Tru Restaurant

01/31/08

Run, don't walk, to Tru for special occasions or when you don't mind paying to be pampered and tastefully thrilled

by margolis at Citysearch

The entire staff makes you feel welcome and pampered with their warm, efficient service. It is highly unusual that every member of a restaurant staff is superb, but Tru manages to deliver that. The valet was friendly and courteous. The hostess/coat check girl was a smiling bit of welcome who ushered us into Tru's zen-like dining room. The banquette was comfy and luxuriously upholstered. The fine modern art on the walls was a sight to behold. The captain truly run s a tight ship. Your water glass will never even approach empty, let alone half-full. Elana (sp?), the sommelier is knowledgeable and friendly. She is a pleasant departure from the usual stuffy, pretentious sommeliers one encounters when fine-dining. She chose a Cabernet for us that was sublime. The wait staff was very warm and extremely efficient. As for the food, we chose the $95 three course Prix Fixe option. It is actually more than three courses. Every time we thought we had a respite, they brought us another culinary wonder. The cuisines spanned the gamut from melt-in-your-mouth to a party on your tongue. The lobster bisque was extraordinary. Tru's food is fun and delicious which is what truly fine food should be. The pop rocks in one of the treats they brought to us put a smile on our faces. The cheese course was outstanding. My chocoholic self favored the candy cart at the end of our dinner. The captain handed us caramel chocolate truffle suckers that were amazing. Holy Toledo! Gale Gand's sweet-making talent is unsurpassed. The tiny ice cream sandwiches are to die for. It is true that Tru is a serious investment. By the time we paid for our meals, beverages, tip, and valet, we were out $450, but it was worth every penny and we've had higher tabs. We will definitely return. If you seek a special occasion experience (saw lots of birthday celebrations going on) or are fortunate enough to be in a position to dine here on a regular day, run, don't walk. Tru is an experience not to be missed.

• Pros: superb service, outstanding cuisine, lovely atmosphere, good location
• Cons: price

09/16/07

for a TRUly memorable evening

by jenjordan75 at Citysearch

I cannot say enough wonderful things about this restaurant. In fact, to even call it a restaurant is like calling the Mona Lisa a painting or the Grand Canyon a big hole. It has everything - high-quality, well thought out preparations, class, decor (including amazing art), expertly-trained serving staff, etc. etc. I will be honest and say I have had better food in my life (at least for the appetizer and entree. I have NEVER had better desserts. Pastry chef, Gail Gand is a sweet genius. And I don't even "like sweets"!). But the entire package is unsupassed. The price tag is considerable for the average diner but well worth it. I would eat frozen vegatables and eggs for a month straight to go there again. It is a place where dining is considered an art form. The staff took such care in our experience. For example, it was my dining companion's 60th birthday and besides the candle and birthday note in chocolate at the end of our meal, they presented us with personalized menus, wishing him a happy Birthday. He was fully stunned! Our waiters were so well-trained (but I think I said that already...). I also admire the layout of the room. Tru could easily fit a few extra tables in there and increase the headcount by 10 or 15/night. But instead they allow the diners plenty of room and privacy to enjoy the meal in the beautiful surroundings. Ah - and one last note. THey are one of the few restaurants that offer TRUly gender egalitarian service. My male dining companion and I were always served at the EXACT SAME TIME (including the water). I was even the wine taster. Thank goodness for dining in the 21st Century!

If you have a special occasion coming up or just want to experience a meal in a way that counters the "stuff yourself" mentality that dining in America has sadly become, I recommend that you go to Tru. I admit that the meal would not be appreciated by someone who prefers more hefty flavors and portions. But for those who see dining as art, Tru is the place to go.

• Pros: amazing service, quality, and attention to detail
• Cons: Ummm... can't think of any real "cons"

03/21/07

Chicago Fine Dining: A Tru Story

by la_chi_love at Citysearch

Of all the restaurants in this city and elsewhere around the world. I have encountered nothing that has swayed me away from Tru being my favorite. The service is amazing. Everything is done like a dance. I recall once, someone in my party mumbling about her lack of reading glasses- and as soon as she turned her head, someone was there on knee with a box of reading glasses at her disposal. I've always done the 9 course spontaneous menu and was ALWAYS beyond please. The portions are perfect, though the cheese course is usually when the stomach signals the "Help! I'm getting too full for my own good and there's not even chocolate in here yet!" alert. Each experience here doesn't even take away from the last. Everyone I have brought here from the West Coast to Europe has declared it their favorite restaurant- and they're no strangers to fine dining, either. Some are saying it's too expensive, but honestly- especially at my age and being close to broke myself, it's definitely worth it. There are only a handful of uber-fine dining experiences that are offered in Chicago and this one's up at the top. So if you stop busting your brains about the pricey bill- which I think you should know about before you even enter- and let Tru's impeccable service and kitchen work their whimsical magic, you might actually enjoy yourself...a lot.

• Pros: Caviar Staircase, Service, FOOD
• Cons: Cons? What cons?

