Eden Reviews

Have to deduct 1/2 star because service was a bit erratic. Food was great, though maybe a little complicated. The space is so attractive and the staff very friendly. Will definitely be going back.

Chicago is a foodie heaven. There are lists of top restaurants and to call something outstanding - it better be good. My wife and I were stunned when we walked out of here on Saturday night in regards to the unbelievable culinary experience we enjoyed. This is truly the best kept secret for top dining experiences in Chicago. Atmosphere 10. Service 10. Flavor 10. Selection 10. We sat at the countertop by the kitchen and had the pleasure of mixing with Devon the head Chef and Stefano the head pastry chef. What they have created here is nothing short of extraordinary. From the bread to the meatballs, gnocchi to the cocktails this crushed any overhyped restaurant your concierge may have directed you to in the city. Eden thank you for an an incredible experience, I hope that I can get reservations again on short notice in the next 6 months but highly doubt it because you will be sold out for months to come.

Had an evening free while on holiday in Chicago and having become vegetarian recently for health reasons decided to research a restaurant that could cater for myself and meat eating husband. Loved the look of Eden and it was only a 5 minute drive from our hotel. It was amazing! Food , ambience, service were brilliant and I’m so glad we found this place. Loved the farm to kitchen ethos and the food was presented beautifully and tasted great - will be back next time we’re in town!

I wish I had taken a menu, because I am positive that there are few restaurants that will ever be like Eden. It is a beautiful crafted menu of vegetarian heavy offerings and scintillating meat dishes, all of wish is grown on Eden's own farm or sourced very locally. The flavors for our menu were Asian-inspired and ranged from a hot and spicy schezuan dish to an amazing burrata to carrots to a tempura mushroom. All had ample flavoring and left my stomach dancing. Service could have been better and meant we were among the last to leave. I suppose slow cooking is why we were there, but without updates from the kitchen it just felt like an unnecessarily late meal.

I was a little intimidated by the menu, but one of the members of our party had been there before, and assured us that we would like it. You have to try the donuts and the Brussel Sprouts! I had the Skirt Steak and it was divine.

My daughter picked this place and we had five children from age 18 months to 10 years and five adults. The staff did a great job of taking care of the children to keep them happy. We had a variety of coffees and meals. The kids had fruit, chicken fingers, a bagel and some pastries. One adult had a mushroom omelette, three had the breakfast burritos and I had the gluten free Quinoa pancakes. Everything was very good. They did not offer regular pancakes but the quinoa pancakes were very tasty, with blueberry syrup and lemon cream. The staff was very friendly and responsive.

This restaurant is beautifully decorated and I’m giving four stars mostly for the atmosphere. I had the mushroom omelette which was very salty. It had salt crystals added on top of the omelette which I tried to take off, but it was still very salty and I couldn’t eat it. The fruit was amazing 😻. My daughters got the Eden salad and cashew salad which they liked and the salads looked good. Service could have been better but I'm guessing our server Sarah had too many tables so wasn’t very attentive.

We stopped in with another couple while we were in town for the weekend. All of us being foodies. Our favorite items on the brunch menu included Sweet Potato & Pork Belly Hash and Chicken Chilaquiles Verde and drinks were Frosé and Bountiful Bloody marry. We will defiantly make it a point to stop by when ever we are in town again.

My son took us to Eden for Sunday Brunch. The moment you walk through the door, the aroma is wonderful and you have high expectations, which were all met! The menu has great selections to choose from. The food was exceptional!! Everything was so delicious!! The food is made from scratch with fresh ingredients and seasoned perfectly. The presentation of the food is beautiful. The atmosphere was great! The wait staff are wonderful. They checked to make sure everything was ok and to see if we needed anything. The food at Eden is the BEST I have ever had! I wish we lived in Chicago so we could eat there as often as possible!

Go and try stuff you have probably never really wanted to try before--Brussel sprouts caramelised, lamb loin with cubed (yes, cubed) pistachio panna cotta, mini donuts of mind boggling description, and really nice service. Went with business associates and it was a first visit for all. Everyone was happy. And with this group, that was a first. Premises lovely.

