Asador Bastian Reviews

Bringing Spanish influence, it gives a much different vibe to your typical American steakhouse. Set in a townhouse converted into a restaurant, it's unsuspecting & easy to miss as you drive by. The dining room is small and intimate, and the food is fantastic. Great spot for a date night or a celebration. The only negative comment was the noticeably slow service. The steak was perfectly cooked and everything else was delicious. Steak is served by the cut of choice and weight desired, and the wine list was extensive, but pricey.

The Spanish omelette and fish were poorly prepared, the Basque cheesecake was dry, and the sommelier had limited wine knowledge. The service was slow and inattentive, and no staff members had experience with Spanish or Basque culture. The overall experience was disappointing and not worth revisiting.

This is a special restaurant - one of a kind and unique in Chicago. it is located in a beautiful townhouse in the River North neighborhood and modeled after the great asador restaurants in Spain. Chicago has numerous outstanding steakhouses but Asador Bastion stands alone due to its commitment to faithfully replicate the unique dining experience of the classic Spanish asador. The restaurant sources its meats but from craft ranchers in Spain, the US and New Zealand. The steaks, seafood and all accompanying dishes are some of the best I have ever eaten anywhere, ever. The atmosphere is sophisticated with an energetic buzz but not so loud as to disrupt conversation. Service is gracious and professional. Expensive but worth it.

First time guest! I was completely blown away by the bartender Nikita. He takes the upmost pride in making cocktails. He strives to insure each and every guest leaves happy. I sat in awe while I watched him make hearts and little animals out of orange pills to garnish the cocktails. He was doing this so passionately, you could tell by his facial expressions that he truly loves his job. It truly touched me to see someone in the industry, so passionate and prideful about their profession. It was the perfect storm- his pure passion, his drive to please the guests, the taste of the cocktails, along with the actual presentation of the cocktails, was top tier. He was so personable and so professional. He really strives and takes pride in everything he does. I dine at many fine dining establishments throughout the country, and he left me in awe... Complete AWE. The dedication, the passion, the customer service, the professionalism- it was simply unmatched. There are good bartenders, but then there is Nikita.... he is on a completely different level, which would only be described as top tier.

Asador Bastian has been open about two weeks in a beautifully renovated 1880's townhouse in Chicago's River North. The restaurant is on two floors. You go down a few steps below street grade to enter and, beyond the host desk, is a wood-paneled bar with a few leather-upholstered cozy booths. Up a flight of stairs is the intimate dining room with about 35 seats. The appetizers skew Spanish, then there are a few fish and seafood options, followed by the main event: different cuts of steak from a choice of 5 breeds of cattle, all cooked on a parilla. Unlike most Chicago steak places, no sauces are on offer. Side dishes are extra, as is the custom. There's a good and fairly extensive wines list, heavy on Spanish offerings. For two people, we ordered the churros with Kaluga caviar, an adorable pair of small, crisp churros stuffed with creme fraiche and chive, topped with a teaspoon of the aforementioned caviar. A splendid starter at $28. We followed this with an anchovy salad, their take on a Caesar salad. It was also delicious and large enough to share. We followed it with a shared Galiciana steak, a bone-in 22 oz. cut of meat served rare (surprisingly, they did not ask how we wanted it) and sliced. It is from older cattle than is customarily served in the U.S., so the meat is gamier, but well marbled and somewhat chewy as the beast is well-muscled. We accompanied it with a dish of 5 grilled artichoke halves that were excellent; I wish there had been a couple more. For dessert, we had a choice of four. We selected a raspberry "mil hojas" which was a take on a mille feuille, several layers of thin pastry separated by whipped cream and chocolate ganache. It was dusted with freeze-dried and ground raspberry which imparted an intense fruit flavor. Delicious and crunchy. We skipped coffee; only espresso is on offer. Service was smooth, friendly and knowledgeable. My only negative comment is that even for a steakhouse, I thought it was very expensive.

