Maple & Ash

FANTASTIC! We had the «spinalis» prepared medium which was their special that evening and it was probably the best cut of steak I’ve ever had. So tender and perfectly cooked! We also had the agnolotti with trumpet mushrooms which is highly recommended. The baked & loaded potatoes were amazing and had short rib on the bottom of the pan. And the chocolate bomb dessert was the perfect ending to our meal! It was also great to have a candlelit dinner. Loved M&A!

Had lunch at the bar with a friend. The bartender wasn’t too attentive considering we were the only ones seated there; definitely a ding for that. We split the prime beef meatball app, the king crab salad and the burger. The meatballs were well flavored but a little dense and the salad was light and fresh with a nice portion of nicely cooked crab. The burger was fine but I’ve definitely had better at three or four other steak houses,
The real standout here is the décor; more modern and elegant than your average steakhouse.

I’m super pumped this place opened up the street from where I live. The ambiance is phenomenal, think classy garden party. Brass and gold fixtures pop on walls painted burgundy and blue. The seating upstairs is plush and comfie and skylights let in natural light. Right down to the elaborate flower arrangements that adorn the rooms, this place has that fancy feeling, while the waitstaff and vibe remain down to earth.
I have come for drinks on both Friday and Saturday nights and during the week for dinner. I have the «Not a Cosmo» which basically IS a cosmo but in a rocks glass. It’s good but dangerous. Speaking from experience it’s a lot stronger than it tastes!
Also visited for dinner on a Wednesday night. My date and I were not that hungry so opted to go with shrimp cocktails and lobster salads. The salads were amazing and the shrimp cocktail was perfect too. I was not a big fan of the grapefruit garnish in the salad, but the lobster was awesome. With that said, I don’t think the waitress was too thrilled we were sitting at her table on a Wednesday night and not ordering more food. She pretty much rolled her eyes when she heard we were passing up steaks and pricey entrees for two low-​dollar salads. Fine, whatever. The plus side was our salads came out in literally two minutes flat I think. I would come again to sit outside. Maybe i will save up my money so I can order some steak next time and not piss off the waitress. Or not haha.

It was horrible experience for me and my husband.
My husband made a reservation and it was my birthday. When we arrived there we had to wait for a while. Host send us to around the bar for waiting. What is the purpose to make reservations and waiting long, plus being pregnant 7 month and standing getting tired .
I told them I can’t wait and stay long time I want to sit. Then weird and creepy looking waiter came .
I order a salmon and I told him I’m pregnant but he bring me not well cooked food. Both of the orders came separate and long time waiting. Then waiter even disappear not even showed up. I end up asking other waitress to bring our bill.
I didn’t make a big deal over there telling my experience with service was sucks, since it was my birthday. You would understand if it was Saturday or Friday to wait long hours but it was Thursday. I was so disappointed and they spoil my birthday mood. I would never come back or never gonna recommend anyone. It’s not worth the price, service or waiting time .
Just horrible

This was our third dinner at M&A and prior experiences were very positive, so I was looking forward to another nice dinner.
This time I did NOT enjoy our table location, we were stuck awkwardly between two other couples on both sides of us. The table was on the southern most wall. The problem was in the fact the couples on either side of us were seated in an «L», so they were facing us. It was difficult not to make constant eye contact with them. The table felt like a communal table, which is fine in a casual atmosphere, not for an intimate dinner.
We could not get out of there fast enough, so we only ordered a minimum amount of food and left ASAP. Also, we don’t plan to return, which is a shame, because we frequent a steakhouse in River North/​Gold Coast about every 7 – 10 days.
The very next night the two of us went to Bavette’s and had a wonderful booth in their downstairs dining room. We lingered & spent a romantic evening together. Bavette’s benefited from our tab of $ 300 & our wonderful server Ben was left with $ 60. Win/​win/​win.

