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6 Reviews
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Yugen, is a dining experience
Yugen, is a dining experience not be missed. The service is great, very knowledgeable staff, with the ability to explain, food and beverages in a very understanding manner. The food is excellent, presentation and taste make the experience of dining at Yugen an excellent choice, we will return.
Be the first to ReplyHorrible service and very overpriced!
TLDR: Do not visit--just trust me! The worst service in Chicago at a terrible, terrible value--you can go to Alinea at the same price! Or get the extended Omaha menu at Smyth! I first visited Grace (Yugen's predecessor; same owner, different chef) in 2014 after watching the documentary For Grace. The whole story was something so special, so moving, and I'll remember the experience not for the food but for the incredible service--we were truly pampered with a gracefulness that just seemed so fitting for chef Curtis's journey. What was once the embodiment of Grace is now anything but. I hate to write negative posts but the chaos that created Yugen after the falling out of chef Duffy/GM Muser with the owner is not only reflected in the food but also in the service, which is the least graceful I have ever encountered. Ignoring a major peanut allergy is one thing; handling it with no initial apology, and then a halfhearted apology with no concessions after making us sit there for 10 minutes doing nothing is another. We literally had to ASK for them to offer us something after they finally came back with a apology more than 10 minutes later. Not to mention completely incoherent explanations to several dishes that were later changed. Not to mention dropped components of dishes on two cases. Not to mention no kitchen tour which all of the two other tables on a Friday night got. I understood why the dining room was empty: at this price point (actually for far less) you can dazzle in the amazing umami flavors at Smyth, get a wildly refined experience at Oriole, or taste creative combinations at Acadia. Heck, I could even try the salon at Alinea. Or I can try the horribly unbalanced flavor combinations here--like a king crab dish, a shadow of Curtis Duffy's signature dish and completely overwhelmed by tamari. Like an extremely sickly sweet foie gras and uni chawanmushi, with uni that no Japanese restaurant worth its salt would dare serve. Not to mention the number of courses that you get is about half of what you would get for a similar price (and much, much higher quality) at Smyth, for instance. Chicagoans are smart about where they eat, the empty dining room says all. This is the worst dining experience I have had in a long time. I've been to Smyth, Oriole, Acadia, and it boggles my mind why anyone would come here, food alone. As in life, grace is fleeting-- cherish it when it is around, because nothing gold can stay.
Be the first to ReplyOverpriced and underwhelmed
We dined here with friends and did the 10-course omakase. The food was good, but at $600+ per couple for the tasting menu and 2 beverages each, I expected transcendent. I also expected service that anticipates your every need and elevates the occasion. The pricing approached that of Next, Alinea & Oriole, but the experience was much less impressive. I felt like we were being interrupted sometimes, we had to ask for water refills, etc. It wasn't poor service by any means, it just was not that uber-amazing, dazzling service that is needed to make the price point worthwhile to me. The food was reasonably innovative and tasty. I actually thought it was a bit too much food (5 courses seemed like too few, but 10 was too many). All in all, I felt like we paid double what the experience warranted. We left feeling kind of like suckers (vs. the 5 or so times we went to Next & left feeling indulgent and amazed). I definitely would not go back and would not recommend at the current price point.
Be the first to ReplyUnique
Perfect Friday night with good food and drinks. The mentaiko carbonara hit the spot - it reminded me of Japan. The ramen ravioli was a new experience - it was ramen but in a form of a ravioli. Loved the selection of beer and wine. The service was on point and high level. Mari Katsumura has done a great job. Will be back.
Be the first to ReplySpecial occasion really was
Came here to celebrate our 30th anniversary from out of town with our son and his girlfriend. Fabulous night. Food was beautiful and delicious. Service was impeccable: knowledgeable, funny and anything but intrusive. The space is elegant without being stuffy. Excellent beverage pairings. Expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Be the first to ReplyA Night to Remember
We were a group of five and each of us agreed that this dinner was so special that we would remember it forever. From the food to the drinks to the service and ambiance Yugen shines. A Michelin star should be coming soon.
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