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Schwa Restaurant Chicago Yelp Reviews
Latest Reviews On Yelp
31 Reviews
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I had a unique and wonderful behind the scenes look at this
I had a unique and wonderful behind the scenes look at this restaurant and what a wonderful group of people Michael found and put together. Enjoy
Be the first to ReplySuperb food, really unique, flavorful, and savory.
We try to visit as often as we can because the food is that good. Service is thoughtful and friendly. BYOW or go dry. Be mindful that if you haven't been here before, it can be very loud because people are having such a great time.
Be the first to ReplyCatching up on Yelp reviews and I visited Schwa back in
Catching up on Yelp reviews and I visited Schwa back in August for a celebration dinner. I was able to prepay a reservation on Tock for a Thursday night at 7pm about 2-3 weeks out. Reservations are for 2 or 4 people. This was my first time doing a fine dining tasting menu as it's not really my cup of tea IMO, but I was down to try a new thing instead of going to my typical Chicago steakhouse. As everyone else says with other Yelp reviews, don't arrive too early as it's an extremely small place that seats about 10 people and there is really no place to stand besides outside. We arrived a few minutes before and were seated immediately. Ambiance was dark with black table cloth and they played hip hop music. I thought that acoustics of the restaurant were incredible. Yes it was loud and loud enough where you can't hear the table next to you, which is extremely close. However, it wasn't so loud that you can easily have a conversation with your dining partner. Very cool acoustics overall! Also, Schwa is BYOB and they don't charge a corking fee. This is a great place for a casual sit down and I would not recommend for a business meeting unless everyone in the party is down to go. The tasting menu was 14-courses. Like the Navy Federal Credit Union TV commercial, all of the courses were tiny food. However, everything was extremely flavorful, creative, and fun. My favorites were the Quail and Foie as the sauces were insanely good. The Raviolo was very cheesy so it had amazing flavor. The Wagyu and Ramen was one of the coolest and fun dishes I have ever seen. The Fluff for dessert was amazing as well! I thought all of the dishes were good to great and I definitely had favorites. I will admit that I felt hungry after the meal. I thought the coolest thing was how the chefs were also the servers. So they brought out the food and you can ask them any questions. It's funny that I consider myself a foodie, yet I had no clue what they were saying as I really don't know the food industry. It's like trying to speak to a doctor or lawyer or an industry where they are an expert, but you don't know anything about. The tasting menu took about 2-3 hours. Price was about $265/person after taxes/tip. Expensive, yes. Well worth the money, totally! I thought the laid back atmosphere and the experience was well worth it. I still don't think fine dining is my cup of tea, but it was great to try something new instead of my typical steakhouse celebratory dinner. Would I go back? I would go back if someone I knew really wanted to go, but I would like to try another fine dining restaurant to see how it would compare. Schwa was definitely amazing and I highly recommend it!
Be the first to ReplyThis was the worst restaurant I ever been to .
.. avoid this place at all cost. Ewwwww!
Be the first to ReplyI made reservations for a midweek dinner here.
