| Oceanique | |
|---|---|
 The Front of Oceanique | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1989 |
| Owner(s) | Mark Grosz |
| Head chef | Mark Grosz |
| Food type | French American French cuisine Seafood |
| Dress code | Semi-casual |
| Street address | 505 Main St. Evanston, Illinois |
| City | Evanston |
| State | Illinois |
| Postal/ZIP Code | 60202 |
| Country | United States |
| Reservations | Yes |
| Website | Official website |
Oceanique (restaurant)
editOceanique is a fine dining gourmet French-American cuisine restaurant with a specialty and focus on seafood in Evanston, Illinois. Oceanique has consistently been ranked as the number one seafood restaurant in the Chicago metro area by the prestigious Zagat Guide. "Make It Better Magazine" deemed it the best fine dining restaurant in the 2014 Best of the North Shore[1] It opened in 1989 and has been in business for a total of 25 years. Mark Grosz is the head chef as well as the owner of the quaint establishment. It's located on 505 Main Street two blocks away from the Main St. Metra Station. Oceanique has an adjoining outdoor patio that customers are able to utilize when the weather permits. [2].
[3] [4] [5] [6] [7] [8] [9] [10] [2] [11] [12] [13] [14] [15] [16] [17] [1]
The Remodel
edit
Having undergone a complete "facelift" through a remodel in July of 2013, Oceanique has enhanced its interior aesthetic, ambience, and vibe. Oceanique closes annually in the summer for vacation and therefore chose that time to transform from its previous form after 24 years. They went from what "Make it Better Magazine" calls a "country-French look and billowing draperies" to a more contemporary look [17]. Oceanique is comprised of 2 dining rooms, with the West Room as the main dining room and the East Room is the room that customers walk into when they enter through the door. The bar is located in the East room. However, after the remodel the bar area changed and "a communal trestle table" that provides an extension of the bar to accommodate customers who simply want a drink and a small plate or two. It also, provides a waiting area as well [17]. After the remodel, a new bar menu was introduced that includes, lobster sandwiches, Maine pemaquid oysters, market ceviche, and poached shrimp [17].
Menu
editThe menu, which is comprised solely of dinner selections, is subject to change daily due to the freshness of the fish and their availability. A varied and large amount of fish that are used are freshwater fish and are found in the Great Lakes [9] Oceanique's speciality is seafood, although the menu does include both meat such as the Prime Nebraska Filet Mignon of Beef, the South Carolina Quail Foie Gras, and the Duck Confit. Oceanique also provides vegetarian, and vegan options. The cooking style is French, reflecting chef Mark Grosz's three-year training under Jean Banchet of Le Francais' [4]. He also honed his skills in Hong Kong and France [8]. However, Grosz' dishes also incorporate many Asian and Latin ingredients. The dishes are prepared using only local, organic produce and seafood from green-friendly suppliers [8]. For example, one such supplier is Supreme Lobster [9]. The restaurant offers dishes off an a la carte menu but also offers a seasonal seven-course tasting menu. Both options are accompanied by a L' amuse-bouche which is interspersed throughout dinner and sorbets of varying flavors as intermezzos [3]
The Wine List
edit
Known for its extensive wine collection of nearly 900 wines, rare Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California Cabernet can be purchased there. The reserve library includes well known labels such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Angelo Gaja, and Domaine Leroy[10]. As a result, Oceanique has consistently won the Wine Spectator Magazine’s “Best of Award of Excellence” every year since 1993 [2]. There is no corkage fee on Mondays for guests who wish to BYO[4]. Unlike other days where the corkage fee is $30. Within its menu, Oceanique utilizes an old Polish proverb: Fish, to taste right, must swim three times: in water, in butter, and in wine [10].Wine pairings are offered as well, and the sommelier helps to pair a wine that will bring the flavor out of the entree the customer chooses. Oceanique offers wine-paired dinners come in three levels and at varying prices. The first is the Introductory Cru Pairing, second is the Intermediate Cru Pairing, and the third is the Grand Cru Pairing.
Critical Review
editContact Information
editPhone Number: 1-847-864-3435 Fax Number: 1-847-864-3454 Email Address: info@oceanique.com
References
edit- ^ a b http://www.evanstonedge.com/2014/07/28/evanston-restaurants-dominate-dining-best-of/
- ^ a b c http://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-french-restaurants-in-chicago/
- ^ a b http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-21/features/chi-oceanique-review-vettel-20131121-20131121_1_evanston-restaurant-menu-dining-room
- ^ a b c http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/oceanique/Location?oid=1024258
- ^ http://www.zagat.com/r/oceanique-evanston
- ^ http://chicagoist.com/2014/09/24/food_pr0n_oceanique.php#photo-1
- ^ http://www.chicagomag.com/dining-drinking/January-2014/Oceanique-Updated-Review/
- ^ a b c http://www.lasplash.com/publish/FoodAndBeverage/cat_index_chicago_food/oceanique-restaurant-review.php
- ^ a b c http://www.chicagofoodies.com/2012/10/chef-mark-grosz-of-oceanique-on-fish.html
- ^ a b c http://www.sheridanroadmagazine.com/article.php/vol/6/issue/3/title/article-1335475398828
- ^ http://checkplease.wttw.com/restaurants/oceanique
- ^ http://isanu.org/restaurant-oceanique/
- ^ http://chicagoalphabetsoup.com/2014/03/09/je-suis-en-amour-avec-oceanique/
- ^ http://www.chicagogourmet.org/?page=314
- ^ http://nu.spoonuniversity.com/restaurant/oceanique/
- ^ http://www.ninacheriephd.com/you-your-body-and-your-health/oceanique-a-fun-and-surprisingly-nutritious-dining-experience
- ^ a b c d http://makeitbetter.net/dining/restaurant-reviews/5524-oceanique-part-deux-new-look-same-great-food