The atmosphere was quiet and about what I expected. The service was very attentive and the sommelier was not stuffy or snobby. My date and I each did the four course option. Was it jaw dropping? Kinda... Damn expensive, though. The amuse bouche was a wonderful clam with citrus and some other goodies. The bread selection was great. There was a small roll with cubed bacon inside. Awesome! I had a pasta dish with uni and caviar. The warm caviar was intensley flavored and the thinner-than-angelhair pasta was cooked perfectly. The butter poached lobster mitts came out looking gorgeous, but they were very tough and flavor wise, pretty alright... Her Scottish Salmon was a beautiful looking plate, but for some reason the salmon tasted "off." I opted for the $40 upcharge for the A11 Waygu with a truffle pan sauce. It was beautiful, properly cooked and extremely underwhelming. The sauce was nice, but a 3-4 ounce piece of Waygu should be able to stand on it's own. A Cointreau/orange Souffle was a little too sweet. The cheeses and accompaniments were very nice, however. Two four course meals, two half bottles of Northern Rhone a nice Condrieu and Cote Roti plus tip came out to about $600. We left full, but it was not worth the coin...
Our dinner at L2O was certainly a Michelin 3 star experience: from the warm welcome, the delicious food, the beautiful presentation of the plates to the excellent service. Every plate was a new discovery, and we welcomed them with the necessary "ooh" en "aah"'s. Even the aftershock of the bill couldn't ruin our evening, money well spent!
This is definitely one of those restaurants where dining is truly an experience. I was there on a quiet night and the service was exceptional as to be expected. But I truly have to salute our sommelier, who happened to overhear me mention how I had always wanted to try a particular dessert wine that isn't in my budget Chateu d'Yquem. Having no idea she heard me, I was floored when at the end of the meal she brought me a glass on the house so I could finally sample it. I was able to check something out of my reach at the time off my bucket list simply due to her amazing kindness.
I was lucky enough to sit in the private dining area with an entrance through the kitchen. L2O was fabulous! We tried a trio of canapes, including foie gras! The wine was incredible and the service didn't miss a beat. I would highly recommend L2O for anyone looking for an elegant dining experience!!
Gorgeous food, but a little too much style over substance. We had an eight course tasting meal, all beautifully presented, but nothing memorable, or at least nothing memorably good. I found the combination of lightly seared fois gras and citrus to be weir
Really almost beyond compare, and if you have to ask the price, you're doing it wrong. This is the apotheosis of small plates, focused on the food and wine, to produce a banquet without surfeit. From the amuse-bouche to the three ! dessert tastings, it is all exquisite, balanced, and robust. The theme is seafood, but they offer also some land-fare. I was especially taken with the geoduck clam, the crab, the foie gras, the dorade, and the sommelier's recommendation.
The second stop on the Google Chicago Keepin' It Classy Crawl beyond exceeded expectations. At L2O we had the privilege of sitting in the private dining area with an exclusive kitchen tour entrance. Situated inside one of my favorite Chicago buildings, the historic Belden-Stratford, L2O is top notch, first class all the way! Two fab foie gras bites - the first was inside a cantaloupe canape and the second was a scallop, with foie gras and hon-shimeji paired with Riesling Kabinett. It was extra special to have the wine director, Richard explain the pairing and present L2O backstory to the group. This was a swanky experience and would definitely consider coming back for celebratory dinner or very special occasion.
First class joint. Amazing staff, super hospitable. Good wine, Foie Gras was superb. Toured through the kitchen... Felt like a gangster. Highly recommended.
L20 is a nce in a lifetime experience. Definitely not a casual dining meal. A place for those special occasions. Had a wonderful five course meal. worth the price
This place never disappoints even with walk-ins. The staff is gracious and unobtrusive but incredibly knowledgable. A definite place to come back to seasonally.
