Vermilion
Chicago, IL 60610
Phone: (312) 527-4060
- Price:
- $$$$
- Cross Street:
- State Street
- Directions:
- El: Red Line to Grand, Brown/Purple Line to Merchandise Mart
- Hours:
- Mon-Thu 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-10pm, Fri 11:30am-2:30pm, 5pm-11pm, Sat 5pm-11pm, Sun 5pm-10pm
Editorial Review for Vermilion – by Jennifer Olvera
The Scene
When pulled, gauzy curtains create intimate nooks within this wood-beamed dining room with black and white photography hung on red-painted and silver brick walls. A well-heeled, multi-generational crowd congregates around a glossy red bar to sip intoxicating herbed, spiced cocktails before sliding into curvaceous white leather banquettes or dark wood chairs at linen-topped tables. Informative, friendly servers up the ante.
The Food
A fiery--not to mention, sexy--blend of Indian and Latin cuisines finds its stride among small plates. Crisp, fragrant potato and garbanzo bean-filled pastry cups have interactive appeal since diners fill them with lush, refreshing cilantro water and pop them into mouths whole. Shrimp slathered with inky, peanut-studded tamarind sauce is brightened by crunchy moong bean-daikon slaw. Tropical lobster, shrimp and tilapia ceviche with mango, mint and ginger belies inclement weather. Among entrees, tender tandoori skirt steak delivers big flavor, but chili-glazed ribs leave a bitter taste.
Hits
Tapas dishes are varied. The wonderful sauces deserve to be sopped up with sides of chewy house-made roti or naan.
Misses
While the specialty "herb and spice" cocktails are interesting, some sound better on paper. For example, the pear and coriander martini is gritty toward the bottom, and the tamarind margarita has a biting edge.
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Insider Tips
ParkingMetered street parking, while limited, is best found right after street parking restrictions lift at 6pm.
Save MoneyTapas selections are especially affordable during lunch. Two cost $12, and four can be had for $22.
Where to SitWhen coming with a small group, snag the curtain-swathed, circular booth opposite the bar for a prime perch.
User Reviews for Vermilion
03/31/2008 Posted by giramonda
I have only been here twice but Vermilion has already made it into my top 5 favorite restaurants in Chicago. The food is creative and bursting with intriguing flavor. The restaurant is gorgeous and the service impeccable. I picked Vermilion out of countless options to spend New Years because of my previous positive experience and was actually blown away. The 7-course meal with champagne pairings was phenomenal! The vegetarian equivalents to the "regular" courses were very well thought-out and executed (e.g. the hearts of palm prepared and dressed in the same way as the scallops). The accompanying champagne concoctions were outstanding and beautiful to look at (my favorite one was something paired with either habanero or jalapeno although the pear was also fantastic) - some with fresh flowers adorning the glass. Anyone I have recommended Vermilion to also loves it and I have never heard anything negative about it firsthand.
Pros: Perfect trifecta: fantastic food, service and ambience
Cons: None
03/06/2008 Posted by smaddila
I took one of my clients here for a nice dinner, and I have to say it was the most I have ever paid in Chicago for a comparable place (never been to Charlie Trotters'). The overall experience was quite pleasant and we ended up staying for more than 2 hours, service was quite good and no one rushed us. But I wish we had a better table, we ere seated right next to another table with 3 other gentlemen who kept bumping into us. This was strange considering how empty the restaurant was on Wednesday evening. We started out with 3 different Tapas among the 2 of us (quite small portions) and there were quite expensive (between $10-$15 each), all of them had an Indian component like Chick-pea Vadas or Cilantro Chutney, mixed with something Brazilian like tamarind or Chocolate sauce. Fish Ceviche with Avacados was the best of the lot. Similarly entrees' were also on the smaller side but filling after all the appetizers. My guest had a Fillet Mignon (Brazilian style with a few good Indian chutneys) , he was less than thrilled about the meat, but overall happy with his selection. I had a SriLankan style barbecued fish, which was surprisingly spicy. It was a whole Tilapia (I think)- bones and all, soaked in a Rasam (spicy gravy) served with a side order of Basmati rice. Fish was prepared well with lots of flavors, while it was some work to pick through the bones quite well worth it. I couldn't finish my meal as it was a bit on the spicy side (and I am an Indian). Finally, we shared a dessert tray with Mango Flan, Chocolate decadence (with fresh berries) and Shahi Tukda (Royal Delight), a typical Indian dessert. All good but portions were too small to try a 2nd taste even among the two of us. On the whole, I would certainly recommend this place for someone on an expense account, who wants to try out a high-end eclectic restaurant in Chicago. It would have to be really special occasion before I go back.
Pros: Eclectic food, good service
Cons: quite pricey, strange seating arrangments
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