Everest

The Scene – Jean Joho's plush, classically French restaurant Everest positively oozes the good life, from the polished gold railings to the abstract bronze centerpieces on each table. The carpeted room features high draped ceilings, mirrored walls and a breathtaking vista of the city. Friendly, tuxedo-clad waiters provide unobtrusive service to a conservative, moneyed crowd. – – The Food – One of the world's most honored chefs, Jean Joho prepares traditional French cuisine that's haute and hearty. The degustation menu delivers a sumptuous, seven-course tour of the…

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Editor's Tips

Where To Sit:: Ask for a table near the windows (the view of the city is lovely); just keep in mind that management can't guarantee you'll get one.
What To Drink:: One of the largest wine lists outside France, with more than 1,400 bottles ranging in price from less than $100 to more than $3,000.
Save Money:: At $49 per person, the pre-theater three-course menu (served only at 5:30pm) is the restaurant's best bargain.

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User Reviews (29)

ambiance	83.33000183105469% positive	“Both the food and ambiance were good but not great.” “We did have a great view but my husband and I sat about 2 feet apart from each.” “The view is beautiful.” “The view is perfect.” “We were seated immediately, not right near the window, but close enough that we could enjoy the view.” “The bored, stiff waitstaff lead us to to a table in the small, 1950's decorated room, which may in fact have a great view, but we couldn't tell b/c we were in the corner.” “Getting into the parking garage and taking the two separate elevators made us feel like we were James Bond and was a nice start to the evening.” “If your looking for a faux fine dining experience paired nicely with a cold & unfriendly atmosphere, and finished with lackluster unimaginative cuisine, then I highly recommend it!” “The view was amazing as the sun set in the West.” “This place is small and cozy and the seat that I had boasted the best view of the city.” “The art-deco decor is pleasant.” “Everest may be expensive (dont expect to spend less than $30 on an entree) but its location is the main reason to come to this restaurant fo.” “Once we were seated the view and the food were excellent, but not good enough to make us forget about our initial experience.” “Beautiful view,Food is Just O.K.” “Good view but go to the hancock and get something to eat elsewhere”
drinks	50.0% positive	“glance at the wines by the glass revealed that the least expensive offering was $19.” “The wine list is impressive, but there is not a full size bottle of wine for under $100.” “appreciated that we could choose our food, rather than being forced to order a set menu or wine tasting, and we found the staff to be professional and friendly, rather than stuffy or pretentious.” “Wonderful food, fantastic wine and gracious service.” “Understandably our table was not ready so we were offered expensive drinks to sit in the elevator foyer and watched 5-6 parties walk off the elevator into the restaurant while we waited until 8:45 PM.” “The most memorable aspect of this meal was that the wine selection was terrible, making the meal below average at best.”
food quality	88.24000358581543% positive	“The meal was quite good.” “Once we were seated the view and the food were excellent, but not good enough to make us forget about our initial experience.” “The food was good but the portions are small.” “Neither one of us was asked how we would like our meat cooked.” “The food was not bad, although for a restaurant of this level I expected much more.” “However, the food was well-prepared and flawlessly served.” “appreciated that we could choose our food, rather than being forced to order a set menu or wine tasting, and we found the staff to be professional and friendly, rather than stuffy or pretentious.” “Although the food was quite good, the service at our dinner last evening was atrocious.” “Wonderful food, fantastic wine and gracious service.” “Service was still quite good but of the food only the sauted fois gras was at the level we had expected.” “If your looking for a faux fine dining experience paired nicely with a cold & unfriendly atmosphere, and finished with lackluster unimaginative cuisine, then I highly recommend it!” “ver bad service the service there is SO rude the manger also (chris) the food isnt that good for the pricve you pay, it was my best exprience so far and I have been all over the world, you shoudnt go if you want to be treated very bad!” “Both the food and ambiance were good but not great.” “Maybe next time we'll get a seat a little closer to the window, but we came for a memorable meal, and our expectations were exceeded in every way!” “Theresa had lobster salad, and then the venison, which she thought was wonderful too.” “The most memorable aspect of this meal was that the wine selection was terrible, making the meal below average at best.” “While we usually eat at our neighborhood favorite, La Petite Folie, we've been to all the big name restaurants in town, and neither of us can remember having a better meal on the Northside.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The most memorable aspect of this meal was that the wine selection was terrible, making the meal below average at best.” “appreciated that we could choose our food, rather than being forced to order a set menu or wine tasting, and we found the staff to be professional and friendly, rather than stuffy or pretentious.”
overall	100.0% positive	“Everest has been our favorite restaurant ever since it opened, 16 years ago.” “We were hoping for a nice place to have our slide presentation, but the restaurant was very unaccomodating and basically told us if we didn't like what they provided, we could leave.” “Thought it would be nice to go to a "top of the line" restaurant here based on its number 4 rating in Zagat, descriptions in other reviews, etc.”
return potential	100.0% positive	“don't know if we would go back, but we did enjoy a very nice evening.”
service	72.22000122070312% positive	“Service was fantastic, but not enough to make up for the man with the EXTREME bronchial cough who was not asked to leave, or for the tables so close together that my table was bumped repeatedly by the servers.” “Wonderful food, fantastic wine and gracious service.” “ver bad service the service there is SO rude the manger also (chris) the food isnt that good for the pricve you pay, it was my best exprience so far and I have been all over the world, you shoudnt go if you want to be treated very bad!” “Although the food was quite good, the service at our dinner last evening was atrocious.” “The service is impeccable.” “and the service is quite excellent BUT, the kitchen is a disappointment !” “We were no where near the window, yet there were plenty of open seats, and recieved VERY poor service.” “appreciated that we could choose our food, rather than being forced to order a set menu or wine tasting, and we found the staff to be professional and friendly, rather than stuffy or pretentious.” “poor service and very snob they think they are making you a favor on letting you in and paying a lot of money for them trying to educating you in how to be a client!”
value	21.429998874664307% positive	“Understandably our table was not ready so we were offered expensive drinks to sit in the elevator foyer and watched 5-6 parties walk off the elevator into the restaurant while we waited until 8:45 PM.” “Least expensive Chardonnay by the bottle - $89.” “The food was good but the portions are small.” “glance at the wines by the glass revealed that the least expensive offering was $19.” “Food was quite good but not worth the price.” “poor service and very snob they think they are making you a favor on letting you in and paying a lot of money for them trying to educating you in how to be a client!” “Everest may be expensive (dont expect to spend less than $30 on an entree) but its location is the main reason to come to this restaurant fo.”

