Chicago’s repeating two Michelin-starred Acadia introduced a new and exciting bar tasting menu, allowing guests dining at the bar to experience a taste of Chef Ryan McCaskey’s dining room cuisine in an approachable way. Now available, a condensed three-course tasting menu is offered exclusively at the prized bar, where diners have the opportunity to soak in the fine dining destination’s noteworthy presentations in a more casual atmosphere. Priced at $45 per person, the new bar tasting menu offers a peek into the best of Chef McCaskey’s legendary courses.
Being treated to a full five- or ten-course journey in Acadia’s plush dining room is surely an adventure, but some occasions call for a more laid-back meal with less of a commitment. This new menu option gives diners coming from near and far the freedom to indulge in Acadia’s unwavering tasting menu fare—the heart of the restaurant—in the cozy bar setting.
Comparable to the canapés beginning each meal in the dining room, the bar tasting menu begins with a selection of creative “snacks,” followed by three courses sharing clever interpretations of traditional fine dining. The menu will change seasonally and often, and launches with the following:
“Snacks”
Fried Head Cheese, Saffron Aioli
Puffed Beef Tendon, Ramen Packet Seasoning
Grissini, Iberico, Boursin
Grilled Baby Octopus, Calamari, Fennel, Chorizo
Wagyu Beef, Vegetable Ash, Sprout Leaves, Smoked Soubise
“Milky Way”
Complementing the new addition, Acadia’s beverage program, helmed by General Manager and Sommelier Jason Prah, features composed cocktails including the popular Rich Gamble, truffle-infused Death By Astonishment, aromatic In Lavender, and others. The traditional menu that put the bar subset of Acadia on the map as a favorite, under-the-radar locale for casual fare, is still available alongside the new three-course option. Bar fare includes the beloved Lobster Roll, the Acadia Burger, fresh oysters, smoked cheddar mac n’ cheese, and other à la carte items.
