Senza

We went to Senza to dine even though we aren't sensitive to gluten, but from the other reviews and descriptions you have probably gathered by now that the menu is gluten free. Our meal was during a special prix fixe multi course night, and everything we had was delicious and very well presented. The interior decor for dining is well thought out, however the giant counter at the back left the feeling of a far more casual restaurant. The food is five stars but the prices were a little high and portions were small - typical of what you might find at a higher end place - gluten or no gluten.

We celebrated our anniversary & birthday after hearing great reviews about this place on Yelp. The service was excellent, as well as the food presentation & food. We went with the degustation menu and were very pleased with each course. We were however, a bit underwhelmed with the fois gras plate; we were expecting an entire piece of fois gras, but instead got fois gras mousse. Otherwise, it was still a great dining experience!

I very much enjoyed my experience at Senza! I had the brunch and the food and service was both fantastic. I was able to come easily without a reservation. The brunch itself was excellent and anyone can find something on the menu to enjoy!

Senza is a hidden gem, and one of the best-kept secrets in Chicago. This restaurant is getting some buzz, but I'm surprised that people aren't shouting from the mountaintops! I haven't had food this good in quite some time, where the appetizers, entrees, and desserts were all equally good. Senza means "without" in Italian, and speaks to the fact that the restaurant is gluten-free. At first, I was a little leery about gluten free b/c I thought that the taste would be sacrificed, but it is completely the opposite. All of my food had fun and surprising bursts of flavor and texture. They sent out this amuse bouche, which had this flaky crust with a piece of delicate fish in the middle with an Asian sauce. It was the perfect bite with a fun texture and flavor. From the the pillowy-soft gnocchi with delectable onions (I actually had to get 2 orders of the gnocchi b/c it was that good) to the layer of ginger at the bottom of my dessert, I was amazed with every bite. I had the Barramundi, which was a delicious white fish w/pecans and black garlic. One of my friends got the Grilled Little Gem lettuce salad, and the lettuce was literally grilled and had a fantastic smoky flavor. Grilled salad was new to us all, and we were all eating the salad off of her plate. One of my favorite items was the crème brulee, which had a sweet and salty profile and reminded me of caramel corn. I have never had crème brulee like this - it was playful and delicious. Senza has a trendy décor, yet it was much smaller than I had expected. Definitely make reservations. They have some tables on the side of the room that are perfect for 2 people, and we saw a few dates in progress, so definitely consider Senza for a date. I would say that Senza is one of the best restaurants that I have dined at in 2013 - no joke. I may get the tasting menu the next time I go.

If you are gluten-free or have a friend that is, go to Senza. Starting with the basics. Senza is the Italian conjunction for the word "without" with the latin root of absentia or "absent." As in absent of gluten. It can also mean "great" as an interjection if you are Slavic. I find both of these definitions to be accurate descriptions. Senza is actually 2 restaurants. The first is the dinner service and staff run by Chef Noah Sandoval. The second is a brunch service and staff, which is run by someone else. Both services are 100% gluten-free. When you first walk in, the decor is an odd mix of modern, contemporary, urban, and shabby? I think they sell gluten-free products behind the counter and the books might also be for sale. The breakfast service is counter service which can be bit odd after having been waited on the night before. I've found the decor and service disjointedness to be jarring each time, but honestly, the food is the reason we go and will keep coming back. They are also brand new, so they might find a single identity by the time you read this. Michael Carlson was Grant Achatz first hire at Trio. Chef Noah Sandoval was Sous Chef for Michael Carlson. I don't know anything about the morning chef. Senza dinner service: Chef Noah Sandoval's menu, use of molecular gastronomy for presentation, and of round things that I chase around my plate trying to stab remind me previous experiences I've had with Chef Grant Achatz's dishes. The first night opened we went for the grand tasting with wine pairing. 1. It was delicious. 2. It was an adventure. 3. It was all gluten-free. We have since been back during the week for single dishes. Everything is perfectly cooked and portioned for someone with self control. I lack self control. We usually order at least 3 courses each and share them. I would recommend you try everything. Everything on the menu is really good. The only thing I don't love is the side bread... but I seem to eat a lot of it anyways. If you have any additional food issues, they will work around them. Senza breakfast service: They have doughnuts. Not like crappy Jewel freezer gluten-free doughnuts and not weird flour Roses doughnuts... like walked into a regular doughnut store and I got some legit doughnuts kinda doughnuts... They call them beignets, but they are doughnut holes with a highfalutin french name. Fresh out of the frier, they are delicious and a bit hot. I've gone here somewhere around 8 times and it's been awesome every time.

This small and modern style restraunt had a beautiful 3 course brunch. The service and food was excellent. I enjoyed the Arctic Chard starter followed by the crabmeat omelette and then finished things off with a choclate pote de crem. I also sampled some of the other dishes like the knocchi, duck rigulettes that were also excellent. It's a small dining area that has a somewhat open kitchen to the main dining room. I think I would have been dissa

best meal i have had in my entire life. service was impeccable. all gluten free. i went back for brunch 2 days later.

Welcoming staff, absolutely stunning food. Stylish and relaxed atmosphere. One of my favorite places in the city. I just wish they were open longer.