Sushi Barย Chicago
Sushi restaurant ยท Near North Side ยท
Intimate omakase speakeasy serving 17 courses of new-wave nigiri
Intimate omakase speakeasy serving 17 courses of new-wave nigiri
"This 12-seat omakase is hidden in the back room of Lady May, and like Sushi-San, is a little bit tongue-in-cheek. But where Sushi-San has things like poop emojis for bathroom signs, Sushi Bar decides to go unconventional when it comes to the food. For $165, youโll get 17 courses of โnew waveโ nigiri, involving foams, dehydrated herbs, and multiple blowtorch appearances. Toppings can be a little over-present, but everything is generally pretty tasty. Courses move along at a brisk pace, and the atmosphere is fun enough that this is still a good option for a special occasion dinner." - adrian kane, john ringor, veda kilaru
"There are Sushi Bar locations popping up across the country ( and already have some). They all follow the same format: a speakeasy-style omakase with โnew waveโ nigiri, involving foams, dehydrated herbs, and multiple blowtorch appearances. The 12-seat Sushi Bar Chicago hidden in the back room of is no different. The $165, 17-course experience starts with a welcome cocktail, and then youโre led to a dark room the size of your first studio apartment. Seat assignments are marked by a name card, in part to help keep track of allergies and any upgrades you opt forโthink truffle shavings and caviar. You know, in case a piece of wagyu with brown butter miso foam and dehydrated dill isnโt dressed up enough. The pieces are undeniably inventiveโyou may get spot prawn with strawberry gochujang or akami with red miso and everything bagel spice. But some bites have more than three or four competing toppings, and the flavors can start to feel muddled. Thatโs especially true when multiple courses are finished with lemon juice, so everything starts to taste vaguely citrusy. But Sushi Bar is still a good option for a special occasion dinner. Courses move along at a good pace, and the atmosphere is fun enough that you wonโt feel self-conscious if you get a little buzzed from the beverage pairings." - Veda Kilaru
"Tucked inside the forthcoming River North spot Lady May, the ten-seat Sushi|Bar will bring a splashy, spendy 17-course omakase to a 375-square-foot space at 405 N. Wabash Avenue, serving 30 patrons each night (10 per seating). Executive chef Ambrely Ouimette, who began working in sushi at 16 and worked at Matsuhisa Denver, applies a distinctly non-traditional approach with an ever-changing menu influenced by local purveyors and her travels to Italy, Portugal, and Spain โ she still uses traditional techniques like breaking down and curing fish but loves surprising diners with dishes such as a smoked sawara with three types of preserved wasabi, and signatures like aged bluefin akami with dehydrated miso and everything bagel spice, and kanpachi with pineapple, passionfruit, and shaved coconut. The Chicago location will distinguish itself from its Texas and Florida counterparts with mid-century touches โ terrazzo floors, brass fixtures, and a marble green backdrop behind the bar โ and Ouimette says she wants diners to feel comfortable, relaxed, and involved in conversation rather than bound by omakase pretensions." - Naomi Waxman
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