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Ambria
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Restaurant
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Chicago
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Credit Cards:
All major cards
Open:
Dinner Mon - Sat
Price:
Expensive
Score (/20):
17
Reviewed By
Sue Dyson and Roger McShane
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Phone Number:
+1 773 472 5959
Address:
2300 N. Lincoln Park W
Chicago, Illinois
Country:
United States
Food Style:
French
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On a recent trip to Chicago we only had one night in town and knew we wouldn't be back for some months. We were therefore nervous about choosing a restaurant. What if we made the wrong choice!We finally decided to try Ambria because it had a reputation for serving great French food and we were on our way to Paris.From the moment we arrived in this grand restaurant we felt welcome. The staff were extremely efficient but maintained a friendliness that was appealing but not intrusive.We were shown into a side room that had heavy wood panelling and only four tables. It was quiet and relaxing.While we sipped our champagne, a complimentary small dish of lobster soup with escargot and leeks appeared. This was a beautiful, light, perfect start to the meal. Often lobster soups are 'over extracted' with the shellfish flavour overwhelming the other ingredients. This dish achieved a perfect balance.We were also impressed when we perused the menu. Often, in such grand establishments the owners feel that the menu descriptions have to match the grandness of the surroundings. Here the dishes were described simply and precisely. A great bonus.We started with seared scallops with baby carrots, fennel and sauteed figs served on a stunningly clever carrot juice reduction spiked with herb oil. A great dish with an harmonious combination of flavours and textures that seemed to hit all parts of the palate. The other starter was a galette of wild mushrooms with a truffle sauce where the galette was built on mashed potato. Very appealing!But the highlight of the night was pheasant cooked two ways. The breast had been poached and the thigh was braised. Both were cooked perfectly.Sauteed John Dory with fennel and artichoke served in a fish broth reduction was cooked perfectly although we found the broth a bit too sweet for our taste.The wine we chose to accompany these dishes was the stunning Kistler McRae Vineyard Chardonnay. Outside Burgundy this is one of the great chardonnays of the world.Desserts were a lovely sticky rice pudding accompanied by fresh raspberries and strawberries and a rhubarb fool with a crème brulee. Both were lovely.We were very impressed with Ambria. They managed to serve modern stylish food while holding true to the techniques of classical cooking.Another plus was the fact that they take vegetarians seriously here. There is even a degustation menu for vegetarians.We can thoroughly recommend Ambria.
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