03/02/07

A Truly Unique Dining Experience

by insun at Citysearch

My experience at TRU was a once in lifetime expereince. To start, the wine selection was astounding, and, among other delicious wines, we had a 1990 Clois de Papes that was a wondering pairing with the beautiful and exquisite dishes that we had that evening. It was also refreshing to note that TRU had an extensive array of dessert wine as well. The presentation was beyond mystical and beautiful, and was a perfect accompanyment to the delicious fare. The service was fabulous, and the waiters seemed to know a great deal about the food its preparation, and explained the food & sauce preparation when we complimented a specific dish. There was one dish that we all found to be a bit salty, an oil poached salmon (although the white bean mousse it came with was like a silky cloud), and when my father noted that to one of our waiters. I was afraid of his reaction, as constructive criticism and fine dining do not usually go hand in hand, however, the waiter was extremely gracious, and genuinely seemed to welcome any input and comment to the food. He said that he would relay our comments to the kitchen. This was significant in that although it was a haute cuisine restaurant, it was open to suggestions and comments. Let's face it- we all need a little feedback now and then, and TRU's open and humble attitude was genuine and refreshing. My father's comment was true- a fish as rich as salmon does not need to be poached in oil to make it delicious- the texture was chewy and unpleasant, and the flavor was salty. The rest of the dishes were exquisite. It was a great experience, and the restaurant lives up to its reputation. The expereince did not end with the evening, as they gave us a delicious banana bread to enjoy the next morning for breakfast. TIP: This is not a place for the faint hearted- be prepared for a six hour assault to all five senses! My husband & family enjoyed TRU beyond words. P.S. My sister and I loved Gale Gand's Food Network show "Sweet Dreams."

• Pros: A global sensory experience & supremely extensive wine list
• Cons: Marathon dining not for the faint of heart

12/20/06

Art food with a sense of humor.

by nostromo53 at Citysearch

In two words: Utterly delightful.

Briefly, Tru is not for those whose idea of food is narrowly defined, or for those who are not adventurous - both with flavors, textures AND appearances. If you have issues with eating something you don't recognize, Tru may not be for you.

Service was, at first, a bit stiff, but my wife and I enjoy getting wait staff to loosen up. There were several attending us who played along quite nicely.

On to the food. After a couple of "amuse bouche" items, we selected the "Chef's Collection" degustation. It's about 9-11 small plates.

Each course was amazing. In many of the courses, textures and flavors changed from bite to bite. There were no sharp, intrusive flavors - just subtle and elegant ones. There were flavors and textures that I experienced for the first time. There were some outrageous combinations, like venison and ginger snaps, which I ended up giggling about - and loving! One of the descriptions of Tru includes the idea of whimsey. While many of the presentations are indeed whimsical, the description applies far more to the flavors you experience. With some of the courses, the flavors were just insane. High art [food] with a wry, subtle sense of humor.

We ordered two wines - one half bottle of Champaign for the first part, and a full bottle of a Chateauneuf du Pape for the second part.

Our dinner lasted from 6:15pm-11:00pm. The bill? A LOT.

Was it worth it? Yep.

Three small minor nits:

1. If you're going to outfit your wait staff in suits - please make sure the suits all fit. One of the attendants' jacket had the sleeves up over his knuckles.

2. The use of emulsions/foam is becoming a little overdone at high end restaurants, and I certainly wouldn't mind it going away - or being used a lot more sparingly.

3. The menu that was mailed to us several days later was full of spelling errors. Spellchecker anyone?

10/22/06

A wonderfully memorable experience!

by amyyount at Citysearch

Everything about this restaurant was fabulous! The food was so good, we didn't mind the price at all. It was worth it! We got the Chef's tasting-amazing! The service is amazing! This is a great place to go for a special occasion such as a wedding anniversary.

• Pros: FOOD, service, atmosphere
• Cons: absolutely none

10/21/06

Excellent atmosphere and food

by dondattabiggy at Citysearch

Order the Black Truffle Lobster Risoto, order the Australian Lamb. This place has incredible service, definitely the best place in Chicago.

08/09/06

Tru without the commitment

by starchyarchy at Citysearch

A new 9-table Salon lets you sample the ambiance, coordinated service, and ingenious creations without dropping $110-$135 a person on three hours of degustation antics.

Its five caviar offerings and five savory ones start at $12. Theyre tiny in size but huge in creativity and quality. Four tiny sandwiches--maybe 2 inches across--included one of butter-poached lobster with mango on a tiny brioche; another was filled with chile-spiced peeky-toe crab. They came with a salad of lambs-tongue lettuce, each tiny but flavorful leaf seemingly brushed individually with a few molecules of dressing. I dont know if its the superior ingredients or the ingenious combinations and gifted cookery, but an eye dropper of food here seems to pack as much flavor and more pure pleasure than a ladleful elsewhere.

Its obviously not the amount of food that makes this place so special, but the careful hunting out of extraordinary ingredients and the specialized talent that delivers so much pleasure. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the $36 slow-poached egg. Its cooked for 90 minutes to develop a unique consistency, then added to a cream-and-Champagne sauce with 1/8-inch croutons that crunch and simplicity to contrast with the smooth, rich sauce and delicate osetra caviar. The salty roe, sinfully-rich cream, unctuous egg, and elemental bread each makes its own statement to the delight of your taste buds.

• Pros: Superlative service, ingredients, cooking techniques
• Cons: Not for those looking for a conventional "classy" dining experience

06/23/06

That special evening

by bravokb at Citysearch

This is a very special place. I have dined in MANY highly rated expensive places in Chicago and elsewhere--and this is really an event. The dining room is austere, but beautiful-the focus is clearly on the food, and the service--RIDICULOUS.

If you can afford this-make it your night out. My date and I had the chef's market--a seven course extravangnza with wine--WOW!!!

08/15/05

The Best of Chicago

by chicagocouple at Citysearch

This dining experience is absolutely outstanding. Chef Tramonto's Collection is definitely recommended. From the Crenshaw Melon-Basil juice to the Osetra Caviar staircase - this is just the beginning of an evening to remember. The Poached Maine Lobster Risotto is definitely a must have. The service is impectable - very attentive - present for every request before one even thinks to ask. Each course is perfectly orchestrated...every morsel a work of art. Excutive Pastry Chef Gale Gand's dessert The art collection brings even more to the atmosphere from Andy Warhol's Marilyn to Yves Klein's Venus Bleuse - Tru brings together an experience that is delectable , unique, and worth every penny.

• Pros: Excellent Service, Quiet, Romantic