Upon entry you're face the kitchen, with no hostess stand for foyer. They ask for your first name and sit you down immediately. I will say this place is like no other Michelin star restaurant I've ever been to. No white table cloth here. They're actually black haha. They do blast the music but the music was great. They were bumping NY State of Mind by Nas and some Tech N9ne music. It made it difficult to hear the staff sometimes when they were describing the courses. You can definitely come in this place and be yourself. It's very casual and most importantly the entire staff was great. Very friendly and on point through our entire meal. It's also BYOB and they don't charge a corkage fee since it's includes in the service fee when you prepay. As for the food, it's a 14 course tasting menu with some dishes being served at the same time each counting as one of the courses. I'll describe some of the dishes but I don't want to spoil any special presentations to anyone. They start you off with "float" and served with "Uni." I'm not big on ginger, especially ginger beer but this paired together this was a delicious way to start your dinner. Raviolo-quail egg, truffle and ricotta. This one was delicious. A little salty but amazing flavor. Crab-a gumbo with hoja santa. A little bit of heat, but not too over powering. Sturgeon-perfecltly cooked, texture was great. Caviar-served on top of an apricot. This was one of my favorite dishes. I love apricot and caviar paired perfectly with it. It also had amazing texture. Foie-This was my favorite dish. It was served on top of a mole and very delicious. It was also served with "quail" and was pretty tasty well. Wagyu-served with matsutake, and battera. The wagyu was very tender and juicy. Perfectly cooked medium rare. Ramen-probably one of my least favorite of the night. The broth is made out of tea. Cheese-Ice cream made out of cheese, and served in a waffle cone Tea-banana kefir, amaro and chocolate served with "nilla," this was good. You dip the cookie just like you would with milk and cookies. And the last one was "fluff." My wife loved this one. It was too sweet for me. Cotton candy served with white chocolate and tonka at the bottom And then we took shots of whiskey at the very end of our meal with the staff. Overall I was really impressed with their service and the food presentation. So far every Michelin star restaurant has been a try once type of place. Schwa is the first one I've been to that I can definitely say I'm willing to return.
Be the first to ReplyAmazing spot for date night and if you want to really
Amazing spot for date night and if you want to really experience food with a unique tasting menu this is the spot! It's fun and the chefs here really do an amazing job.
Be the first to ReplyWent to Schwa to celebrate birthdays with friends.
This is fine dining done like no other. These unique dishes are made approachable by the chill down to earth staff. Don't expect any fluff here, just delicious dishes. Huge perk- it's BYOB and they don't charge a corking fee. Great for a unique date night, special event or celebration.
Be the first to ReplyUnique experience! Fun chill vibe! Eating different types
Unique experience! Fun chill vibe! Eating different types of foods, listening to one of my fav type of music era and genre, and BYOB, is such a cool way to enjoy an evening. Servings are small (as to be expected for a tasting menu) but they serve you 10-15 dishes. We were there for 2 hours. Servers are the chef or sous chefs and all very fun and friendly. We even enjoyed a round of shots at the end with the chef, staff and guest. An experience to check off my bullet list! Definitely recommend.
Be the first to ReplyI was so blown away by Schwa.
My boyfriend took me here for my 30th birthday last month and just wow. Michelin star dining but not the stuffiness you expect when you think Michelin. The food was incredibly delicious and inventive. That banana pudding tea dish ... I'm obsessed . The dessert I spoke about for days afterward. Food was just 10/10, top notch. I'm still thinking about it...which is why a month later I am now writing my review . The atmosphere. Loved it as much as the food. Great hiphop music playing. You want to get up and dance. I was hoping schwa had a playlist on Spotify that I could go on. BYOB - loved that as well. Service was incredible. Everyone was so knowledgeable and explained what I was eating so well. It was my first Michelin experience. I'm sure it won't be my last but it certainly will not be one I forget. I hope I get to visit soon. And if anyone has a chance to visit ... please do!!!!
Be the first to ReplyVery unassuming for a Michelin star restaurant.
It's BYOB. They play hip-hop music. Your sous chefs are also your servers. The chef takes shots with you. Don't expect a host stand. No coat stand or closet specially when you go during the winter in Chicago. Overall, food was really good. Very well thought out. You'll pay first in order to secure a reservation. After $250 (includes tax and tip), I still left feeling hungry.
Be the first to ReplySchwa was amazing, starting with that.
