Achatz Speakeasy Reveals Name and Menu

The interior of the new bar, via Achatz's twitter.

Earlier this week, we mentioned Grant Achatz's new super hard-to-get-into bar, underneath the Aviary. With only 14 seats, and entry by invitation or reservation only, we opined that we'd probably never get in. Our commenters mostly said "Good riddance." Time Out Chicago now has the entire menu, and while we still think we'll never get in, now we're a little bit sad about it.

The bar, which (as some had speculated based on the sign) is called The Office, has a sparse but expensive food menu. It includes Caviar ($95/oz), Foie Gras ($65), Beef Tartare ($50) and other traditional-sounding dishes which are meant for sharing. David Tamarkin is most excited about the Ice Cream sundae ($25 for 2), and we have to admit we share in the excitement.

Drinks are all $20 - and this is where we get a little bit less excited. As we ranted a long, long time ago, while the Violet Hour is making amazing drinks at $12, we are reluctant to buy into the constant upward price creep of Chicago cocktails. $14, maybe. But $20? It also doesn't help that ING, next door, is also doing interesting molecular gastronomy cocktails - and they are only charging $10-$15. On the other hand, the drinks do look interesting and tasty. They don't have names on the menu, but if you're a cocktail geek, reading the list will make you very, very interested. The whole menu is online at Time Out.

Contact the author of this article or email tips@chicagoist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By Anthony Todd in Food on June 24, 2011 9:30 AM

Comments [rss]

BlueFairlane

This is why the terrorists hate us. It also is why I hate us.

tomdarch

There's a tiny slice of the market in our current Gilded Age that will pay essentially anything for a given product or service, and there are a few businesses out there who cater to their non-price-sensitivity. It's insane to spend $1.7 million on any car, but Bugati is happy to sell 50 or 60 Veyrons a year to the absurdly wealthy around the world. If anything, Grant and Nick could probably set these prices several times higher if they felt like it. (Not that it's a good idea, but they could...)

erik75

I understand paying large sums for experiences and items. Really well, I'm a photographer for 20 years. I've got a camera body that's $2500 which isn't even the upper limit for that. Most people can't see spending that for a camera when they think the $200 one does the same thing. I've got the experience to use it tho. When someone starts telling me I spent too much $$ I just nod and shake my head ignoring them. And I enjoy really expensive craft beer, there's something that has gotten ridiculous lately. Even a Bugatti can sit and look nice.

A $65 terrine of foie gras tho seriously, I've had foie gras at restaurants, was probably $15 at the most for a portion. And I enjoyed it. Something tells me tho that the people who would pay for this couldn't tell the difference between good and *%$# thats some great foie gras.Maybe I'm wrong here (I'm sure someone will tell me) but with all his supposed talent, I think Achatz has a responsibility to push food in new and interesting directions, not fleece customers. And he's done that, but then there's this.

I'm sure he's tired about hearing about his "responsibilities" as a chef, but if you're going to be of his caliber (and he enjoys the perks of that be sure) then don't do something like this. This whole speakeasy idea seems like one of those things a chef would have for his friends and fellow chefs to enjoy, which would be fine. Except he decided to do this, then go "Look at me! Look at my great place! But you can't come in. Hey look at me!"

Who knows, maybe this is his method of financing a new restaurant. It's the Kickstarter of the overpriced foodie world! Yea thats it. :)

slatsg

To me this is great. It siphons off 14 douchebags from other normal places where I might have to deal with them.

Jeff

14 down, tens of thousands to go.

Navin_Johnson

Yeah obviously there's a difference in paying a high premium for quality or precision than simply paying for exclusivity itself, or simple "status-seeking". Not that I don't think they could actually put $20 of labor and product into some kind of avant garde cocktail, but this is more about being both wealthy and "special" enough to pay for the golden ticket.

reilly3

A friend of mine lives a couple doors down from Alinea, and has seen, on a few occasions, Achatz or other Alinea chefs clipping grass from a patch around the corner...where my friend's dog, and other neighborhood dogs, regularly pee. So, he lives a few yards from one of "The Best Restaurants In The World" and cannot, for obvious reasons, bring himself to ever go there.

Anders Carlson

I can't wait till Chicago stops trying to be NYC.

Navin_Johnson

Should have called it "The Pig-Pen".

erik75

If I were able to get into the place, if I had a complaint would I have to file a TPS report in triplicate?

ChicagoD

Just to reiterate, my speakeasy is much more cost-effective and only slightly more exclusive.

erik75

Don't get me wrong, I like good food, I can enjoy expensive good food. I've not been to Aviary and wouldn't go, because it doesn't appear to be my type of place, seems the "show" is more important than the food. But whatever, people want to spend the money on it good for them. But $65 for a foie gras terrine? Sharing or not, c'mon whats the size of this thing? A little bit of foie gras goes a reaaaalllllly long way. How big is it, like a foot long Subway sandwich? Should I bring 15 or 20 of my closest friends?

I think I know why he called it "The Office." It appears that, like the tv show, any thing Achatz touches has more hype than substance and it all has officially jumped the shark.

Renita Marjan

Sorry, a $25 ice cream sundae? Are you freaking kidding me? And it doesn't even give me any details. Is this milk from wagyu cows hand-milked by virgins riding unicorns? Is the chocolate from the rarest cocoa nibs on earth? Sheesh. I'll just go to Oberweis.