Farm-to-table cooking at its finest! Good brunch bit the dinner really wows! They even have their own greenhouse outside. The atmosphere is chic with white Bruce walls and there is a small outdoor patio for those nice and not-too-hot Chicago summer days. I would highly recommend it to anyone!

Three of us went to Eden for brunch. The meal didn’t start well, when the hostess had a bad attitude about us requesting seating out of the sun. We started with a Bellini and frozen Aperol Spritz. They were both bad, we didn’t finish them. We moved on to the bloody Mary’s and the house beer. The non Spicey bloody was very good, the Spicey bloody was not Spicey at all. For brunch we had the turkey club, sweet potato hash, and the breakfast sandwich. The waiter actually recommended the turkey club. None of us enjoyed our food. The fresh fruit cup was a highlight. Our entrees were bland. We left the majority of it behind. It’s a very cute restaurant and was clean. Our waiter was kind and helpful. As I mentioned, the hostess is not helping this place. I had really high hopes for Eden. The reviews are so good and the drink menu looked tasty. Unfortunately, none of us gave our food above a C. It was not a worth the $150 tab. I am giving it two stars generously.

One of the best meals I've ever had, any place--and amazing value for the quality of food and service. Umami dumplings are out of this world. Ditto the "sahib" flatbread. The lamb must have been amazing, because we always share food and my partner wouldn't give up a morsel. My Portuguese spiced chicken was very good, but I think a little too much spice--not nearly as multi-layered as the rest of the dishes, which somehow seemed to have 3x as many distinct and complementary tastes as anything else I've tasted. That certainly applied to the desserts. Coconut sorbet was over the top and then some (not just the sorbet, but the different tastes of cucumber granita, lime gel, etc. Strawberry shortcake also different and amazing. Tempranillo by the glass was yummy. All of this for $78/couple before tip...AMAZING AMAZING AMAZING. One of the best meals of my life, possibly...almost certainly at this value. And the service was extraordinary as well. Wow!

A friend recommended this place and we truly enjoyed the ambiance and delicious, daring dishes. I particularly loved my burrata salad - great presentation and fun choice of ingredients.

So, we came here for my son's 30th birthday with high hopes. It turned out our waiter just wasn't having it, and that is how things devolved. After the starters, which were delivered promptly, it was a 40-minute wait for food. When I asked the waiter about the wait, he was less than polite. When the food came, it was a mix-my d-i-l had ordered Salmon, which had clearly been sitting; actually, all the food had been sitting. I gave the restaurant an excellent rating because of what happened next. The owner (?) dropped by our table to ask how things were going, and we were honest. He was deeply concerned, sent desserts over, credited the bill by quite a bit, and generally made us feel heard and cared for. Also, when I came the next day for brunch with a friend (total coincidence), he came over with a large fruit salad and other treats and apologized again. The space is great, by the way. And the food, delivered hot, is very good. Terrific area of Chicago.

Went to Eden with our voucher won in a competition. Now 50$ will just be enough to cover a drink and a main here, more or less, but the quality and taste of the food is up to par. Had the duck legs which were tender and juicy. Dessert was a bit of a let down. Where in most restaurants desserts are quite large and easily shareable by 2 persons, here that was less the case. I think the sophistication of the dessert decreased the size :) Expectations were high after the main dish, and while it was not a letdown, it was not as tasty as I had expected. All in all I think this is a nice spot for a bit better dinner, maybe a date.

I was in Chicago with family and a family member chose Eden for a late dinner. The restaurant lacked ambiance, but the service was adequate. The food was a little above average. I would not recommend it to anyone traveling to Chicago

Breakfast bowl was good. The chicken was too crispy for a sandwich to bite or eat with a fork and knife. The ceviche was tasty but its presentation was average. The coffee was Nespresso quality for a whopping $5 and the tea was tasteless Tazo. Citta Modena was mostly ice cube, water, and barely a flavor for $8. The ambience was lovely and lively and tasteful. It was however very loud. Staff was welcoming and discrete. So you figure if this place is for your next outing.

This restaurant is worth the drive from the suburbs. Our special occasion with a group of close friends was a fantastic experience because of both the amazing food and the vibe. The menu is what it claims to be: artful preparations, locally grown, and delicious. We loved the Umami Doughnut and the Roasted Sunchokes to start. Their entrees were equally inventive and mouthwatering. Service was very attentive as well. We will go back, for sure.

