The Verdict
Ever is chef Curtis Duffy's return to the top of Chicago dining. After his three-star Grace closed in 2017, Duffy opened Ever with partner Michael Muser in 2020 at 1340 West Fulton Street, and the Michelin Guide awarded it two stars in 2022. The windowless West Loop room is a hushed, gray-and-black stage built entirely around the food.
The format is an 8-to-10-course tasting menu, $325 per person with a $185 wine pairing, that changes with the seasons. Courses run from an Icelandic-yogurt semifreddo with ossetra caviar to roasted Ora King salmon and koji-cured short rib. The room is so archetypally fine-dining that it served as a filming location for the TV series The Bear.
The Kitchen
Chef Curtis Duffy cooked at Charlie Trotter's and Alinea before earning three Michelin stars at Grace, and opened Ever with front-of-house partner Michael Muser in 2020. The menu is an 8-to-10-course tasting at $325, with a $185 wine pairing and a non-alcoholic option. Courses are precise and seasonal: an Icelandic-yogurt semifreddo topped with ossetra grand reserve caviar, white asparagus in a green-asparagus aeration, roasted Ora King salmon with fennel, and a koji-cured short rib over forbidden rice. Ever holds two Michelin stars, awarded in 2022.
The Room
Ever sits behind an almost invisible sign at 1340 West Fulton Street in the West Loop's Fulton Market district. The interior is a windowless, gray-and-black space of concrete-textured walls and carpet, designed to remove every distraction from the plate. It is serene and luxurious enough that the producers of The Bear used it as a filming location for an idealized three-star restaurant.
Best for a Proposal or Milestone
Book Ever for a proposal or a milestone because the tasting menu is a two-and-a-half-hour event, the service is researched and attentive, and the windowless room puts the entire focus on the table. Request the wine pairing, give notice for dietary needs, and let the kitchen pace a long, celebratory evening.
Not For
Not for a casual or spontaneous meal, and not for anyone who balks at a fixed multi-course commitment. There is no a la carte, the bill with pairing approaches $500 a head, and the menu runs two and a half hours — wrong for a quick or low-key dinner.
Reservations
Ever books through its website and Tock, usually released weeks ahead and going fast; dinner is Tuesday to Saturday. The tasting menu is $325 per person, with a $185 wine pairing and a non-alcoholic pairing, before tax and service. Dress is smart; dietary restrictions can be accommodated with notice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Ever worth it?
Ever is worth it for a special-occasion tasting menu from one of America's most decorated chefs. Curtis Duffy earned three stars at Grace and two at Ever, awarded in 2022. The 8-to-10-course menu is $325, precise and seasonal; it is a planned event, not a casual night out.
How much is the tasting menu at Ever?
Ever serves a single 8-to-10-course tasting menu at $325 per person, with an optional wine pairing for $185 and a non-alcoholic pairing, before tax and service. With pairing, expect a bill near $500 a head. The menu changes seasonally and runs about two and a half hours.
Who is the chef at Ever?
Ever is led by chef Curtis Duffy, who cooked at Charlie Trotter's and Alinea and won three Michelin stars at his former restaurant Grace. He opened Ever in 2020 with front-of-house partner Michael Muser. The restaurant holds two Michelin stars, awarded in 2022.
Was Ever in the TV show The Bear?
Yes. Ever's serene, windowless West Loop dining room was used as a filming location in the TV series The Bear, standing in for an idealized three-Michelin-star restaurant. In real life it holds two Michelin stars and serves an 8-to-10-course tasting menu at $325 per person.
Also in Chicago
Explore the full Chicago dining guide, or compare it with Alinea and Smyth. See our tasting-menu guide and the best restaurants for a proposal.