Steve and I enjoyed a delicious dinner at Asador Bastian. It has a very basic decor, but the numerous well trained servers bring the atmosphere to life. Our waiter Mathew was a fabulous ambassador. We kept to a Spanish food profile and enjoyed the chef’s light touch. Admittedly, we chose the most unique items, so the bill was as extravagant as the meal, but worth it. The specialty steak was the most flavorful we have ever tasted. The Spanish wine paring perfection! An after dinner sherry is a must. We had a reservation upstairs, which quickly filled to capacity. After our meal, our host invited us to see the private chefs table in the back. We also checked out the bar area downstairs where the various cuts of meat are on display in a room far in the back. Currently, downstairs is for walk in diners. That may change as the popularity increases because of the private booths across from the lengthy bar area. We enjoyed our evening and plan on returning again.

Looking for a cool new spot? The bar downstairs is fabulous. Dining room is cramped. Forced to listen to 2 other conversations. Prices are not for the faint at heart. Steak is good, but I questioned the sizing. Wine list is $60-0r $600. At least you have a choice. Spent $500 all in for 2 . Solid place if you want to impress. Otherwise, there are many others to enjoy a great steak. Too many team members falling over each other. As you well know, we are Chicago, the capital of great beef.

First visit and dined to celebrate a birthday. Dark dimly lit Spanish restaurant with tables close together. However, servers are attentive and make the experience unique. Our server Yousef was top notch. He really enhanced the evening. The food and drinks topped it off. Great cocktails. Great wine list and sommelier. Food was unique and delicious. Some items are small but satisfying. The wagyu was excellent. Tender flavorful and juicy. Paired perfectly with our wine. Wonderful evening celebrating a birthday. Pricey but worth it. Also discovered there a cozy booths downstairs.

Food was excellent. We all enjoyed everything that was served. The preparation of the Turbot was unique. the steak was amazing. Preparation really let the meat shine and the taste come through. Sides were different, interesting and added to the overall meal. Service was impeccable. Knowledgeable, friendly and helpful in ordering the right amounts and items. Vide was comfortable and relaxed. Can't believe that they can get so much and such high quality from a small kitchen. Bravo - can't wait to find an occasion to return.

Great in every way, from the minute you check in till you leave . Very welcoming,great food and ambiance. The fish was amazing as fresh as you can get. They fly it from Barcelona daily. Appetizers and deserts are great too. You will have a really nice time.

For the price, this place was underwhelming and sloppy. Waiter seemed to want to get more money but why? It’s already super expensive. Based on the caliber they’re going for it didn’t sit right. It took about an hour from being seated to get any food. The waiter wanted us to see the raw cuts of meat and fish before we saw the menu, which took too long. We were starving. He recommended five appetizers, but appetizers are fairly large so by the time the fish came out, I was barely hungry, and by the time the steak came out, I was no longer interested. I was completely full after the appetizer portion. The truffle ravioli was absolutely delicious and I could have gone home after eating that.

Top notch service, food was perfect, wine paired with professional attention Atmosphere classic but not at all pretentious. Thanks to the bar tender who advised about wine and flow of dishes

Won't speak to the food but will speak to their poor customer service and questionable business practices. About six months ago we had a reservation for five to check this place out. Unfortunately, the day before our reservation one of the couple's in our party had a baby a month early and as a result were unable to attend (the baby was also in the NICU during this time). I called the restaurant explaining the situation and asked if there was anything they could do with our deposit due to the circumstances, and they agreed to refund the full amount (initially they offered to change the date of our reservation but given the uncertainty of the situation we did not want to book anything at that time). After over a week there was no sign of a refund, so I called back and explained the situation again. I was assured we would be refunded. We weren't. It's one thing to have a policy and stick to it (while frustrating given the situation it's what we agreed to), however it's another thing to promise a customer a refund (twice) and never follow through. Flash forward six months. Said couple recently got married and as a wedding present the group purchased a $300 gift card for them to finally have a chance to try this place out. When the couple went to make a reservation they were told they still had to put down a $90 deposit that would be applied to their bill and they could not use the gift card for this. Absolutely NOTHING on their website mentions this when you purchase a gift card. Who wants to give a gift that requires the recipient to pay nearly $100 of their own money to enjoy it? Awful customer service and business practices. There are plenty of amazing steak houses in Chicago - I'd recommend spending your money elsewhere.

Excellent Steakhouse. Different than your traditional american steakhouse but the service is great and the food is even better. The steaks might be the main attraction of the restaurant but the Sardines in green salsa, Arroz cremoso, and the carabineros are on another level. Even the cocktails and wine selections are amazing.