Just had dinner here on Saturday night and it’s safe to say it was one of the best dining experiences we’ve had so far.
The ambiance is great, the staff is nice and welcoming, and the food. Ohhhhh man the food.
Started off with complimentary martini, radishes with ash butter, and these amazing little cheese crusted crackers. Followed that up with some fresh and hot sourdough with a little more butter (never too much butter) and the wedge. If you don’t get anything else off the starters menu but this? You’ll be happy. The blue cheese and the thick cuts of pork belly meld such a wonderful flavor that you need to experience for yourself and it was big enough to split between two.
For dinner, we both had the petite filets which were cooked to perfection, a little of the King crab oscar, béarnaise, and some au poivre for a flavorful addition. For sides, smokey almond asparagus, the BEST baked and loaded potatoes we’ve ever had, and of course the always trusty shoestring fries.
The experience as a whole was off the charts. If you read a negative review of this place it must have been an off day because from the moment we walked in we felt welcomed and cared for.
Give this place a shot and you won’t be disappointed, it’s now absolutely one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago.
PS — There’s a photo booth on the way in/​out

Brought my husband here for a birthday dinner and what a great choice. We got the «I don’t give a @*#%!» It was AMAZING! I loved the pasta, fries, wedge salad (so delish) and steak. The seafood tower was pretty good although it got cold really fast. The portions were huge-​we actually took some to go!
Beautiful ambiance although I was a little disappointed upon arrival as the main dining room was rented out for a private event and I wasn’t made aware. I specifically requested to be in there so I should’ve been told well in advance. It was loud but we got the corner table so we were able to have a semi private conversation.
Was it pricey? Yes! But was it worth it? YES!

One word. WOW. I’ve eaten at dozens of top steakhouses all around the country. This place is definitely in the top 5 when it comes to food, ambiance, and service. My first night in Chicago, the über driver highly recommended this place. Then I heard about it again the next day from a different source. When I first walked in I didn’t realize there was a bar on the first level and the restaurant is upstairs. I grabbed a drink at the first level bar and made my way up the elevator. When walking into the main restaurant, I was impressed with the elegant and classy environment. It felt upscale, modern, and sexy. They were able to accommodate our table for two that night as a walk in.
Our server was magnificent. He started the experience by saying ‘here there are two things we love, eating and drinking’. I thought ‘what a coincidence, I do too!’ He started us off with a freshly shaken complimentary cocktail that was really refreshing as an apéritif.
Things I ordered: king crab salad, surf and turf, and baked loaded potatoes.
The king crab salad… I want to eat this everyday. Literally everyday. It was hands down one of the best salads I’ve ever had. Generous portions of crab with a lovely vinaigrette on fresh greens.
Surf and turf… quality cut of meat and perfectly prepared lobster. Absolutely delectable. I was beyond stuffed and I did not want to stop eating.
Baked loaded mashed potatoes… Their version comes with layers of short rib… You heard right… Short rib in potatoes… topped with fried onion strings… Creamy. Luscious. Win.
Best meal I had in Chicago.

This is the steakhouse one would design if the direction is «design a steakhouse that women would love to visit for a girls’ night, but would also attract men».
Beautiful décor, really well prepared food, nice cocktails and excellent service made for a fun night out.
The upstairs bar was pretty quiet, easy to grab a table for 5 for drinks early in the night (around 5:30 on a Friday). But by 8 or so it was definitely pretty busy in the bar area.
Steaks were perfectly cooked and seasoned and the sides we tried were great (asparagus, whipped potatoes, wild mushrooms). The deserts were good, not amazing.
M&A will be at the top of my list for a ladies steak night out!

When I graduated from med school, I celebrated at RPM steakhouse. It was amazing. When I matched into my dream residency program, I decided to celebrate a la steak once again and try out the hot and trendy Maple and Ash.
First things first, this place is beautiful. There is no denying that you’ll feel like you must be doing something right in your life and that you’re a super star. It’d be great for those who want a romantic dinner or a trendy group dining experience. It’s intimate and cozy without feeling too romantic or stuffy. For that alone, you can somewhat justify the hefty price tag.
However, when it comes to the food that’s where there’s a disconnect.
Food:
— shrimp — this was actually really great. they were all big and juicy. paired well with the sauces. set the standard for the night…
— creamed spinach — good, pretty standard though.
— roasted chicken — it was neither great or bad.
— ribeye — sadly, this is where i was most disappointed. we asked for medium rare and it was overcooked and just tasted tough.
— grilled salmon — i’ve been loving salmon but for whatever reason, it just wasn’t hitting the spot at the restaurant. perhaps a little too overcooked and dry
all in all, I think this restaurant sets you up for a big let down given it is such a beautiful space and Chicago is known for great steakhouses. I honestly don’t have a good recollection of the experience and it was mostly because it wasn’t memorable. Although I love to have an excuse to boug out for an evening, for such a big milestone in my life AND a very big pricetag I do have to admit I was pretty disappointed with the experience. I’m torn between 2 and 3 stars but since I did appreciate the ambiance and décor, I’ll round up to 3.

