Oceanique

After reading some of the reviews of Oceanique, which are either very good or very poor, we thought we'd give it a try for my wife's birthday. Unfortunately, we were very disappointed. The wine service was fine, but without personality. The server failed to check our satisfaction after the dishes were served - which affirmed my belief he really didn't care anyway. The food quality was acceptable, but unfortunately did not compensate for the lack of service. It really seemed as though the staff did not care if we were satisfied? \r \r Bottom line - overpriced and very poor service. It seems like it's ego has gotten in the way of delivering appropriate service..... Cons: service more

This was one of the worst dining experiences I have ever had. First I had a martini and the glass was covered in old bright red lipstick. When I finally found our waiter (and there were only 3 other tables), there was no apology. For dinner we had the lamb and steak. After our meal we were very, very sick. We think the lamb was spoiled. I would not recommend this place to anyone. Pros: Quiet since no one else was there. Cons: Food, service more

Oceanique is always the place I choose for a special occasion or a celebration. The food is always wonderful. the bluefin tuna and the lobster are both standouts...and dessert.....I love anything from this pastry chef, but the Napoleon and the day/night dessert are my favorites. My friend loves the macadamia tort too. Worth the price of admission. They are friendly and the rooms are lovely and cozy. The service is always wonderful...AND, there is valet parking...\r \r I will always return to Oceanique! Pros: Everything. Cons: Due to the shape of the room, I recommend a sweater. more

We dined at Oceanique last night for my partner's birthday. We were looking forward to it since most all the reviews I read gave it 3 or 4 stars and claimed it was the best seafood restaurant on the northshore. Overall we were extremely disappointed with the whole experience. The service was abysmal. We did not have one person responsible for our table. I really hate it when different people take orders for appetizer, entree and dessert. The food was not up to par either (specially for the prices). I had the foie gras appetizer and my partner had the scallops. Mine was good but Jason said he couldn't taste the scallops since the accompaniments were overbearing. I had the bouilliabase which was really sub par. Jason had the sturgeon which was once again too overburdened with sauce and stuff. The dessert, we both had the Napolean, was good.\r \r I will not be going back. Cons: Food and service. The restaurant was cold and drafty more

My beau and I recently went to Oceanique for my birthday. He made reservations, based on friends (locals) recommendations (we just moved here from L.A.). I am a HUGE fan of lobster, so this place came highly recommended. \r \r From the moment we walked in the door, it was first class all the way. They wished me a happy birthday at the door (I guess my beau told them, when he made the reservation). Upon being escorted to our lovely table in the intimate restaurant, we discovered they'd taken the time to put ""Happy Birthday"" confetti on our table before we got there. Thoughtful! The Chef must have been in on the birthday thing, too, as he/she kept sending over ""bites"" of this and that, (compliments of the chef) between each course. Fabulous. The lobster was to die for. The most succulent, tender meat I have ever had...and I'm a self-proclaimed lobster connessieur. Desserts were decadent, not to mention the extra birthday dessert, complete with candle, they brought out for me, along with the complimentary (from the chef, again) glass of dessert wine to accompany the sweets. Our glasses were never empty, never a crumb left on the table, and the plates were cleared as soon as we put our fork down...truly outstanding service. You won't be disappointed in our new fave restaurant, Oceanique! Pros: Food, Service, Ambiance, Valet Cons: Slightly pricey for your average Joe, but so worth it! more

I'm not a huge fan of French food, but this place is *amazing*. It's incredibly inventive and delicious. I... more

I'm not a huge fan of French food, but this place is *amazing*. It's incredibly inventive and delicious. I highly recommend it for a special occa... more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago. It has a relaxed unpretentious nature and serves consistently high quality fresh seafood and outstanding desserts. I have been there many times and have never walked away unsatisfied. A wonderful place for a date night. Definitely give the shrimp and calamari appetizer a try. Pros: great food great service more

My husband and I visited Oceanique on Friday night and loved it. The atmosphere is quiet and romantic; I felt more than once that the servers take themselves too seriously, but they were very attentive, able to answer our questions, and pleasant. The atmosphere was quiet and romantic. The food was amazing. The tuna tartare amuse-bouche that we received was a delicious and beautiful combination of colors, textures, and tastes. The smoked salmon appetizer (which my husband and I opted to split, and our waitress had the kitchen prepare it on two separate plates, a very nice touch) was fantastic and I wanted it to become a whole meal, it was perfectly seasoned, not too salty as often happens. The four-berry sorbet was tangy and fresh, a great way to cleanse the palate before the entrees. I had the yellowfin tuna, which was buttery and creamy, with a very complementary collection of greens, tiny lardon cubes, white asparagus, garlic mashed potatoes, and merlot sauce (despite all of the flavors on the plate, the tuna was the clear star of the dish). My husband had the bouillabaise, which was a wonderfully aromatic collection of perfectly prepared seafood in a velvety soup. The saffron garlic aioli which accompanied the dish, for the mussels, was slightly shy on the garlic, but stll a nice addition. We were too full for dessert, but the dessert tray did look yummy. Overall a wonderful dining experience. We would definitely return! Pros: creative and delicious dishes, GREAT service Cons: difficult parking more