Over the last two years, the Fulton Market Neighborhood has become a great restaurant destination. But the joy seems to end at Ogden Boulevard. But not really, a few blocks west of Ogden you will find Eden on Lake Street. It is an exceptional restaurant that Phil Vettel reviewed two years ago. I encourage him to go back. The environment is comfortable and modern. There is a great chef's bar overlooking the open kitchen. Devon Quinn, the chef, often talks to diners at the bar during moments of quiet. The food is the strongpoint. It uses fresh ingredients lots of which are raised in a greenhouse on the property. The combination of tastes is innovative and never disappoints. Take a close look at this restaurant west of Fulton Market.

Eden surpassed our expectations. We came to celebrate wedding anniversaries and our experience was outstanding from start to finish. Sarah was a wonderful server who helped with drink and menu insights and made us feel at home. It was a lovely evening on the patio, and we were especially impressed with the many vegetarian options. We’ll be back!

The donuts (pork and mushroom) come very highly recommended. But we have no idea why. The donuts were very dry, lacking flavor, with a heavy bechamel / cheese sauce. I recommend skipping them. The asparagus was an interesting rendition, and the beet salad was also very good. But the pork chop main disappointed -- it was too dry, even though I specifically asked the server to make sure it was not overdone, as pork chop often is. The service was very good and attentive otherwise, and the atmosphere is very good. Two adults with four glasses of wine, appetizers and one shared main, for $150 pre-tip.

We were delighted to find easy, free parking next to restaurant. The waiter was one of the best ever--really knew the menu. We will return!

We just came back from one of the best dinners we’ve had in a long time. Excellent food and service. Such a creative menu! And so many delicious vegetarian options!

Stands out as one of the city's best. Excellent food and service. Every course was delicious. Grows much of its own produce in a greenhouse next door. A seat at the counter lets you watch the action in the kitchen. Very popular. Be aware that when it's crowded the noise level can challenge conversation.

This place is just amazing! The decor...it's chic, the food is fresh and delicious. It takes you on a Journey. Not forgetting, their superb cocktails. Great atmosphere with helpful and friendly staff...5 star service. We had the Fried Brussel Sprouts and Umami Doughnuts as appetizer...it was sooo good. They can also accomodate for meetings and events. The concept on a whole is Genius! Suzanne - Saint Martin

This place has me baffled, but they seem to catch the right crowd to keep them busy. Pretty much going to live and die off of the crowd going to the United center. Food - 3 Flavors are fair. They are trying to be a fancy high end restaurant with their playing but the flavors still needs a little refinement. The depth of taste is lacking. Hope they can improve, the base formula is decent. Service - 4 The wait staff is professional and pretty on point. Only drawback is the so called manager. Seems like a college kid without training. Needs more refinement. Atmosphere - 2 Has a feel of a container or a refrigerator box, a little cold and bare. The downfall is the acoustics in the place, very loud. The loudness has a spiral effect, place just gets louder to speak over the noise. Will give this place another chance in a couple of months. If there is no “refinement” in the future, I feel that the hype will die down and so will this place.

Excited to have a new restaurant in the area. We went for brunch on a Saturday and we are happy they will now offer Sunday brunch as well. The room was packed and super loud so for parents, bringing kids shouldn't be a problem. The GLUTEN-FREE QUINOA PANCAKES were amazing with a lemon ricotta whipped cream and a blueberry compote. Never tasted the quinoa which for us is a good thing! All our egg dishes were good but take a pass on the donuts. Suggest they add a turkey bacon or chicken sausage alternative to the menu. We will go back for dinner and again for brunch once we can sit outside. Recommend!

Service was great, friendly vibe and feel, good crowd for a winter weekday evening. I encourage everyone to try Eden. Food was delicious and the freshness of the vegetables they grow in their own greenhouses on site as well as the locally farmed produce were amazing. Little gem salad, carrots, and probably the best sweeter side Brussels sprouts I’ve ever tasted. We had skate, steak, and duck, one was better than the next. Sounds like menu changes weekly. Really good job by Eden.

