Chicago, a city famous for the intersection of monumental architecture and a vibrant arts and culture scene, hides countless unique culinary destinations. Among them, Esmé Chicago, a restaurant proudly holding a Michelin star, is a place where the dining experience doesn’t stop at flavor but is also a mesmerizing journey exploring art.
Located in the peaceful Lincoln Park area, Esmé Chicago is designed in a sophisticated and minimalist style with large glass windows, resembling a contemporary art gallery. The restaurant’s design focuses on elegance and refinement, creating a perfect backdrop to showcase innovative culinary creations. With its spacious setting and clever layout, Esmé Chicago offers a comfortable and private atmosphere for each diner.
The most distinctive feature at Esmé is its innovative menu, where cuisine and art uniquely blend together. The restaurant regularly collaborates with different artists seasonally, bringing fresh themes and inspirations. This creates novelty and uniqueness, making each visit to Esmé an interesting discovery.
The first feeling upon stepping into Esmé Chicago is the professionalism and dedication of the staff. From the warm greetings to their deep understanding of the menu, every detail is meticulously cared for, promising a flawless dining experience.
Welcoming me at the entrance was Christine Quigley, a very enthusiastic general manager. She took the time to introduce the common areas of Esmé, guiding me through the impressive contemporary American artworks on display while sharing interesting stories behind each piece. I was truly overwhelmed by the diversity and vibrancy in color, an almost endless source of energy, accurately reflecting the ever-moving and developing spirit of this land.
Esmé’s June 2025 menu, named ‘Table for Six,’ is a testament to boundless creativity, inspired by a unique collaboration with six contemporary artists and Frame Chicago Est 1981, a renowned brand from 1981 specializing in art preservation and development.
Beginning the journey of culinary and artistic exploration is a delicate welcome dish, a promising greeting. It is a perfect combination of premium sturgeon caviar, melting on the tongue, and a skillfully prepared healthy cocktail, helping to balance the palate and elevate every emotion. That moment felt like shedding all external worries, completely ready to immerse oneself in the world of art and wonderful dishes.
The menu named ‘June 2025’ at Esmé includes 10 unique dishes, each inspired by various artists in this collaboration campaign, and meticulously paired with exceptional beverages. To cater to the diverse preferences of diners, the restaurant offers three drink pairing options: Contemporary pairing, Modern pairing, and Non-alcoholic pairing.
The first dish on the menu, Sunflower – a subtly suggestive name – was created based on inspiration from female artist Christina Martines. The dish is a delicate blend of fresh shrimp, refreshing kiwi, and Hoja Santa leaves (a characteristic herb of Mexico). Sunflower is artistically arranged on a vibrant yellow sunflower. The bright yellow color of the sunflower not only brings a warm, joyful feeling but also evokes optimism and excitement, just like the spirit in Christina Martines’s work. All harmoniously combined with the restaurant’s special cocktail, made from the finest ingredients.
The next dish truly made me exclaim ‘wow’ in surprise – it was an Egg dish made from crispy Kohirabi and premium truffle with a captivating aroma, inspired by artist Sentrock. Interestingly, the dish was served inside a small, lovely, colorful wooden house. After the diners finished, this small wooden house would be hung up, becoming a unique and prominent decorative item on each table. It was quite surprising when I glanced around and noticed small, lovely wooden houses hung at almost every other table, an interesting sign that they had also experienced the same special egg dish as me.
The next dish that both my husband and I found extremely impressive was called Rouget, inspired by artist EDO. The dish is a delicate combination of tender, melting beef tongue, ripe cherries, and sweet Jimmy Nardello peppers. Rouget is not only elaborate in its preparation but also in its presentation, placed on a unique artwork by EDO, highlighted in a floating water pouch. The special highlight of this dish is its perfect pairing with Brutal 2022 rosé wine. True to its name, Brutal wines are often known for their natural winemaking style, minimizing intervention and bringing lively and individualistic flavors. The Brutal 2022 poured out a vibrant salmon pink color, spreading a complex aroma of ripe red fruits like strawberries and raspberries, interspersed with subtle mineral notes. The wine’s dry, refreshing taste with elegant acidity created a wonderful balance with the rich flavor of the beef tongue, the sweetness of the cherries, and the slight spiciness of the Jimmy Nardello peppers, a surprisingly delightful harmony on the palate.
For me, every dish at Esmé was a delightful surprise, and the dish called Squab, inspired by Frame Chicago, was no exception. This dish was elaborately prepared with seemingly simple ingredients including pigeon, celery root, tamarind, and Nihari spices, but the special feature lay in the sauce. The sauce was cooked in a pot made from fresh roots and coated with a layer of clay on the outside. When you are ready to enjoy it, the staff will gently use a small hammer to break open the clay layer, revealing the special lid and the premium sauce hidden inside. It is precisely thanks to this unique preparation method that the sauce retains its rich aroma and natural sweetness of the spices and vegetables. When the thick, fragrant sauce was poured over the dish, a wonderful sensation spread, making me deeply appreciate the meticulousness and dedication of the talented chefs in every stage of creation.
What a romantic culinary experience! The next dish completely captured my husband’s and my hearts – it was Lamb, surprisingly combined with blackberry, morel mushrooms, and saffron, inspired by artist Al-Baseer Holly. The dish’s sophistication was further elevated when paired with a glass of Barolo red wine from the producer Agricola Brandini. Barolo, known as the ‘king of wines’ from Italy’s renowned Piedmont region, is famous for its rich and complex aromas of dried roses, ripe cherries, along with delicate hints of spices and even a touch of tar. With a strong tannin structure and balanced acidity, this ruby-red Barolo created a wonderful harmony with the rich flavor of the lamb, the sweetness of the blackberry, the earthy notes of the morel mushrooms, and the subtle preciousness of the saffron, naturally and gracefully making my cheeks blush.
Being a devotee of sweet treats, the final two desserts truly swept me off my feet. The first was Horchata, a creamy, just-sweet-enough ice cream with a delicate blend of cinnamon (canela), verbena, and apple, inspired by artist Lauren Peace. The second was a strawberry cake, a surprising harmony of fennel, coconut, and pink peppercorn, created based on inspiration from artist Mia-lee. These two desserts truly concluded the perfect meal.
Although I have had the opportunity to experience many high-end restaurants around the world, for us at Esmé Chicago it wasn’t just about the food but also about miniature works of art. Each dish was meticulously prepared from the freshest and highest quality ingredients, combined with refined cooking techniques and creative presentation. The color, shape, and flavor of each dish were carefully considered, creating a harmonious symphony that awakened all the diner’s senses.
Another highlight of Esmé is the focus on a multi-sensory experience. Not just sight and taste, the restaurant skillfully combines other elements such as sound and touch to create a complete and memorable dining evening. From the soft, melodious music to the elegant table setting, every detail contributes to enhancing the culinary experience at Esmé.
Esmé Chicago is a special culinary destination, where relentless creativity and a passion for art are clearly expressed in every dish and space. This is a unique fine dining experience that goes beyond ordinary standards and will surely leave a deep impression on anyone who has the chance to visit. If you are a lover of artistic cuisine and are looking for a Michelin-starred dining experience in Chicago, Esmé is definitely a choice not to be missed. Remember to book in advance to ensure a seat on this enchanting culinary journey.