Delicious new steakhouse! Had an amazing dinner with my boyfriend in the Atrium Room, which is the room upstairs with an amazing light fixture and natural light flowing into the room. There was also a large candle stick on our table, which is hard to find nowadays.
The meal started with a complimentary martini with vermouth, gin, and orange bitters. The martini was chilled and refreshing. We then got a plate of complimentary radishes with sea salt and butter. The radishes were crispy and a great palate cleanser.
To start off our meal, we had tasty prime beef meatballs that paired perfectly with garlic bread and came with juicy tomato sauce. As entrees, I got the ricotta agnolotti with truffle and trumpet mushrooms. The agnolotti melted in my mouth was the perfect portion size for something not too heavy. My boyfriend had the surf & turf, which came with a half lobster, 6 oz. filet mignon and truffle potatoes. The meat was all cooked perfectly and very filling.
We ended the night with the sundae service, which gave us each three scoops of ice cream (1 chocolate, 1 vanilla, and 1 strawberry) and all the toppings we could want! The toppings included hot fudge, caramel sauce, sprinkles, oreos, macadamia nuts, and many more! It brought back childhood memories with every bite!
Overall, great service, great food, and unique twist on a steakhouse!

Ambiance ***** quality and strength of the cocktails ***** food *****
This place is amazing. You can probably snag a spot in the bar/​lounge if you have a small enough party so worth coming in for a drink even without a reservation. Everyone is dressed to impressed so don’t plan on showing up after work. Favorites were the seafood baller tower and the agnolotti with shaved truffles. Perfectly cooked steaks too. It is pricey but worth every penny!

Having been back a couple of times now, I finally had a chance to eat in the «Atrium Room» which is the room upstairs with the amazing light fixture that looks like a string of pearls.
Our table was perfect for two and Jim, the owner, made sure that we had everything to make our evening perfect.
We had some fresh oysters to start along with the charred octopus. The owner then sent over the most amazing dish! It was a homemade ricotta agnolotti and came with fresh shaved truffles over the top. The scent alone was indulgent but the taste? Oh that taste is beckoning me to return.
Our steaks were perfectly prepared. I had my fav the NY strip and my friend went with the bone in cowgirl. Really lovely. And know if you order one of those loaded baked spuds, you could probably share given the size of those things!
The upstairs bar area has quickly turned into one of Chicago’s places to «see and be seen». But the bartenders take it all in stride, pouring some amazing drinks and watching the crowd maneuver.
Maple and Ash isn’t named for the street it is on (although it is on Maple), but for the types of wood that they use to cook the steaks on. I don’t care what they call it as long as it keeps serving amazing food and drink in a beautiful setting.

The boyfriend and I went to maple and ash last night for an early dinner and drinks. We ate at the bar downstairs and fell in love. I wish I could pack up maple and ash and bring it home to Boston with me.
The décor was gorgeous. Very chic and unpretentious.
My boyfriend got the burger and loved it. He added bacon and it was so thick and tasty. The fries were scrumptious and came with some sort of yummy dipping mayo. He also ordered a couple of the «not a Cosmo» drinks. He liked them. They were too sweet and orangey for me. They were served on the rocks.
I got a couple pickies. I got the burrata with prosciutto. It was tasty and a big portion. The bartender (who was awesome) suggested the meatballs which were the best I have ever had. They were served with garlic bread and were very filling. I had him make a couple gin drinks and they were perfect.
A well deserved 5 stars!

I’ve been wanting to try Maple and Ash as I live nearby. Apparently the main restaurant upstairs does not serve lunch but, to our surprise and delight, they have a charming little speak easy style bar area on the street level that can sit 15+ with some tables and booths that seat another 25 – 30 people.
The staff was friendly and attentive.
That said, despite it not being terribly busy, it took a quite a bit longer than unusual for our food to arrive. My colleague and both thought the food was mediocre and overpriced for the quality, portion and presentation and we both eat out at these kinds of business/​steak places a lot for work.
Our Grilled Cheese looked and tasted like two pieces of toasted Wonder Bread with thin layer s of American Cheese inside. The French Onion Soup looked good and tasted Ok but in my opinion was watery compared to some of the delicious French Onion soups served at the numerous French bistros in our area. The Chicken parmesan was not good at all. It looked like McDonald’s sesame quarter pounder bun with a chicken breast and a dab of red sauce.
M&A is new to the neighborhood and in fairness I’ve yet to try the main dining room, which I still plan to do though the lunch experience can be off putting. There are some great restaurants in the neighborhood and M&A needs to have their A game going at all times as you know the other best in class places do.
The lunch spot is a nice addition to the neighborhood, they just need to get it right, which I’m sure they will do.