Eden is my new favorite Chicago restaurant. The space is fabulous—post-industrial mysterious. We were delighted with nearly every aspect of our meal. The cocktails were great, setting up the pleasures to follow. The service proved professional in an unobtrusive and helpful fashion—praise to Phillip! I will mention here our only disappointment: the wine list, which we found limited, not very impressive, and seriously over-priced (remember, I’m a bartender and know the price points). However, the food more than made up for any qualms we had with the wine. The pork belly was very flavorful; we competed for the amazing black stuff on the plate, which is actually black garlic. The ahi tuna was delicious but a bit too spicy. The umami donuts brought forth a number of fascinating flavors, especially given the center of braised striploin; it was subtle at first, then some real strength developed, with a slight sweetness from the cinnamon. The bouillabaisse, which is one of my favorite dishes, was the best I’ve had since the last time I was in Montpelier, France; with mussels and Spanish bass, fennel and a brilliant broth—it was just the right amount, and yet I wish I had left-overs to take home. The pastas were excellent; get the Tagliatelle, with pork and apple (what a great combination) and a surprise of Marcona almonds. The coconut sorbet proved truly unique, with just the right degree of molecular gastronomy playing on the plate; the coconut crisps were amazing and the lime and cucumber Granita refreshing and palate-cleansing. If we could have, we would have returned the next night.

Came here with our son and had one of the most delicious and interesting meals ever. The menu is constantly changing and everything we tried was so creative and tasty. We had a wonderful eggplant dish and one thing that I remember well were the umami donuts, which were little beignets with mushroom and other stuff inside. Amazing! The bread is fantastic and the desserts were also wonderful - especially the Hazelnut dessert. The Chinese Long Beans were delicious. If you want a fantastic vegetarian meal, please go here!

The owner is an extraordinarily welcoming and warm person. We really enjoyed visiting with him. He is very proud of his establishment, as he well should be! Food was great as was the service! I will be back and suggest you give it a try.

Stunning experience!! The food was amazing and the service was exquisite. The level of care was evident from the atmosphere to the food. Can’t wait to go back. Don’t pass this up!!

I recently came to Eden for brunch after running a half marathon. I’d been wanting to go for a while after seeing that they were one of the top brunch spots in the city and very gluten-free friendly. After running a lot of miles, the steak and eggs spoke to me. The real star, however, was the cheddar dusted breakfast potatoes. Not only do they look interesting, they taste great too. My girlfriend loved the quinoa pancakes. She’s not one to finish her meals in one sitting, but she couldn’t help but eat all of the pancakes. Ultimately, Eden made for a great brunch. It’s a little off the beaten path, but you can sit outside and enjoy the sun while feeling like you’ve escaped the city. Also, they have parking available in a lot across the street.

We selected Eden because it was close to United Center where we were attending a concert. From the minute we walked in our experience was top notch. Every single employee that we interacted with with extremely helpful and friendly. In particular, our server, Brian, was great! The food was unique and extremely tasty. I am a vegetarian and loved all of the innovative vegetarian options (it was hard to decide). Everyone at our table loved their meal as well as the appetizers. Drinks were also great. Top to bottom this restaurant is fantastic!

An ambitious farm to table that really succeeds. Interesting combinations of flavors that work well together, beautifully presented. Some of the greens are grown in the adjacent greenhouse. It was our second visit and they seem to be getting better and better. Super convenient to the United Center too.

My wife found this little restaurant and we went there for an aperitivo, wine and some food. As we saw food coming out and reading the menu, we decided to dig in and..OMG! Let's start from the basics, the staff is impeccable, the pace at which we received the orders was just perfect! Let's pass to the food..presentation was beautiful, the combination of flavors just symphony for my palate and then, the bread and the corn muffin..no surprise the pastry chef was Italian, not Italian American, 100% Italian and so am I. The bread brought me back to Italy, the crust, the smell..just perfect! The only down side is the wine list, you don't have much to choose from but other than that it's definitely a place I highly recommend!