10/16/08

avoid a waiter called TROY

by mnc77 at Citysearch

ver bad service the service there is SO rude the manger also (chris) the food isnt that good for the pricve you pay, it was my best exprience so far and I have been all over the world, you shoudnt go if you want to be treated very bad! poor service and very snob they think they are making you a favor on letting you in and paying a lot of money for them trying to educating you in how to be a client! Never returning! nor will lots of people I know!

Pros: the dover sole is good
Cons: the service lacks of respect for the client

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05/29/08

Very Dissapointing

by f1sanders at Citysearch

The service was below average. I live in Chicago and I was looking forward to a mind-blowing culinary experience, but it just didn't deliver. The food was over-priced for the service and dining experience.

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02/18/08

disrespected and overcharged

by markustheman at Citysearch

Disrespected and overcharged, visiting chicago i set up a reservation weeks in advance and very specifically requested a table with a view as that was why my girlfriend wanted to go there,, I was told that it couldnt be guaranteed but they would try , My reservation was late 9:30 and upon arriving all windows were taken so i went along with the table i was given , the disrespect came after a window table came available i watched it sit there uncleaned for about 15 minutes then after in was reset I asked the waiter to be moved to the window table , he said he would ask the maitre de and returned quite a time later and told me no,, I couldnt believe it but chose not to make a scene as I dont believe my girlfriend would be impressed by me losing my temper and treating people harshly ,, We made the best of the dinner but were very dissapointed , when you spend more money you should recieve better treatment not worse,, I had a blast at the signature club the night before which had the best view by far anyways, We are a polite happy go lucky couple who has never be treated so poorly before,,, waiter was stuffy and snobbish ,, honestly i feel this treatment was because we didnt order wine and run the bill up ,, We dont drink alcohol and didnt feel tea would be appropiate for fine dining ,,,anyways i hope people read this and other reviews on here and stay away ,, they deserve the bad reviews on here ,, I only wish i would have looked here before going there,, in fairness food wasnt terrible, and waitstaff did a decent job but after watching the window table sat vacant i have to say the dinner was horrible and chicago has many more enjoyable places to dine.

Pros: food was okay
Cons: they dont care about customers

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09/16/07

Avoid wine pairing

by genesasia at Citysearch

I went to the Everest with several friends to celebrite my birthday. The food was not bad, although for a restaurant of this level I expected much more. It does not compare with some of the other Chicago restaurants of similar price range. The service was average and not particularly attentive. Again, I would expect more for a place of this type. Most significantly, we had the degustation with wine pairing and the wine selection was aweful. I could have chosen better wines to match the food, and I don't claim any credentials in wine. The most memorable aspect of this meal was that the wine selection was terrible, making the meal below average at best. I would not go back there.

Pros: Reasonable view if you get a window table
Cons: Average food, terrible wine pairing for degustation

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06/27/07

Good Food + Bad Service = Big Disappointment

by seduk at Citysearch

Although the food was quite good, the service at our dinner last evening was atrocious. The staff is undertrained and overtaxed. Waits between later courses were interminable. If you actually want water in your glass during the meal, best to bring your own, because the servers are highly unlikely to notice your empty glass.

Although the manager indicated his disappointment when I wrote him a letter complaining about our experience (in fairness, although they charged only for our wine, not for our food---one can't "redo" a 25th anniversary dinner), he plainly indicated this is the best they can do and if you want to dine there, get used to it.

This is all about corporate entertaining on expense account. If you're looking for a fine dining experience, take a pass on Everest.

Pros: Food was quite good
Cons: Room is dated and the service is atrocious

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Editor's Tips

10/16/08

avoid a waiter called TROY

by mnc77 at Citysearch

05/29/08

Very Dissapointing

by f1sanders at Citysearch

02/18/08

disrespected and overcharged

by markustheman at Citysearch

09/16/07

Avoid wine pairing

by genesasia at Citysearch

06/27/07

Good Food + Bad Service = Big Disappointment

by seduk at Citysearch

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