Recent social media posts
05/30/2026
Every menu begins with a statement.
For the Ashley Longshore menu, Chef Gustavo revisits one of Esmé’s earliest creations: a pâte à choux filled with strawberry purée, glazed with artichoke, and crowned with a delicate spruce butterfly.
Served on a custom plate inspired by Ashley Longshore’s Audrey Hepburn collection, it is our first invitation to experience the intersection of food, art, and imagination.
The journey begins with a single bite.
05/23/2026
The return of Clay.
One of the most iconic presentations in Esmé history has made its way back to the table.
Squab stuffed with foie gras, sealed and cooked in clay, presented tableside before revealing a composition of squab leg terrine, juniper berry jus, huckleberry purée, salsify purée, and ramps.
A dish rooted in precision, theater, and the kind of experience that only exists in the dining room.
This is the return of Clay.
05/19/2026
Six seats. Two nights. One counter that brought Chicago and Omaha together for something we won’t forget.
Thank you to Chef David Utterback and the entire team behind Yosh*tomo, Ota, and Koji for joining us at Bar Esmé for an omakase experience rooted in precision, storytelling, and craft. Every course served just inches away, every interaction intentional, every seat part of the experience.
This is exactly what Bar Esmé is for. Intimate collaborations. Singular voices. Moments that only exist for a night or two.
To everyone who joined us at the counter, thank you for being part of it.
Now we want to know:
Who should take over the bar next?
05/17/2026
Before service, there is structure.
A peek into the evolution of Esmé through the lens of design and engineering by Zak Rose.
Every measurement, material, and movement is considered long before a guest ever takes their seat. A study in precision, craftsmanship, and intention where performance begins on paper and every inch is accounted for.
Evolution requires engineering.
05/15/2026
The Dover sole at Esmé has become more than a dish. It’s a signature of our philosophy.
A staple of the experience, this course reflects the amalgamation that defines Esmé. Culinary technique, custom serviceware, intentional storytelling, and the hands behind every detail coming together as one. Delicate, refined, and deeply rooted in craftsmanship, the Dover sole evolves with each menu while remaining unmistakably Esmé.
Not simply plated art, but a reflection of the ecosystem behind it. The culinary team, artists, ceramicists, service team, and collaborators all moving in harmony to create something that exists beyond the plate.
A course guests return for.
A staple for a reason.
05/14/2026
Measured. Cut. Composed.
05/13/2026
An evening where culinary worlds collided.
Earlier this spring, we welcomed Chef Paolo Griffa of Paolo Griffa al Caffè Nazionale to Esmé alongside Salty Magazine for a collaborative dinner rooted in creativity, artistry, and exchange.
From shared conversations in the kitchen to a menu shaped by seasonality, technique, and storytelling, the evening became a reflection of what inspires us most: bringing people together through thoughtful hospitality and a shared passion for craft.
Thank you to Chef Paolo, Chef Geeta, Salty Magazine, and every guest who joined us for a night that celebrated collaboration without borders. Here’s to the moments, meals, and relationships that continue to shape the evolution of Esmé.
05/10/2026
Behind so much of Esmé is Katrina’s heart.
Her creativity, warmth, and care shape not only this restaurant, but the people within it. Watching her step into motherhood while continuing to build, inspire, and lead with so much intention has been one of the most beautiful things to witness.
Today, we celebrate Katrina and all mothers who show us what it means to create something meaningful both at home and beyond it.
Happy Mother’s Day from all of us at Esmé. 🤍
05/09/2026
A pause between worlds.
What began during our Liz Flores menu has since become a defining part of the Esmé experience. More than a palate cleanser, this course represents the amalgamation of every hand that shapes a service at Esmé.
Passion fruit sorbet, fennel brittle, clementine meringue and fresh citrus are presented on a custom DTK plate, framed by Frame Chicago, and finished with an edible Frida Kahlo portrait printed on rice paper. Culinary, ceramics, framing, and art existing together on a single course.
A reminder that at Esmé, the experience is never created by one mind alone. It is the result of artists, makers, and storytellers coming together to create something fleeting, yet unforgettable.
05/05/2026
Where the menu shifts, and summer settles in.
Watermelon, transformed through time and heat. Roasted for hours until its texture deepens, taking on a richness that feels closer to something savory than sweet. Paired with dungeness crab, roasted red pepper, and salsa matcha, the dish moves in quiet contrast, bright, briny, and layered with intention.
Tomato carries through in delicate forms, light foam, chilled broth, and the smallest details that keep everything lifted. Cool, refreshing, and precise, it prepares the palate for what follows.