Eden is hands down one of the best restaurants in the city. Michelin Star-worthy at a price point that is more than fair for the quality of the food. Much of the produce is grown in an on-premise greenhouse, which comes through in the freshness of the meal. An extensive wine list and thoughtful cocktails add to the experience. The bread is baked in-house and the baker also makes the dessert—a perfect finish. We visited with a larger sized group which allowed us to try 75% of the menu. Hard to believe but I loved EVERYTHING. The interior is white and bright and airy. It’s not too stark, though, as the vibe is cozy. You could picture yourself becoming a regular should you live in the neighborhood. Our server was very knowledgeable on the menu and gave appropriate recommendations. He also let us know about the Sunday 10-2 bottomless mimosa brunch, which we’ll definitely be doing! The location isn’t super close to the more bustling corners of the West Loop, but it’s worth it. Grab a drink beforehand at the Loyalist or anywhere else in WL and then head over for one the most amazing meals you’ve had in awhile. Also a good option for an event at the United Center.

The word “Wow” comes up a lot in other reviews and for good reason. Went to Eden yesterday for dinner for a larger table and the service was outstanding, and the food was fresh, creative, and ambitious. FOOD The appetizers were pretty exceptional particularly the Brussels sprouts and potatoes. Regarding salads, the beet salad is supposed to be exceptional but I am not a beet fan and had the bib salad. It is not often we are surprised by a restaurant salad but that might be the best bid lettuce salad I have ever eaten. The main courses were good for the price particularly the pork shank. By the way, a couple of folks ordered the burger and fries and they were getting some envious looks. Their deserts are very creative and artistically presented. They might be too creative for me. However, if you want a special treat, come in to the bar for after dinner drinks, coffee, and desert. I did not get a good look at the wine list as someone was ordering for the table but they had several good sparkling options for before dinner drinks. SERVICE We had a larger table and I cannot think of any way the service could be have been better. Let’s face it, we get a little spoiled in Chicago by the level of execution in our restaurants. (Life is good isn’t it. ;-0 ) I would place Eden in that category. Visit and let me know your opinion. PRIVATE DINING Located at one end of the Paramount Events building, they have access to several private dining rooms/areas and they really know how to take care of private diners. UNITED CENTER Here’s a secret: They are a two short blocks north of the United Center parking lot. So, if you are going to an event at the United Center, it is very convenient to include Eden in your plans for something special or to really feel like a neighborhood expert. You can reserve online before hand and feel really smug about your preplanning. LOCATION West of Union Park. Look for the Paramount Events building on the north side of Lake Street. The restaurant and parking lot are on the east side of the building. We were a little early so we found a lot of street parking in front. Have also taken the Green Line. They are a block and a half due east of the Ashland Green or Pink lines.

I love trying new places and was excited when this restaurant from the Paramount group opened near my house. That being said, it still is a bit "off the beaten path" since it's west of Ashland on an area of Lake Street with little other retail or restaurants nearby. But because of it's location, this place actually has a large, surface parking lot (Score!) with free parking. The first thing I noticed is the decor indoors so it's impossible to review the spot without mentioning that whoever designed the spot did a superb job - it's super chic and has a bit of a Montauk/South Hamptons vibe. Service was pretty good (better than average, I wouldn't say "excellent") and the food - both the selection and taste was very good. My table shared some appetizers including the bone marrow, olives and umami donut -- all were good (again, above average) and for dinner I had the market fish which was actually delicious....I think I literally may have licked my plate. All of my dinner companions [business dinner] also raved about their food. We finished with the yummy house-made donuts.

Went to Eden on Father’s Day for brunch. The place is in the west loop, one of Chicago’s hip cool up and coming areas. The space is light, bright, and cheerful. The service was top notch...attentive, informative, and caring. The food was delicious and we watched it being prepared in the open kitchen. The brunch specials were innovative and over the top delicious. The biscuits were the best I’ve ever had...period. Most crumble, these were just amazing. Home made donuts...great eggs, a nice salmon dish... Highly recommend for brunch!

Food was amazing. Every dish was cooked and played too perfection. The reason I give this place is on service. Our server forgot drinks, added things onto our check and was generally confused. Both managers were extremely helpful and gave us a free drink round. We will be back for the food but I hope they step up their server communication skills.

