I had two of the best meals of my life at Grace. Hurry up guys, I can't wait for Ever!
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I ate at Grace before it closed and it was the best meal I ever had. I've never had a dining experience like it before or since. It was pure art and made think of food--and life--in a new way. It's not like a meal in a restaurant--it's more like a night of theater or art. Curtis Duffy is one of a kind.
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"Following their bliss?" Following their passion? That may be so, but they're not after food -- they're after money. $300 to $500 for a tasting plate? May a foaming-at-the-mouth Gordon Ramsey inhabit their dreams...
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Twice I dined at Grace, and twice I thought it was mediocre. Fool me once, shame on me. Fool me twice, won't get fooled again.
Duffy's story is moving, to be sure. On that we all agree. Further it is no place of ours to deny him the choice to try to sell food at this price or whatever price he chooses. But no one forces anyone to go to these places.
Or do they.
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re: the photograph.
I could be wrong, but aren't the two of them sitting in Asbestos?
@etherealreality
Clearly you overestimate your visual abilities, sir. Having worked in asbestos remediation for a number of years, as well as a decade in the back of the house restaurant work, I'd like to point out the following:
That is construction debris. Not "asbestos". No reputable construction company who endeavors to keep its license would permit a "photo op" in a room with asbestos. Restaurant owners would also be remiss from sitting in such a room, notably in light of the demands of restaurateurs desires for workplace cleanliness.
Perhaps you should stick to local eateries in West Lafayette Indiana for your commentary.
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And this may become the most expensive tasting menu EVER. And the likelihood of a visit is NEVER.
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Just what New York City needs. Another pretentious restaurant competing for a multi-millionaire clientele.
I hope Ever (or as enugent put it"Never") will at least source its ingredients from hard pressed tri-state area family farms. And as they are charging such stratospheric price, that they will pay their staff a living wage (one that will enable the them to have decent housing and purchase healthful food for their families) and provide workers with health insurance.
@Therese
You are in luck! This restaurant will be in Chicago.
New York is spared.
For now.
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@Therese-if you read the article it clearly states it is in Chicago.
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@Alcibiades LOL - Just what Chicago needs then -still have the same hopes for their local family farms and workers.
The Fulton Market area and the West Loop neighborhood in which it’s located have become the restaurant equivalent of those huge auto dealer parks in suburbs. Too many restaurants crammed into a few square blocks, with gaping culinary holes left in Chicago’s other neighborhoods, where much of the food is “meh”. It would be nice to see more new upscale restaurants open in other Chicago neighborhoods and spread the wealth around, so to speak.
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It's hard to grab a cheap bite in Fulton Market, my neighborhood of 17 years, which in addition to luxe restaurants is now the single busiest construction area in the entire US. Time to move on.
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Very cool, but i could be called Never, Ever as in most people will Never, Ever eat there at $500 pp.
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For Grace is a wonderful documentary available on Netflix. Anyone who is interested in this story should watch it.
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There must have been something basically wrong in the management of a reputedly good restaurant that "closed its doors two days" after the partners' quarrel.
Although I live close to Chicago, the local culinary landscape does not impress me.
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@Tuvw Xyz - Grace was financially by Mr. Olzewski to be built as a venue for Curtis Duffy's remarkable talents. Duffy "was" Grace, and that "reputedly good restaurant" was a Michelin Three Star restaurant under him. Those who worked under him had followed him from his previous venue Avenues, specifically to work with him, and left when he did. For the kind of big money involved, one could not simply replace him and them with a non-proven chef and staff.
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@Tuvw Xyz
I'm not surprised you are not 'impressed', given the past tenor of your food commentary. You seem to be a rational person; but our views differ on what a good meal consist of.
That being said, what exactly do you *know* about the relationship between the previous owners of Grace? Not being a party to the discussions over what lead to its demise makes it impossible to claim, as you do, that "something was basically wrong" at Grace.
It would seem you know only what you've read....which has clearly colored your interpretation of the situation.
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@Tuvw Xyz Stick to Lucky Platter and the Lou Manati's on Sherman Avenue. They seem more your speed.
Good luck to the both of you! You’re an artist in the industry. As a lifer myself, I commend you both!
Best wishes!
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I applaud them for following their passion in this arena.
No doubt there will be a multitude of detractors, many of whom will decry the cost of the tasting menu or the size of the entrees. But none of those who bemoan the Chef or his business partner will put themselves out there as these men have done, just to follow their bliss.
As a person who visits Chicago often, and as a person who enjoys good cuisine, I hope to have the opportunity to visit them once they're open and up to speed.
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