MK: User Reviews

As others have said, if you want a truly fine dining experience, it might be best to seek out the myriad of other choices on the high-end scale here in Chicago. Sadly, MK is not what it use to be, although the haughty mannered wait-staff are still too plentiful.

Our waiter adopted both an imperious attitude and chicanery (more on that later) that was completely boorish and sets a bad tone for the restaurant overall. I dine out 7 days a week (both at high-end and medium-end restaurants). So, for the waiter to treat me like I am some visiting uninformed country bumpkin from Kansas was insulting.

That said, this same priggish waiter informed our table that either all 12 people must order the Degusation Menu for $45 or no one could get it. BUT, he duly noted that anyone could get the entre from this prefix tasting menu. In this case, it was the bison for $42. Had I known before the bill arrived that the bison would be only $3 less than the regular three Degustation Menu offerings, I would have insisted on receiving the teaspoon of tuna tartare and the teaspoon of desert that would have normally completed the Degustation Menu. For me, this kind of subterfuge by the waiter has caused me to rethink whether I will ever return to MK again.

As for the food, my small appetizer of pasta and morels for $15 was lacking. The portion size was adequate, but it arrived tepid and slightly dry; and the morels were over cooked. As for the bison, the 6 smallish pieces (3-inches in length by 3/4-inch in width by 1/4- inch in thickness) were almost right in number, although two more pieces would have been better for an adult male runner like me (I ran 6 miles earlier, I was hungry). I will say the chef got the medium-rare part just right; the bison was very delicious, but the very scant tablespoon of artichoke leaves and shavings of tuber-like vegetables left me wondering why they even bothered with plate-dressing. For $42, I thought a better accompanied was warranted for this entre. Plus, it simply was not a memorable dish.

Our table did not elect to get desert. However, after our party of 12 settled our bill for $1320, our Anna Wintaur-wannbe waiter presented the table with four desert-tasting dishes. Each contained exactly 2 cherries, 2 dime-size pieces of berry-flavored gummy-candy, and 2 dime-size pieces of brownies (and that’s being generous with the portion here). Each mini-tasting was good, but not great or memorable. Frankly, after spending over $1300 I thought the desert-tasting gesture was nice but it looked noticeably stingy.

Sorry, MK, but resting on your laurels is unimpressive. My final vote: Two thumbs-down and no return visit.

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This place has wonderful atmosphere, top notch food offerings, and a really interesting cocktail menu. It's definitely on the expensive side, so save it for a special occasion. Personally, I like how it's located far away from all things touristy...and walking inside from the street is like entering another dimension. I will return, but there are so many spots in the city for 'special occasions' that it might be a while.

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My husband and I were looking forward to trying mk for the first time on our 10th wedding anniversary. Who rated this place? We chose the tasting menu. The food was so bad that I actually gagged at the table and in order not to have to spit up my food had to shove an ENORMOUS piece of bread in my mouth and wash it down with a few large gulps of wine. The sommelier was fantasic and the suggested wine was the only good thing we had here. I cannot believe this restaurant gets away with serving such inedible food. Very dissappointing.

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I have been taking family and friends to MK for the last several years, and it never fails to please. I have family and friends from all over, some from New York City, others from small down state towns and everyone has been impressed and found something they enjoyed on the menu. Also, the somewhat more relaxed atmosphere compaired with some other top Chicago resturaunts is nice.

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A first impression is something that is never given a second chance, our experience at MK shows they know the value of just that. From the moment I rang to make a reservation, and was asked if there was an occasion, or if anyone had food allergies, to our gracious greeting by Lisa one of the owners, to our final goodbyes after dinner-everything was perfection. We arrived on one of the coldest nights of the year, and Lisa warmed us immediately by her greeting, and with the news that she had made her customers a special complimentary hot toddy to take away the chill, and put everyone in a happy mood (warm hybiscus tea with brandy-it was delicious, and hit the spot). We were then taken to our table, and the fabulous welcome continued with our server Nadege, and her assistant Rae. We were directed to a yummy pear/lavender martini to begin the festivities. We were brought menus, and found it hard to decide as it all sounded(and looked from eyeballing the tables around us)so good. I won't bore everyone with what we had, but between the 3 of us we ran the range of salad, pasta, fish, lamb, and yes we each had a dessert. All were beautifully prepared with fresh ingredients. They were complicated enough to make you feel the chef was offering you something special, but not fussy or pretentious. They found out over the course of the evening we were celebrating one of our party's recent engagement. When they brought our desserts, they also surprised us, and brought us 3 glasses of a wonderful sparkling dessert wine. What an unexpected treat. I will mention again how welcome our servers Nadege and Rae made us feel, we had so much fun with them, we never stopped smiling or laughing. The nice thing was, when we looked around the restaurant, we were not unique. Everyone was have a great time. My bottom line-we live in London, where there are many world class restaurants. You who live in Chicago are lucky as you too have one in MK. We will be back before we leave mid Feb, it was too good not to come again.

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I went to mk and my date and I both ordered the tasting menu. All the courses were fantastic and after talking with our server it came up that I am a culinary student. She brought us out a complimentary dessert wine and even gave me a $25 gift certificate. I would recommend mk to anyone.

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There are numerous restaurants in the city that are much friendlier and a better value. MK staff was very pompous and arrogant. They made us feel very uncomfortable the entire time we were there. Not to mention that the food wasn't anything special. This is the last time we will frequent MK.

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I used to be a huge fan of MK and came frequently until about a year ago, when I had what could only be described as an average meal. Nevertheless, with the emergence of Market Sundays, my companion and I dined there last night. The room is still beautiful, the service unstuffy and to the point. However, the food is again... lacking. Veggies/salads are all organic and well balanced. However the fish was very salty, as was my pasta (which was also dry in the sense of having sat under a warmer for a bit). Dessert was wonderful though. That being said, I can't say the dessert was incredible enough to forgive the adequacy of the entrees. Sorry, MK, but I don't think I'll be coming back too soon.

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Even through it's considered by foodies to be one of the top American restaurants in the city, mk isn't pretentious or unapproachable. The loftlike dining room is understated. Chef Michael Kornick keeps the menu focused on a fairly straightforward mix of meat and seafood. The presentations are tasteful rather than dazzling. Service is pleasant and agreeable with solid attention to detail. Consistently a good choice.

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I went with my hub and two friends. I got the duck; the other three got bison (which I thought was a bit overpriced). All three were literally salivating over their bison. The four appetizers we ordered were outstanding. The three deserts we shared were just as good. Wine was pricey but excellent. Service was very good and we never felt rushed. Hub and I will be going back for sure. Since it was my friend's birthday, the waitress presented her with a $25 gift certificate for the restaurant as an added gift. Fabulous!

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