Great food, fantastic friendly service, and tasty cocktails. Very nice and welcoming staff from the hostess, bus boy, waiter, to the manager. It was an overall great experience with one of the best meals we have had in a long time. We can’t wait to go back and sample some more of the menu. The duck confit was cooked perfectly. It is not an inexpensive meal, but it is worth it.

We had a lovely experience at Eden. Great atmosphere, great service, and most importantly, fantastic food. Whether an appetizer, the pasta, or an entree (we had the fish of the day--and if you don't mind fish eyes staring at you--it's delicious). So why four stars out of five? No sides. Everything is ala carte, a sadly increasing trend in restaurants. Want bread? You'll pay for it. Order a skirt steak? It will set you back nearly $30 and you will still need to order your starch extra. We paid $40 for our fish and got a fish on a plate---no side of any kind (no starch, no vegetable, no nothing.) I don't like starting to feel like I'm nickel and dimed, particularly when our meal was $250+ for two people. I think they could plate a little bit more than they do---but what they do plate is, indeed, fantastic. The chef was trained as a "biologist," and it showed. The food is healthy, creative, and delicious. Parking is first-come, first-served (and employees seem to park in the small lot, too). But a trip to Eden, particularly if you're going to an event at the United Center, is worthwhile.

Amazing Farm to Table resto, the chef does an excellent job with the menu. We had the 5-course tasting menu, with wine pairing, and had an unbelievable dinner. Every course was delicious and accompanying wine was perfect and a very nice pour. Service was excellent from the minute we walked in the door. They have a small parking lot, well-lit street parking, and is 4 blocks to United Center. I would definitely go back!! It was explained that the chef sources locally, plus has a small greenhouse in the parking lot, so the menu can change depending on supply. If you can get there before the swordfish entree goes off the menu, is highly recommend it. I’m not a fish person, but it was incredible.

We tried the chef degustation menu. Happily surprised. Delicious seasonal food, combinations and wine pairing. Not overpriced. Great service. Will go back soon for sure!

Hard to find -in residential area- but the food was fantastic! We tried the Umami doughnuts out of curiosity and they were sublime. My wife is not one for appetizers and she was fighting me for the last one. She had the duck lasagne and I had the steak with mustard greens. Both were as good as anything we have eaten. Dessert was outstanding too. Not a misstep. We took a cab there, and they were good enough to call us one to get back to our hotel. Very happy we went

One of my favorite dining experiences. Excellent waitstaff and all courses supersede expectations. Portion size perf.Excellent wine selection and Genoese pastry chef is bravissimo. Funky area with garden and free parking lot Near United Center Be back soon!

Four of us went to dinner and we went the appetizer route and shared 2 entrees. We had grilled baby octopus, roasted baby beets, cripsy chicken ballotine and a spaetzle dish (a special), strawberry shortcake, and one other dish. I have to say that they are creative with flavors and surprises- loved the cajeta with the beets. They also aren't afraid of spice. I like spicy foods and some of the spices in the dishes were a nice surprise. We enjoyed this neighborhood resataurant and would not hesitate to return.

The food was to die for. Devon, the chef is on a par with Michelin chefs. The service, including our server, Bill, were second to none. However everyone in the restaurant was unbelievably friendly. My wife had the short rib and I had the lamb shank. Don't miss the brussel sprouts and the beet salad as a starter. We have eaten all over the world and this was one of our best finds. They also offer parking and allow you to leave your car if you have an event at the United Center. We will definately be back. What an incredible find. We also felt everything was very reasonably priced.

We were anxious to try Eden as the same company did the catering for our daughters wedding and our guests are still raving about the meal as being not just the Best Wedding Meal ever, but BEST Meal ever! Well, Eden came through again! Had an amazing assortment of app's and entree's as we shared everything. All was wonderful and highly recommend as I predict reservations will be tougher to get as more people learn about Eden!

