08/30/08

Good food; stiff atmosphere

by ymw

The food was lovely but the portions very small and the prices very high. The atmosphere was stiff. When we arrived, we had a hard time getting anyone to acknowledge our presence, offer us a cocktail or give us a menu. In fairness, the service improved as the evening went on. Bottom line: great food in a sterile atmoshpere.

05/31/08

expensive, disappointing food without flavor

by crazypoodle

The food a Tru was truly a let down. The food was interestingly presented but there was a distinct lack of flavor in most dishes, especially considering the $110 cost of the basic tasting menu without wine. Even worse, everyone was still not really full because of the exceptionally small portions, even for this type of dining. The best dishes were fresh sushi fish pieces and the cheese, which is source externally. The jacket required attitude reflects that the old school attitude towards food that may once have been great. The service was excellent though.

• Pros: cheese cart, service
• Cons: food without much flavor, tiny, tiny portions for a very high price, stuffy jacket only requirement

03/30/08

The Emperor's New Restaurant?

by nyc2chicago

Wow--my husband and I couldn't believe our good fortune getting a table at what is supposedly one of the best restaurants in Chicago. It was our first dining experience in Chicago after moving here from New York. We both LOVE amazing dining experiences, but this one was TOTALLY off the mark.

The evening we went was cold--it was snowing and blustery. The appetizers and the "amuse bouche" that came out were all tiny, cold little blobs of what I can only describe as tasteless gelatin. The rest of the meal was also very disappointing, and the service, which has been described here as impeccable, was actually comical, as you could almost see the two waiters who were synchronized in removing and setting plates on the table counting as they did so--very stilted--it made us both uncomfortable.

Having spend $700 on our meal, we thought we would have one of the most memorable evenings of our lives. Four months later, I'm still fuming at the amount of money we spent at a restaurant that obviously is resting on its laurels (we were told Rick Tramonto no longer works at the restaurant, and that a new chef has taken his place).

We were sorely disappointed.