Avenues: User Reviews

We had heard very good things about Chef Duffy, so it was time for us to try it. We ordered the long tasting menu ($140) and all the dishes ranged from great to wonderful. Not one false step in the whole menu. THey do not have a wine pairing program but all the wines that we were offered were outstanding. I have been to all the top restaurants in CHicago (Alinea, Moto, Schwa many times) but, from now on, Avenues will have to join that list. A great meal for a great value.

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Portion sizes were ridiculous. Literally one bite. for a main course priced at 25.00 Biggest rip-off. Hostess asked us if we would like to start out with a glass of champagne. Found out later when we looked at the winelist it was 36 dollars a glass. Been to lots of places-Trotters ,Tru, Alinea etc- expensive but great food and value. DONT GO to Avenues. 200 dollars per head for very ordinary food that leaves you totally unsatisfied and starving.

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Have eaten at Avenus twice now and both meals have been in my top three in Chicago. I have eaten at all the four star restauarnts once and many of them twice or more. The food at Avenues is inventive without being gimmicky. The focus is the flavors - which in the case of the caesar, caviar, hamachi, risott, quail and stroganoff in particular (9 of the 15 courses on the repetoire) was outstanding, subtle and original. Having great taste and originality together is something many of the four starts in Chicago have struggled with - either going too far with combinations that don't work or are too complicated or at the other extreme focusing only on top quality ingredients and erring on the side of boredom.
On top of the food, the lack of wine pairings was a welcome change - the waiters suggested wines by the glass for the next few courses - so you actually get full glasses of wine and can drink as much or as little as you want, focusing on the style of wines you enjoy. In one case they poured a couple of wines so we could taste both of them before we chose.
On both occasions I have been to Avenues the service is what has really set it apart - they navigate between the extremes of amateurishness and woodenness in a way that other four stars in Chicago seem unable to do. The waiters were friendly and spontaneous and welcoming - their enthusiasm seemed genuine and they set a fun yet very professional ambience.
Finally, the room itself is sometimes maligned by reviewers - but it is tasteful and very importantly space is not at a premium since this is a hotel restaurant. The tables are well spaced and everyone gets a view out of the window. The overall effect is very relaxing and pirvate. Exactly what a special occasion deserves.

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My partner and I went to Avenues after trying all of the other 5-star restaurants in Chicago. We were placed at a table which we thought was the best table in the restaurant. Our service started with the waiter giving us a run-down of the champagne selection. Since we vowed to skip alcohol during lent, we didn't order any wine. Regardless, we asked if they have a wine pairing and the answer is no. They didn't have any non-alcoholic pairing either. We then ordered the Repertoire menu.

The 15 course menu was interesting but not at all inventive, except for one entree which was a play on buffalo wings. Instead of chicken wings, the chef cooked a tasty quail breast, served with sauce that tasted like hot wing sauce and Budweiser beer foam. We thought this dish was the only inventive & successful dish. Every other entree was average and not insightful.

There are two biggest disappointments. The first one was the the two dessert entrees. The fruit cake and persimmon ice cream was horrible. The fruit cake was stale and the ice cream was too sweet. The second dessert which was a chocolate ensemble was slightly better but again, too sweet and too boring. The ancho chocolate ice cream was interesting but it seems that lately everyone has been doing ancho & chocolate pairing. There are dots of chocolate tapioca which I thought was just forced into the dish.

The second disappointment was the background music, which was an infinite loop of gamelan/acid jazz/tongue-clicking music that would probably be too avant garde even for Bjork. Given this music, perhaps a serving of Xanax would be more appropriate than those dessert entrees.

In any event, my partner & I can say that we tried every 5-star restaurants in Chicago. But unfortunately we have to say that Avenues is on the lowest rank of the list.

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Avenues was the only four star restaurant in Chicago at which I had not yet dined, and I wish I had left it that way. The first "miss" of the evening was sitting down at 8:30pm only to be told that the repetoire menu was not available. The food was good (highlights include the chestnut soup), but not 4 star quality. Service was our biggest disappointment, at these prices I should not have to flag down servers for more water or wine. Dishes were inadequately explained (except by one server who was very good). Last but not least, what four star restaurant does not have table side sommelier representation? Overall, this was a huge disappointment for a four star restaurant.

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We stayed at The Peninsula for my b-day and went to Avenues for dinner. We could find no fault with anything at this fine restaurant. The wait staff was charming and very accommodating, and the food was outstanding.

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It was definitely hit or miss. Some of the courses (of our 5 course tasting menu) were good. Others (like the halibut) were bland or overwhelmed by the accompanying sauces. I would definitely say that this isn't a 4 star restaurant (probably more like a 3 star). I would like to have my $500 back and go to Tru again. The service was good, but not perfect. Don't get a Bellini (it tasted like very dry champagne for $18). Overpriced and will not return. Also the $18 valet parking should be included with my overpriced meal. The chocolate pot de creme, scallops, sourdough bread, butters, crab salad, lobster consumme, souffle were all very good. Skip the corn-crusted pork (unless you love corn-nuts and don't want to taste anything else) and the halibut (bland).

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My husband and I went to Avenues for our anniversary. Food was great - tasty, innovative and served well. However, the wait staff was always hovering close and in a rush to take our dishes away. Overall experience-wise, we've dined at a number of fine dining restaurants, and I would recommend Tru and Arun's over Avenues.

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I was very disappointed by the food. Admittedly I had very high expectations based on critic's assessment of the chef and his creations, but I found that, with a few exceptions, my selections lacked flavor and were quite bland. My selections were simple (veal, ahi tuna) but the execution was not spectacular. As one who rarely adds salt to prepared meals, I found each dinner course needed a dash. Though the service was impeccable, it was not enough to justify the money we spent ($250+ for two with no wine and before tax/tip).

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Food is ok for fine dining, great for casual restaurant. Service is obrusive, snobbish (amazing how servers can be snobs when they don't have the money to be?) and overpriced. The only restaurant that works in this hotel is the one on the first floor, grabbing a cup of coffee on the way out. Don't waste your time, go to Nomi across the streat!

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