We had a Saturday evening reservation at 7:30. Only had to wait a few minutes for our table. From the moment we walked in I knew this was going to be a great dining experience. First of all I love the decor. The space is clean and fresh with a calming feeling to it. I loved how the bar lighting reflected on the walls and ceiling. Instead of flowers the tables were graced with succulents. Love them! Our waiter,Jacob, was knowledgeable, friendly, attentive without being intrusive. He guided us through the menu and made some recommendations. The Unami donuts are a must. I wish I didn't have to share them. They were filled with either roasted mushrooms or pork confit with black cherry. The flavors were deep and kept building with each bite. I'm a big fan of gazpacho which was delicious. It was light with the perfect amount of heat. We also ordered the olive bread and homemade butter. We saw another table eating the bread and it didn't disappoint. I've never had homemade butter. Let me tell you, it was the best. Fresh bread...manna from heaven. We shared the lamb agnolotti with a mushroom cream sauce and fresh parm. The bite of the parm, the al dente agnolotti- a real winner. The lamb was light and clean. We also had the Babette steak medium. Wow! Talk about tender... the flavor of the beef was really highlighted in this dish. We were full but just had to have dessert. I watched a clip online with the exec pastry chef and knew we'd have to try something. We had a corn and blueberry dessert that had just enough sweetness playing to the corn crumbles. Yum. The meal was clean it was fresh it was just right. We were full and satisfied yet we didn't feel uncomfortable. I think the fresh made to order dishes attributed to how we felt. Eden is truly a garden of bounty. We will be back.

We came to Eden, as we were on our way to a play and we were able to get 5:00 p.m. reservations which left us enough time to not have to worry about getting to the theatre. Eden is located in what is considered the "budding" West Lake District of Chicago. It is now an area of converted warehouses and factories and Eden was one of those. There is parking on the street, but, better yet, there is a nice and secure parking lot immediately adjacent to Eden. In the back of the parking lot, you'll also notice that there is a small urban greenhouse in which they grow more than 30 different herbs and spices. There is also some outdoor seating by the front door from the parking lot. We were seated immediately and our server, William, was right there and provided efficient service through the evening. He was very informative about menu choices. And he was personable, so much so, that we learned that I had actually worked with his brother in another life. Certainly, a small world! We started off with the Umami doughnuts with roasted mushroom miso and raclette. For our entrees, we had the ahi tuna crudo which was prepared with kaffir vinegar, smoked egg yolk, kohlrabi, pea leaf, burnt garlic and beef chicharon. We also ordered the English pea pierogi which was prepared with broccoli puree, trumpet mushroom chips, pickled spring onion, lemon beurre monte and fine herbs. Not only were they presented well, but the best word to describe both was outstanding and light. We had a bit of time left, as well as a little room, so for dessert we chose the strawberry shortcake which was prepared with marcona almonds, pastry cream, vanilla and whole milk gelato. What a great way to cap off the dinner. With two glasses of wine, it was pretty reasonably priced. The chef/owner, Devon, stopped by the table and checked on us during the meal which was very nice.

We had a lovely experience at Eden. Great atmosphere, great service, and most importantly, fantastic food. Whether an appetizer, the pasta, or an entree (we had the fish of the day--and if you don't mind fish eyes staring at you--it's delicious). So why four stars out of five? No sides. Everything is ala carte, a sadly increasing trend in restaurants. Want bread? You'll pay for it. Order a skirt steak? It will set you back nearly $30 and you will still need to order your starch extra. We paid $40 for our fish and got a fish on a plate---no side of any kind (no starch, no vegetable, no nothing.) I don't like starting to feel like I'm nickel and dimed, particularly when our meal was $250+ for two people. I think they could plate a little bit more than they do---but what they do plate is, indeed, fantastic. The chef was trained as a "biologist," and it showed. The food is healthy, creative, and delicious. Parking is first-come, first-served (and employees seem to park in the small lot, too). But a trip to Eden, particularly if you're going to an event at the United Center, is worthwhile.

Although it’s a bit west of the Fulton Market restaurant explosion, Eden’s among the best Chicago has to offer. We chose it for a week-before Mother’s Day celebration honoring my wife with four of our six kids, one son-in-law and one fiancé, and had brunch on a sunny patio. Even with the El rumbling overhead now and then, it was a feast to remember. The Eggs Benedict with a side of chicken sausage was perfect, complimented by a perfect Bloody Mary. Service was very attentive, given the pickiness of our crew, who all tend to be foodies. Eden’s very good and features free, enclosed parking. What a deal!