I'll say that there were a few apsects of dining there that I think could have been better, but I'll get there below.I'll go as far as saying that among the coursed (price fixe) dinners - They had the best actual-tasting food. Some places you get a course and think "that was new, unique, and I enjoyed it.. but I'm not really sure I'd have a whole plate of it" .. Schwa was: "this tastes awesome, gimme more!"For service: I mean it was as expected, which is precise and great. They matched the personality of our table (as I observed the differences between other tables), they spaced the courses perfectly. We had several visits from the head chef, and each servers instructions were fun and unique. Food: I won't go 1 by 1, I'll try to be concise (not easy to be short though haha) 1. I loved this - so you get an oyster, but instead of slurping it down its on a fried tortilla of sorts, so you nibble it. BUT THEN, the next course was this incredible ravioli and that was instructed to slurp down (like an oyster). Really creative spin. 2. We had a fried fish that also came with some other type of fish - thinking I'd not like it and the looks were deceiving (no idea what it was called). Yummm it was just the perfect crispy fried texture. 3. Even the caviar was so good, and i don't like caviar. It was mixed with sweet jam. Basically the aspect of sweets they mixed into several courses were new to this type of dining, and again super creative. ..If there was any dish I would put at the bottom, maybe the beef. It was still great, but kind of just standard steak to me.Here is where I'll throw some thoughts:Is it worth $200 a person? To me yes. However the overall meal was (1) just under 2 hours, and seemed somewhat short. (2) Some vibe or character of the experience seemed lacking, can't put a finger on it, but just seemed like it started, ended, and we left. There needed to be more. (3) I wish it was a full restaurant and more of a 'production', as opposed to our quiet and solo table. Again can't put a finger on it, just missing something within the realm of "show" on top of the courses themselves. All in all it was incredible and I'd love to go back. BYOB is a huge factor as well.
Be the first to ReplyFood was very good.
Quail and wagyu were the best! Good music, a lot of 90s-00s rap which seemed odd for a restaurant like this. Service was great they explain each dish like most multi course meals. BYOB!!! We brought a bottle of red and white to try with different dishes and the waiter recommended which fit each dish. Expensive but worth it, great for a date!
Be the first to ReplyMy husband and I have been to Schwa several times.
For a while the dishes were a bit salty but still very good. We went last night and, my god, they have it dialed in PERFECTLY!! Even single course was just outstanding! Can't wait to go back yet again.
Be the first to ReplyReally fun experience dining at Schwa - the BYOB makes this
Really fun experience dining at Schwa - the BYOB makes this a blast with a group. We had the 9 pm seating, and it's a really interesting set up - only 5 total tables, feels like a hole in the wall from the outside. The staff was super friendly. Overall the food was unique and generally tasty, but definitely left feeling hungry and like it may not have been worth the price as a few dishes were not great.
Be the first to ReplyAn experience for sure.
Excellent food. Just really not worth it at the end of the day. A $200 tasting menu should feel like an elongated choreographed ballet that takes longer than you think and wows you in the end. Schwa brings excellent food too quickly and too abruptly in a less than interesting environment which makes you wonder why you paid so much. The savory dishes tantalize and make u so excited but after 90 minutes they give u a dessert and clearly u feel like they want u out when u we're just about to get excited about another few warm salty goodnesses.They have an odd seating timing (6/7/8/9) which means that you are never sitting next to someone else for very long which also detracts from the vibe. Dining this way should be experiential and food centric - Schwa seems to only care about food (which is super on point) and less about experience. Did we like it - yes! Did we think it was worth if / no :(
Be the first to ReplyFood was fantastic! Had been an a little nervous because I
Food was fantastic! Had been an a little nervous because I had heard of controversial news about this place, but our service was just fine and we had a great experience! The meat option and vegetarian option were both nice. For a tasting menu place, felt similar to EL Ideas because of the edgier vibe and byob offering. This place is much smaller and darker though, so better for a more intimate vibe. (If going in the winter time, go exactly on time because they have no space for you to wait in doors for your reservation time. We watched a few patrons who got there early get asked to wait outside or come back even though their assigned table was empty.)
Be the first to ReplyGreat experience at Schwa.
The food is innovative and exciting but it was chef Carlson and his team that made the night truly memorable. They were so cool and the passion was evident. Call ahead a day or two in advance to get wine pairing recommendations and bring a six pack for the staff.
Be the first to ReplyEach course was a marvel! There is no better place for
Each course was a marvel! There is no better place for inventive and delicious food, served creatively. Ingredients, execution, and presentation are absolutely top-notch. Modern, casual very intimate atmosphere.