Oceanique is simply flawless. The food and service are absolutely perfect. I've dined at Oceanique twice and crave to go back. This is what fine dining is all about. Pros: EVERYTHING IS PERFECT!! more

I went to this restaurant on a business junket to Evanston. Entering the restaurant, it's pretty, it's romantic and the wait staff immediately attentive. The seasonal dishes (foie gras for all of the Chicagoans in search of such) and beet salad are fantastic, as was the soup and lamb. Throughout the meal, the wait staff continued to provide us with great wine and great service. The Napoleon was "knock your socks off". While they were very proud of their black and white chocolate cake, it couldn't compete with the flakiness and lightness of the Napoleon. The wine list is pricey and the sommalier inclined to recommend wines in the higher brackets. The music, at times, was a bit loud and techno, overpowering the ambience in the restaurant. Despite these small criticisms, I will definitely be finding a reason to go back! Pros: Beautiful decor, great service Cons: Somewhat disjointed music selections, wine recommendations in higher brackets more

Restaurant was excellent. The flavors of each dish were well paired, and the in-between courses were both tasty and well balanced. Wine list was extensive, yet well priced. 3 course option was a wonderful way to taste many dishes. Overall, an excellent French restaurant with particular attention to detail. Pros: friendly staff, excellent wine prices Cons: no street parking more

Oceanique was all that we had hoped. A nice elegant dining experience that I could squeeze between two appointments. The food was excellent, the wife had the day boat scallops and the seared tuna and I had the chilled Maine lobster and Bouillabaisse Oceanique both which were very well seasoned and quite enjoyable. The service was... well lets just say not overbearing. This is not the place for you if you are looking for a lot of attention but the service is efficient. Pros: Great Food, Good Atmosphere Cons: service could improve more

Romantic, lively, approachable yet elegant. The appetizers and entrees are fresh, interesting as culinary art goes, and original. The wine list is extensive. During the entrees, we were thinking of comparisons to Everest. But the cappucino (or should I say Illy coffee) and the non-descript desserts put that comparison to rest. Still, the tender buttery salmon makes it worth a second visit. The rest of the seafood is pretty good too. Pros: Elegant, Not Stuffy, Quaint Cons: Parking, Desserts and Coffee more

This place is not too exciting because its out in Evanston, not really downtown chicago (30 miles away). I thought the filet mignon was pretty good but the service was not very attentive and the desserts we ordered they ran out of, and they made a mistake with our appetizer order. We won't be back. more

Food, Management, staff, owners...all terrific! A place to find and frequent. Pros: fresh seafood, ambience, fun neighborhood Cons: expensive, parking, a trek from the south more

An incredible restaurant, with a great menu which is well crafted and an extensive wine list to match. Service is attentive without being overbearing. A great cozy place which is perfect for a dinner for two or small group of friends. Pros: Great seafood, Excellent service, Relaxed atmosphere Cons: None, really more

Oceanique is honestly the BEST food that I have ever had. Mark Grosz is an amazing chef! The dining rooms are beatifully decorated and cozy. more

The white billowy fabric cross the ceiling reflects the absolute speciality of this establishment -- seafood. Before I stepped into Oceanique, I disliked cooked fish -- I adore sashimi and believe honestly that the best of fish is ruined by cooking. But Oceanique has challenged me to think twice. The chef's audacity to prepare the salmon rare intrigued me, and when I saw it, I was in love. Imagine this: you gently nudge the creamy pink salmon and each velvety layer comes off perfectly, just cooked around the edges and a wonderful soft pink in the center. I can go on about the seared fois gras with the candy- coated pineapple (the most fun I've ever had eating a piece of pineapple), the smoked salmon ""japanese breakfast"", and the delicate butternut ravioli with the powerful crunch of walnuts. But I don't want to ruin the surprise. more

Too many overpriced restaurants serve food that seems assembly-line produced, and have waitstaff that go through the motions. Not here. Each dish, from amuse bouche to dessert, seemed to have been specially prepared. The chef even served us and chatted. Can't wait to go back. Pros: Great food, Good service, Personalized attentio Cons: It's in Evanston more