes the time to come out and visit with the clientele. His staff are professional and attentive while also being very amiable, reflecting his personality. While Mark stays true to the French provencal tradition, he does not shy away from experimentation and adding delightful twists to old favorites. As a sales guy who loves French cuisine and who's territory covers the entirety of North Am., I rank Oceanique right up there with the best of them. And yes, that includes Montreal - the Holy Grail of French and Quebecois cuisine on our continent.

I'm surprised it took me this long to visit Oceanique, considering I love trying new restaurants, love seafood, and am within walking distance to this place. Anyway, I just visited Oceanique a few days ago for Restaurant Week, and tried their $44 dinner tasting menu. I made a reservation at 9pm, and my friend and I got there ~10-15 minutes early. The initial walk in was a little awkward - we just stood there for a few minutes, unacknowledged by anybody. I told one hostess that we had made a reservation for 9 but if we could be seated a little earlier. She said tables were getting cleared and we would be seated soon... but it wasn't until another hostess asked if we had been helped that we finally got seated. Not the best first impression, so good thing the food/service made up for that. Food: 4 stars. - Chef's surprise starter was an arctic char ceviche, and although it wasn't amazing, it was a good way to start the meal. - Starter: maine day boat scallops with kimchi and lobster-soy broth. I really liked this dish - the scallops were well flavored, had a beautiful sear, and were very tender. I was surprised at how strong the kimchi flavor was - being Korean, I'm used to Western restaurants downplaying the flavors since it's pretty pungent to begin with, but it was delicious. - Entree: wild main skate which was great as well. The fish itself was super tender and well flavored. - Dessert was a surprise, and I got some sort of chocolate mousse dessert. Delicious. Service: 5 stars - Attentive but not intrusive, and very polite. The plates came out a bit slower than I'm used to, but that gave me a chance to talk to my friend (I have a tendency to wolf down my food and just leave, even at nicer restaurants), so I didn't mind too much. We also ordered a bottle of wine for $64, so I spent a total of $100 with tip and tax. I also had the pleasure of speaking with the chef, and he was so friendly! (When I told him I made the 20 minute walk in sub-zero temperatures to come here, he said I was in for a cold walk back, to which I told him (I was a little buzzed) that I had a nice wine blanket...) Anyway, all in all a great experience!

Thank you Oceanique for wonderful dinner tonight. The food was so delicious, unique flavor and beautifully presented! The service was so attentive, professional and yet extremely friendly. Chef Mark always came to check on us and asked how we enjoyed the food. It was very touching and we felt so special!! We can't wait to go back again to try another dishes!! Love to be in this amazing neighborhood