I mean… I just cannot not give this place 5 stars.
Yes, its in Viagara Triangle
Yes, its another steakhouse in Chicago
Yes, its FUCKING amazing… this time. The space I LOVE! The food is fantastic. The service was on point.
Brian reached out to me to come back in for the old college try again… and I couldn’t resist because last time the food was so good. He set up everything for us. We ate with the early bird special because it was the only time we had available.
The service was exceptional. Sarah & Belinda took excellent care of us.
The food was amazing! I LOVE the roast on the seafood. Oysters were so buttery, rich & creamy. Wedge salad might be the best salad I’ve ever had. And I’m going to say it… this is the best steak in Chicago. Agnolotti is homemade and really great as well.
I hope they stay up on the service aspect because this place could be really great!

A MUST DO! This is sexy, beautiful, and classy restaurant in Chicago and if you are looking to dine in the Gold Coast area and have a good piece of Steak, vibe, and a crazy sundae treat you can’t pass up– come here. Bring a romantic date, make reservations as much ahead of time as you can, or do a nice and intimate group dinner. Forget STK, Gilt Bar, or Fig and Olive– this restaurant exceeds all of that.
Came in with reservations at 6:30 on a Saturday night and went with my girlfriend. 2 – 3 hostesses are standing right as soon as you enter and if you have reservations you take an elevator up. Otherwise– you can hang out in the speak easy style bar on the first floor. As soon as you exit off the elevators you see a beautiful lounge chairs and seats with people enjoying their glasses of wine and cocktails while possibly waiting for their reservation or just hanging out. The dinning rooms, the views of the kitchen, to the dim light settings, to the music that has this jazzy electronic feel, gets you very excited to dine. If I were to come back– I would definitely request to sit in the middle of the atrium and you will need to book at least 4 people or more to sit there.
Our waiter was awesome. Patient, charismatic, and professional– this steak house was nice to have a bit of ‘friendly’ feel that came along with excellent service. We took time looking and picking from an excellent cocktail list. I chose the ‘Pirate’ one and it was great to have a cocktail where you can taste the amount of alcohol in it but it had the sweetness from the Plum making it a nice slow drink that lasted till the end of 3 entrees. We also got a ‘tasting’ of a martini that they give complimentary and it was a nice and different touch. You get marinated olives and radishes on the table, along with two warm pieces of bread.
We ordered:
–Shrimp: Large pieces marinated lightly, with flaky and fresh breadcrumbs.
–Filet Mignon (6 oz) to share, with bernaise sauce: Charred perfectly, tender, juicy, perfect
–Loaded Potatoes: Short Rib, with truffle, and potatoes, and a side worth it.
–Sundae BAR: 19 bucks, 4 bucks for an extra bowl. Homemade ice cream– very soft serve, not to sweet, perfect creaminess– accompanied toppings such as bananas, caramel and chocolate sauce, chocolate sprinkles, berries, and so much more. Just check out the picture!
LOVED all the presentation of the dishes– from the little jars, to the personalized plates. It’s like a steak house amped up to its own personality and dishes you can’t find anywhere else. Maple and Ash is one of a kind and I can’t wait to return.

How have I not been here yet? Love this place. Let me start by saying if you are looking for a Michelin star restaurant or a quiet low maintanence evening or a place to take the kids/​your grandparents… this is not it. This is more a fun, trendy, higher end place to have very good food with a group of friends, the bigger the better.
Just like every other restaurant catering to similar demographics, the service is so/​so, the restaurant is gorgeous, the place is packed, and you need a reservation or you probably won’t be very happy. I would put this on caliber with stk or fig and olive. But this is leading the pack right now
Loved the cowgirl steak and king crab salad. I could eat that salad every day. The seafood platter is served warm… nice change. Everyone’s favorite item was the dinner rolls. Idk if it’s because I stay away from carbs, but to die for. And the ricotta agnolotti was on point if you’re into that whole cheese pasta thing.
They have a nice bar area but I wouldn’t recommend going unless it’s early or late bc its packed. Hope you have as good of a time as I did.