An amalgamation of seasonality, technique, and restraint.
04/25/2026
A study in Iberico, layered with intention.
Pork belly, sausage, and iberico loin come together in a composition that moves between richness and restraint. Pea and fig purées bring balance, while walnut jus deepens the narrative. A bouquet of pea tendrils and horseradish finishes the plate with lift and precision.
Served alongside a side cart moment: laminated cornbread with lardo and whipped fig butter, designed to extend the experience beyond the plate.
04/23/2026
Cloud nine looks a lot like this.
Rouget layered with fermented jimmy nardello sauce, plum and basil, anchored by beef tongue rillettes and a deep beef jus, all brought into focus with a delicate fennel nage. A balance of brightness, richness, and quiet intensity that lingers well beyond the last bite.
At Esmé, every dish is meant to lift, to transport, to leave you somewhere just slightly above where you started.
04/12/2026
Where the story begins, long before the first bite.
In the quiet moments of the studio, Chef Gustavo shapes each plate by hand in collaboration with DTK, treating clay with the same intention as any ingredient. Every curve, every indentation is deliberate, designed to hold not just food, but movement, memory, and meaning.
The piece draws from Ashley Longshore’s Audrey Hepburn series, butterflies and roses translated into form, becoming a physical extension of the artwork that lives on our walls.
At Esmé, craftsmanship is never confined to the kitchen. It lives in the process. In the hours spent refining something guests may only experience for a moment. In the belief that the plate should be as personal as the dish it carries.
Before the first bite is served, the work has already begun.
04/10/2026
Two nights. Six seats. One unforgettable counter.
On April 24 and 25, Bar Esmé welcomes Chef David Utterback for an intimate omakase experience that brings one of the Midwest’s most compelling sushi voices to Chicago. As the chef and owner behind Yosh*tomo, Ota, and Koji in Omaha, and a multiple-time James Beard Award finalist, David has earned national recognition for redefining Japanese cuisine in the American Midwest, honoring tradition while pushing its boundaries.
His approach is deeply personal. Entirely self-taught, David’s path to sushi was unconventional, shaped by years of study, travel, and an unwavering commitment to craft. His style blends meticulous Japanese technique with a sense of place, drawing subtle influence from Midwestern ingredients and perspective to create something both respectful and entirely his own.
For two nights only, guests will experience a multi-course omakase at the Bar at Esmé, designed to be as intimate as it is immersive. With just six seats per seating, every detail is intentional, every course presented directly from the chef, and every moment meant to be experienced up close.
Saturday, April 25 is already sold out. Limited seats remain for Friday, April 24.
A rare collaboration. A singular perspective. A seat at the counter you won’t see again.
04/02/2026
Step into Esmé, where even the walls are pouring something a little unexpected.
This Easter, consider this your invitation to spill the tea… over a multi-course experience surrounded by art that’s anything but quiet.
Yes, we’re open.
No, this isn’t your traditional Easter table.
Reserve your seat. 🫖
03/28/2026
The Dover Sole Tomahawk, reimagined. 🐟
Not just a dish, but a reflection of everything we’ve been building behind the scenes. A quiet shift toward something more intentional. More refined. More us.
This is where it begins to come together. The amalgamation of craft, detail, and evolution. What you see on the plate is only part of it.
New Esme.
Consider this a glimpse into what we’ve been cooking up.
03/24/2026
Meet the Team: Sacha Rovins, Sous Chef at Esmé.
From Linwood, New Jersey to the Esmé kitchen, Sacha’s path started early, jumping from dishwashing into the line at just 15 and never looking back. After time in Providence and Martha’s Vineyard, he found his way to Esmé, drawn to the intersection of food and art that defines what we do.
In the kitchen, Sacha brings focus, curiosity, and a deep respect for craft. Outside of it, he’s either locked into an Eagles game or following Ferrari through every turn of the F1 season, always with the same intensity he brings to service.
We’re proud to have Sacha leading our kitchen as Sous Chef.
Join us and experience it firsthand.
03/19/2026
At Esmé, it’s always been about the finest details.
This season, in collaboration with Ashley Longshore, every brushstroke, every texture, every layer finds its way into the experience. What you see up close on the canvas is reflected on the plate, precise, intentional, and quietly intricate.
It’s a menu that rewards attention. The closer you look, the more it reveals.
03/15/2026
A Michelin star is more than recognition. It is a reminder of what a group of people can build when they believe in something together.