Drinks very goodService good, food good, Mood small and intimate and therefore good, music hideous and not suitable for such a restaurant, wine prices (red) not below 130$ per bottle (... the Rioja is available in shopping 18$)

Easily the best steakhouse experience I have ever had, let alone an overall restaurant. Blends what one would expect out of a steakhouse experience with service/food that you also get at Michelin starred restaurants. Had a great meal here at the end of August before the Oasis show. They had a special tasting menu going on so we didn't get the full menu experience, but what we had was also amazing. Had the best martini in my life, though didn't love the little glass! Service was attentive and helpful. Food quality and taste were 5 star. Cannot recommend highly enough for those lucky enough to secure a reservation.

Good experience, overall, but this place can be much better if they want to truly go for providing experiences that are something more than "good." Our experience was not exceptional. It was just, good. We went to celebrate our 35th wedding anniversary and were looking forward to a little something special at a new restaurant to us. (Spoiler alert) If you answer their reservation questions about what you're celebrating, don't expect that they will do anything special for you. We received a "Happy Anniversary" comment when our server presented our bill. That was it. We went in with high hopes of a bit more personalized service. The service was good but not great. We also heard so much about how great the streaks are. We shared some really nice appetizers (razor clams and sardines) and a very nice bottle of wine. The fish course, sole, was very nice, too. The much more pricey steak, on the other hand, was chewy and not silky smooth as the menu suggests. Lots of weight for the price in gristle and bone. Go for the fish! Good .... but, definitely not exceptional for the nearly $700 price tag for two. We will likely try again, but will go in a little wiser than for our first try.

Awesome food, and awesome service! The atmosphere was lively, yet somewhat quaint. David, our server described the menu in detail and answered all questions and was checking in on us through our 3 courses. The sommelier did a perfect job of matching our taste preferences to a spanish wine, we had never heard of. Throughout the evening, our glasses were regularly topped off. Great experience.

As someone who loves the cuisine of the Basque Country, I had high expectations for Asador Bastian, but unfortunately, it missed the mark. The food was just okay — nowhere near the flavors you’d find at even a simple bodega in San Sebastián or Bilbao. For a restaurant aiming to capture the Basque spirit, the wine selection was also disappointing; I was hoping to see more local options like Txakoli that would complement the dishes. Service could be more attentive, as it felt a bit lacking for the price point. Overall, it was overpriced for what you get. I wouldn’t return, especially when authentic Basque flavors are what you’re after.

Restaurant to Eat Good Meat Collections. Well-chosen and surprising starters off the chart. Very good service except for the times between courses that were slightly greater than ideal.

Chicago has been known for its outstanding steakhouses since the heyday of the Union Stockyards and the meatpacking industry headed by Phillip Armour, Gustavus Swift and Nelson Morris. In recent years, however, the market has become more competitive with the arrival of premium beef from Argentina, Brazil and Spain. One restaurant, Basque-inspired Asador Bastian, was named "Best New Restaurant" in 2023 and was ranked as the No. 13 steakhouse in the world in 2025 by London's Upper Cut Media House. Located at 214 West Erie Street, in a restored 1883 townhouse, at North Wells Street, in the River North neighborhood, it is the latest creation of renowned chef Doug Psaltis, who has an intimate feel and appeal to meat that is wholly distinct from any other steakhouse in Chicago. The restaurant's decor, lighting, tile and upholstery only add to the stunning atmosphere. Open daily from 4 to midnight, Asador Bastian has made a sudden and significant impact on the steak and potatoes industry in this town. I started with lobster, corn and fois gras and couldn't wait to indulge in my San Miguel Steak, a smaller cut of the classic Txuleton steak, perfect for one person to enjoy, a hand-cut bone-in steak weighing under one pound. With Tallow fried potatoes and local asparagus with black truffle, smoked cheese and lemon. For dessert, a large slice of Golden chocolate hazelnut cake had me going out the door with a big smile on my face.

Cool spot. Way too pricey for a regular stop. Wine list too pedestrian. Steak was good, definitely not 1.25#. Bottles of wine are$65 and $165.... $500 for dinner and drinks for 2 .