Anyone had a Soirée recently?

I'll probably be visiting this relatively new place in Lincoln Square - in the old She She space - Friday night. Anyone tried it yet; anything to report?

Soiree Bar and Restaurant
4539 N. Lincoln Ave.
Chicago, IL

I haven't been there, but I walked by yesterday to check out the menu and they had a number of very interesting items listed. I'm excited to hear what you have to say. I'm hoping this will be a good upscale addition to Lincoln Square.

A few quick impressions:

It's the same long, narrow She She space - even down to a bit of leftover leopard-skin prints on at least some of the chairs.

Service at this still-young restaurant was attentive and informed. Our waitperson, who looked like couldn't have been a day over 14 years old, was able to discuss somewhat knowledgably the offerings on the short but very reasonably-priced wine list. We a Five Mountain Pinot Noir for, I believe, $18, as well as a Chianti in the same price range. A nice martini list, too, although that's not my thing.

We started with a not overly generous, but interestingly spicy mussel appetizer. The kalbi ribs were also a nice touch on the apprtizer list.

My beef tenderloin was a generous portion, cooked just as ordered, presented nicely, although the black truffles described on the menu seemed to be either hiding or well-disguised.

Another in our group had the "Humanely Raised Veal Osso Buco" (does that mean nothing else on the menu was humanely raised? The veal is free-range, but the immature ravioli are cruelly kept in small, tight pens?) I'd say it was a competent, not completely traditional version of this dish, although the veal could have been braised a bit longer for my tastes (too much time playing around in its home on the free range?)

Bottom line, style was contemporary, and the food was both reasonably-priced and pretty good for a mid-range+ restaurant.

Soiree Bar and Restaurant
4539 N. Lincoln Ave.

I tried Soiree for the first time tonight and came away impressed -- enough to want to go back. On route to Soiree, I walked by Brioso and Essence of India, and found both of them packed. I was glad to see this considering the discussions of Lincoln Square restaurants on this site . . . but I agree with those who have recognized that restaurants north of Sunnyside seem to fare considerably better than those south.

In any event, my friend and I entered Soiree to find it packed, with only a table for two available (luckily, we were two). We started with the Soiree salad -- simple presentation of lettuce, walnuts, apples, blue cheese and vinaigrette, if I remember correctly -- which was perhaps ordinary but executed as well as can be. Also tried the kalbi short ribs w/ homemade kim chi and glass noodles . . . also very tasty . . . perhaps a tad to salty but hardly so.

Main courses: Duck w/ lentils, collared greens and maple reduction (I think I've described it accurately) . . . this dish was outstanding. Also had tuna (tea smoked?) with lemongrass and spicy rice-noodle cake . . . also very good . . . although I wish it were served on a plate as opposed to being served in an oversized bowl.

For dessert, we shared a pumpkin cheesecake and a walnut-carrot spice cake. Both were very good, although the walnut-carrot cake was served with perhaps a little too much mascarpone frosting (some would appreciate this). The texture of the pumpkin cheesecake was perhaps a bit too grainy, but the flavor was excellent with a lot of pumpkin flavor and not overwhelmed by the typical spices.

Service was flawless -- very friendly, knowledgable about the menu and attentive. Dinner for two (appetizers, main courses, desserts and a bottle of wine) came to $115 with tax and tip.