We are incredibly proud that Esmé has retained our Michelin star for 2025. This moment belongs to the entire team whose passion, creativity, and relentless pursuit of excellence shape every service.
Every plate, every detail in the dining room, every late night and early morning is driven by a shared vision to create something meaningful for our guests and our community.
To our team who continues to push forward, challenge themselves, and grow together. This star reflects you.
And to Chicago, thank you for believing in us. ⭐
03/14/2026
The dining room at Esmé is glowing with bold color and energy as artwork from Ashley Longshore takes over the space.
Surrounded by vibrant works, guests experience our Michelin-starred tasting menu in a setting where art and cuisine meet. Every course unfolds within a living gallery.
Planning a celebration, private dinner, or corporate gathering? Our dining room offers a striking backdrop for unforgettable private dining experiences.
Inquire through our website.
03/08/2026
Today we celebrate International Women’s Day by honoring the vision behind so much of what makes Esmé what it is.
Our Creative Director and Co-Owner, Katrina Bravo, has helped shape Esmé from an idea into an experience. Her perspective guides everything from the feeling of the room to the intention behind every detail, ensuring that creativity, hospitality, and purpose live at the center of what we do.
Katrina leads with thoughtfulness, imagination, and a deep belief that a restaurant can be more than a place to dine. It can be a space that inspires, connects people, and creates lasting memories.
Today, we celebrate her vision, leadership, and the impact she continues to make every day. Happy International Women’s Day. ✨
03/07/2026
A glimpse into the vibrant world of Ashley Longshore, now filling the walls of Esmé. Bold color, unapologetic energy, and artwork that transforms the dining room into a living gallery.
Now booking.
03/03/2026
At Esmé, evolution is never loud, but it is intentional.
Our newest tasting menu revisits defining dishes from years past and reimagines them through a sharper, more expressive lens. This is Esmé distilled. Refined technique. Confident flavor. Composition with purpose.
Each course reflects who we are now, shaped by where we have been. Familiar, yet entirely new.
Join us for the next chapter on March 5.
03/01/2026
March 5 ✨
Our newest tasting menu is inspired by Ashley Longshore, but the lens is unmistakably Esmé.
This season marks a subtle evolution. We revisit singular Esmé dishes of years past and reimagine them with a more vibrant, expressive perspective. Rather than placing our cuisine through the prism of the artist, we’ve allowed her world to move through ours. What emerges is an amalgamation of art and flavor, unified by our point of view.
Bright acidity against richness. Delicate textures beside bold, unapologetic statements. Plates composed with the same intention as a canvas.
If winter felt muted, consider this your invitation to something electric.
Reservations now available.
02/26/2026
This is the energy we’re bringing into spring.
Beginning March 5, Esmé unveils a new tasting menu in collaboration with Ashley Longshore, where bold florals, fearless color, and unapologetic expression take over the dining room.
Butterflies, saturation, drama. A pop art awakening just as the seasons shift. Consider this your first bloom of spring.
Reservations are now open.
Address
2200 North Clark Street
Chicago, IL
60614
To get to the restaurant on North Clark Street in Chicago, public transport options include taking the CTA Red Line to the Clark/Division stop or taking the CTA Bus #22 or #36 to the Clark & Division stop. For those driving, parking options are available on nearby streets or at parking garages in the area.
Opening Hours
| Wednesday |
5pm - 10pm |
| Thursday |
5pm - 10pm |
| Friday |
5pm - 10pm |
| Saturday |
5pm - 10pm |
| Sunday |
5pm - 10pm |
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What people say
Esme Chicago, located on North Clark Street, is a restaurant that truly stands out from the crowd. With a name that means "beloved" in French, it's clear that Chef Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo have put their hearts and souls into creating an exceptional dining experience. What sets Esme apart is their commitment to philanthropy and art, which are integrated into the foundation of the restaurant.
One of the highlights of Esme Chicago is their tasting menu, which has been reimagined by Chef Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo. The menu is not only delicious but also community-focused, reflecting their vision for the restaurant. In addition to the tasting menu, Esme also offers a variety of other dishes that are sure to please any palate.
Esme Chicago has also made a name for itself with its special events and collaborations. From partnering with Don Julio Tequila to celebrate Cinco De Mayo to teaming up with J.P. Graziano for a specialty sandwich, there's always something exciting happening at Esme.
Overall, Esme Chicago is an exceptional restaurant that offers not only delicious food but also a unique dining experience. With its commitment to philanthropy and art, it's clear that Chef Jenner Tomaska and Katrina Bravo have created something truly special on North Clark Street.
