Claudia

Claudia joined Chicago’s endless parade of renowned tasting menu spots in 2021. And like Esme, Schwa, and Oriole, this fancy Bucktown spot is expensive, hard to get into, and has a menu with a wide variety of influences—ranging from Japanese to French. The approximately nine-course tasting ranges from $285-385, and you’ll find dishes like oysters topped with sake dippin’ dots, foie ice cream, and a bunch of other things that are plated with tweezerly love. 

The restaurant is in an old house, and both the space and service is upscale without being too formal. Tables are right next to the kitchen, so you can see chefs carefully composing your tempura-fried snail course right before the head chef comes out to tell you said snails have been raised on a diet of aromatic herbs. There aren’t a lot of “How did they do that?” moments here (though the dippin’ dots are neat) but the food is excellent. If you’re looking for a special occasion meal and have the cash and three hours to spend on a fine dining experience, go ahead and book a table.