Eddie V's | Chicago - Annie Fairfax

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Eddie V’s Chicago was our favorite meal in the Windy City, and that’s really saying something, because we had so much incredible food in this city full of unique dining from all around the world, many of which have earned Michelin Stars. Eddie V’s Executive Chef Jose Gonzalez, and the entire team at Eddie V’s go above and beyond to bring each and every guest one of the finest dining experiences in the city, and it was truly an honor to savor each course. Read on to see why this exquisite seafood restaurant needs to be included on your next visit to the city.

Eddie V’s Prime Seafood

Location: Chicago, Illinois
Address: 521 N Rush St
Chicago, IL 60611
Food Type: Exotic & Domestic
Seafood
Dining Experience: Indoor
Price: $175 per person
Dress Code: Smart Casual+
Reservations: Required
Special Diets: Pescatarian

Eddie V’s Chicago was unassuming from the outside as we approached after dark in the early autumn chill, after having parked our car in the adjacent mall’s parking lot. I wasn’t sure what to expect from a seafood restaurant located next to (not inside of) a mall, but when the hotel staff of the Fairmont Chicago asked us what our dinner plans were, and found out we were going to Eddie V’s, the two gentlemen at the front desk became visibly excited and told us how lucky we were to be eating there, because “that’s where I proposed to my fiancée, it’s a really special place” the younger front desk attendant told us. After that, we knew it had to be great, and we were very excited to try it for ourselves, plus he informed us that we could expect to enjoy live jazz, which is always a beautiful addition to any meal.

The restaurant was dimly lit, but elegantly decorated with reflective, decorative glass elements all over, and a large bar. We were given a table by the maître d that overlooked the bar area, and had a great view of most of the restaurant and handed thick menus that must have weighed at least a pound each. Our server quickly visited our table and insisted we try their house cocktails, which are performance cocktails, meaning they are made table side and involve more uncommon elements and esoteric mixology techniques than most establishments offer. At her behest, we enjoyed throughout our meal The Hope Diamond, a purple cocktail flavored with grapefruit liqueur, lemon, butterfly pea flower tea inside a diamond ice cube, the Smoked Old Fashioned, which utilizes the smoke from a burnt serving board and a dash of chocolate bitters to capture and stress the smoky sweet flavor of the bourbon inside. Our meal ended with a Maverick cocktail, which was an exciting and unexpected combination of jalapeños, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, fresh lime, and cucumber, and perfectly complimented our final course, scallops.

Seafood Tower Eddie V's Chicago Prime Seafood Restaurant

Oysters Eddie V's Chicago Prime Seafood Restaurant

If you follow my blog, you know that my husband and I usually share one cocktail when we have dinner as neither of us are big drinkers, but in my limited experience, these were by far the very best cocktails I’ve ever had. The showmanship, the quality ingredients, and the enthralling flavor profiles of each drink were enough to prove to even a novice drinker like me that there’s something truly special about the drinks served at Eddie V’s Chicago. Even if you only have time on your travels in Chicago to stop in for a quick cocktail, this is a place you simply must visit on your next trip to the city.

Our meals were unbelievable. Our server was so helpful and helped us pick out courses and drink combinations that would suite our personal tastes, and she helped us experience a wide assortment of entrées, like the absolutely phenomenal South African Lobster Pot (first photograph), which consisted of one entire pound of fire roasted South African lobster tails cooked to perfection alongside ample amounts of garlic, heirloom tomatoes, fresh herbs, and smothered in a beautiful butter sauce, poured onto the dish table side. Ahead of this, we experienced the wide assortment of seafood presented beautifully on the Seafood Tower, including 6 oysters on the half shell, beautiful jumbo shrimp, Maine lobster, and jumbo lump crab, served with an assortment of sauces and crackers.

For dessert, we were presented with a beautiful Bananas Foster Butter Cake, which was flambéed at the table. Every step of the way, our food was intriguingly presented, beautifully prepared in front of us, and worth savoring at every turn. We have eaten at many wonderful places in Chicago over the years, many of which were Michelin Starred, or highly acclaimed, and Eddie V’s was one of our all time favorites. If you’re in Chicago looking for a beautiful, elegant meal with lots of options and exotic ingredients, Eddie V’s is an unbeatable option for those with discerning palates.