Be the first to ReplyI've been wanting to come here for 10-12 years and finally
I've been wanting to come here for 10-12 years and finally made it in. The reservation was easy to make, and I loved the fact that it is BYOB.So many things to say about this place. Completely unexpected decor, and the chefs are the servers. It's a very cool and quirky experience, all in a good way.Food was very inventive and tasted great. We could really tell the chefs put a lot of thought and love into each bite.
Be the first to ReplyMuch smaller inside then expected.
Food was fun and innovative. Was hoping for more interaction from staff especially after we brought them a bottle of whiskey. Honestly for the price...would think twice about a return. Wanted to love this place...
Be the first to ReplyAbsolutely fantastic meal for a tasting menu.
The pace was maybe a little quick since the pandemic (this was my third time through in 3 years). Overall each dish was executed perfectly. The flavors and textures match well. Not pictured were a few other courses when I was too in the zone. They sprinkle in a few pallet cleansers. The staff are very helpful. The environment is laid back with the best beats. The vibe is my favorite of the Michelin star restaurants. Also it's BYOB!!!! And you might get a toast with the staff if you're lucky. I will for sure be back.
Be the first to ReplyWhen it comes to your Michelin rated Chicago restaurants, I
When it comes to your Michelin rated Chicago restaurants, I must say that Schwa is the least "assuming" (at least when you first arrive), which makes me love this spot even more. Over the years, Schwa has stuck to its roots. Don't expect the chefs who double as waiters to do anything more than prepare a delicious experience and present it to you. Bring your own booze, and bring some for the kitchen. Schwa will provide a one of a kind experience, different from any other Michelin spot in Chicago. The restaurant is cozy, with a grungy vibe and a small tiny bathroom located in the kitchen. They bump old school rap/hip-hop the entire time, and the chefs will take shots with you if you're into taking the experience to the next level (which I recommend - but again, bring them the alcohol, don't assume shots with the chefs if you don't).The menu changes, not sure how frequently but both times I've visited Schwa I have loved almost every dish, and have licked every plate/bowl/utensil clean. I won't share any details on what I loved/liked, as everyone's taste buds are different, you don't have a say in the menu, and you should go in completely blind and with an open mind. Bring a white and a red of your choice (in addition to what you bring the chefs), pair things accordingly with what is in front of you and expect an experience unlike any other.
Be the first to ReplySchwa is one of my favorite restaurants in the US.
I love that the food is so creative but is served with zero pretense - served by the chefs, while listening to hip hop, and you can even go into the kitchen and talk with them if you want. And since it's BYOB, all of the cost of entry goes to the food you get - everything is the highest quality.I recently went with one of my good friends and we had a stellar meal - on par with every time I've visited. I will always make time to visit Schwa when I'm in Chicago.
Be the first to ReplyIt's definitely unassuming because it looked like it was
It's definitely unassuming because it looked like it was closed from the outside, but the inside is a vibe. It's dim and there's loud music which was nice at first, but then my husband and I could barely hear ourselves speak. We were straining our voices. It's a small space so when we first walked in, we felt like we were interrupting dinner service. Staff is super nice and well versed in the food they're serving. The chef is really nice too and introduced himself when we sat down which was pretty cool. 5 stars for service.The presentation of the first dish was super cool and I was hopeful for the rest of dinner, however, I found that only one or two of the dishes from the entire course spoke out to me. I thought most of the dishes were overly salty, but my husband said only a couple were. Food was only okay and definitely not worth the price. Overall, I didn't enjoy Schwa as much as I hoped I would.
Be the first to ReplyHas really gone downhill - I ate here years ago and it was
Has really gone downhill - I ate here years ago and it was fantastic so it was disappointing to experience this latest menu. This time around it was a lot of complex flavors that really didn't go well together, to be honest. There was a lack of cohesion and the menu seems to just be all over the place. Yes, there were a couple of dishes that were excellent, but overall it was just meh - and we even left hungry and got burgers on the way home... It's also super pricy for what you get and there are SO many other excellent tasting menus in Chicago. Great spot circa 2016 but would avoid today.
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