My wife and I went to Maple & Ash for our 15^th anniversary dinner. We’d been wanting to go since it was opened, and we took advantage of our parents being in town and watching out babe. Parents’ night out – woot!
We were greeted by very kind hosts, as soon as we walked in. The downstairs bar was bustling on a Friday night, and it was a very swanky, lively vibe.
We took the elevator upstairs to the restaurant, and were greeted by a very dimly lit, sexy space – complete with real candelabras! It’s definitely date night material, though the crowd was a little more raucous than your typical fine-​dining experience. There were plenty of groups there, too.
Once seated, we asked the waiter – who was one of three waiting on us throughout the evening – for a cocktail. We said what we liked, and he said he’d bring us something. He later showed up with two different drinks, which we appreciated, as we could each try something different. Though, he never explained what they were or what was in them. (He was in training.)
They gave everyone an apertif as an amuse bouche – a very light martini, which was nice.
We had already game-​planned our order, and were ready quickly. We got:
radishes and butter (on the house): such a delicious, small bite
wedge salad: one of the best I’ve had!
salmon tartare: also delicious, served with house-​made crème fraîche
smaller version of the roasted seafood tower: I’m a seafood tower freak and have had almost every one in the city! When I saw that M&A serves theirs wood-​roasted, with garlic butter, I was super excited. My wife and I both thought it was DELICIOUS and plentiful. We usually «go big or go home,» and almost ordered the larger version, but I’m glad we didn’t. This easily could have fed 4 people, and we were stuffed afterwards. The oysters weren’t our favorite, but everything else, especially the clams and crab, were amazing.
loaded potato: By the time we were done with the seafood tower, we were so full, that we ate only a bite of our entrees and took the rest to go. This potato dish is very different than you might expect. It’s a bowl of mashed potatoes, topped with cheese, onions, and a truffle jus. Super decadent! Though, it was a bit too rich for my taste, and I like rich. The cheese was very thick and created a nearly impenetrable crust over the potatoes. Very tough to eat.
broccolini: standard side of greens, but god
aged ribeye: DELICIOUS! perfectly cooked, smokey wood flavor, tender, seasoned appropriately
bone marrow topper: what else could you want to top meat with – but more meat stuffs?! really good
key lime pavlova: light, refreshing, and very yummy
chocolate cake: not the almost-​too-​dark-​and-​dense chocolate cake you’d usually see on fine dining menus – fluffy, chocolatey, and served with ice cream on top
If we had a larger group, we definitely would have ordered the ice cream sundae.
While pricey, we got a lot of food for the money we spent, and it was a delicious, satisfying, and romantic meal. Would go back for sure!

From the moment I walked in I felt like I walked into a scene of The Great Gatsby. Everyone was dressed in classy formal attire. The first floor had a bar area with a louder ambience. The lighting was fairly dim, music was playing & everyone was chatting away with excitement.
To get to the second floor you have to access the elevators in the back. Once the elevators opened there was a formal set up for you to drop off your coat. Then you proceed to your right to be attended to by the host or hostess.
We had a reservation at 8pm on a Saturday for four people. Two of us got there at 8pm & we were told to wait at the second floor lounge for 20ish minutes for the table or until our party came, etc. We went by the lounge area, which in a sense had a more formal tone to it, when compared to the first floor. In the lounge there was a full service bar, soft volumed DJ, windows facing the formal dining room and some cozy couches for seating.
Our wait time luckily got cut in half and we were seated by the Host & one of the Owners.
Everyone at the table gets their own sample of a martini, which was a nice touch (even though I do not drink alcohol).
The dining room spelled class all over it. The dim lighting made it more intimate. It definitely is a great place to entertain a good group or special someone.
Our waiter was very kind, polite, welcoming and knowledgable of the menu.
From what I can remember, we ordered:
–Prime beef meatballs
–Shrimp de Jongh
–Tenderloin steak tartare
-& some amazing truffle pasta thing!
–6oz filet mignon — medium well
& some other fish and steak entries.
Everything was del-​lish & perfectly cooked.
I love how this new restaurant has its own unique vibe and ambience separate from it’s local competitors: Tavern, Gibsons & Carmines.
Definitely recommend!