The Alston
Steak house · Near North Side ·
French-inspired steakhouse with tableside preparations
French-inspired steakhouse with tableside preparations
"I watched a pressed duck flambé and a bread-and-butter cart at the Alston in Chicago, where chef Jenner Tomaska wanted to bring refinement, personal touches, and over-the-top moments—cart service here creates an immediate sense of time and place, commands attention like a fire sale, and tends to multiply orders once performed." - Jaya Saxena
"The highly anticipated steakhouse from the chef behind Esmé is now open in River North. Aside from steaks, this fancy new house of beef also has dishes like pressed duck, seafood towers, and an entire menu section dedicated to caviar. Plus, they have a Member’s Club with special dinners and tasting menus." - john ringor, nick allen
"Chicago is at a near-intervention point when it comes to steakhouses. But in a sea of cut-and-paste, giant-baked-potato-business-dinner places, The Alston is a welcome addition. This new spot from the chef of Esmé mixes fancy steakhouse nostalgia (caviar bumps) with “this ain’t your average experience” touches (freakishly tall martini glasses). The dishes are more straightforward but really good. The escargot balances saltiness with tasty mini butter pastries on top, and the porterhouse with a cherry glaze is perfectly tender. The Alston does have a sometimes-silly artsy side, like images of the Bean and Venus De Milo projected on the ceiling. Still, it’s refreshing to feel caught off-guard by a steakhouse in 2025." - adrian kane, john ringor, nick allen, adrian kane, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, nick allen, john ringor, nick allen, nick allen, nick allen, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, adrian kane, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor, john ringor
"In a sea of giant-baked-potato places, The Alston is both ritzy and fun. This new spot from the chef of Esmé mixes fancy steakhouse nostalgia (caviar bumps) with “this ain’t your average experience” touches (photo-ready, freakishly tall martini glasses). The dishes are more straightforward but really good. The escargot balances saltiness with tasty mini butter pastries on top, and the porterhouse with a cherry glaze is perfectly tender. Come here to make turning 36 feel like a bigger deal than it actually is." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, john ringor, nick allen
"In a sea of giant-baked-potato places, The Alston is both ritzy and fun. This new spot from the chef of Esmé mixes fancy steakhouse nostalgia (caviar bumps) with “this ain’t your average experience” touches (photo-ready, freakishly tall martini glasses). The dishes are more straightforward but really good. The escargot balances saltiness with tasty mini butter pastries on top, and the porterhouse with a cherry glaze is perfectly tender. Come here to make turning 36 feel like a bigger deal than it actually is." - adrian kane, veda kilaru, nick allen, john ringor