Tru or Everest?

My wife and I have a collection of LEYE gift cards, accumulated over the past couple of months and are thinking of using them all at once and trying either Tru or Everest (we have not been to either previously). The problem now though is which to choose. I understand the styles of cuisine are very different at each restaurant and am leaning towards the Mediterranean influences at Tru over Everest's French, but am hoping I can get some good honest comparisons. We are not big wine drinkers, so the food and atmospheres are really what we could use some advice on.

I found Everest to be something of a disappointment, from the standpoint of service and cuisine, but the atmosphere is lovely -- the view of the city is wonderful (it's on the 40th floor) and the room is very elegant. And do know that, while it's French, it's Alsatian, so it leans pretty heavily toward the German. In fact, the creamy sauerkraut soup was the best think I ate there. However, I will say that, while I know a lot of other people who have been disappointed by Everest, I also know that a lot of people love it, so perhaps it's just uneven. (And just so you know, it wasn't bad, it's just that it has so oftern been voted "best in Chicago," my expectations were high. Because it wasn't.) But the setting is flawless.

At Tru, I found the food to be better, though I'm not a big fan of Gale Gand's desserts. The service was flawless, but the setting is a bit austere, if what you're looking for is atmosphere.

Here's a recent thread on Tru: http://www.lthforum.com/bb/viewtopic.ph ... hlight=tru

Though I've seen many posters say that Everest is their favorite restaurant, I've never seen a discussion of why. But at least I know some serious eaters had a more impressive time than I did. If you do pick Everest, be advised that it's a bit of a trick to get in -- if you park there, the entrance is on the side of the building opposite the street address, and then it takes three elevators (only two, if you come in at street level) to get to the restaurant.

I do think that you'll have a pretty good time either place. And as for atmopshere, I interpret that to mean romantic and European, but if you like techno-hip, Tru might have a better atmosphere. Enjoy whichever you pick.

Too add to Cynthia's post, here's a nice post about Everest.

Best,
Michael

Even though I Tru has slipped a bit recently, I would still prefer to go there over Everest. While Everest is quite good, the style of cooking just doesn't resonate with me as much as Tru. Also, the service at Tru is just about as close to perfection as a restaurant can achieve. I did not think the same of Everest (which doesn't mean the service was bad, it just wasn't as good as Tru. In fact probably the only place in the city with service as good or better than Tru is Alinea).

The consultant in me really wants to make some sort of decision matrix for all of the high-end restaurants in Chicago.

Or maybe a summary of head to head match-ups

Tru vs Everest - Tru
Tru vs Alinea - Alinea
Charlie Trotter's vs Tru - Tru
Alinea vs Moto - Alinea
Tru vs Avenues - Avenues
Everest vs Avenues - Avenues
Spiaggia vs Everest - Everest
etc...

Something like that. Maybe it could even go in your wallet.

I love the decision card idea. Very clever.

I checked the thread on Everest, and it almost makes me want to give the restaurant a second chance. The one evening we had there borderd on being a disaster. And I was amused to read the commentary on Alpana Singh, since she was part of what we didn't like about the restaurant. (She almost bullied one of my friends out of the wine she wanted, promised she'd replace it if she didn't just love the wine she insisted on, and then vanished for the rest of the night, not returning either to check on her recommendation or to find out about any of us who wanted wines with later courses -- and there were 12 of us at two tables, so it's not like we just got lost in a corner.) She offered the least pleasant interaction with a sommelier I've ever experienced at a top restaurant -- though I don't doubt that her knowledge is impressive.

We also had several other problems, from incorrect orders to just so-so dishes to the waiter dropping an open bottle of red wine upside down into my friend's purse, soaking everything -- and it wasn't even her wine. She'd ordered white. The amuse bouche was celestial, the first course was excellent, and everything that followed was okay -- good, but not best of class. However, while a chef friend of mine said he had a rapidly growing list of people who had been disappointed by Everest, perhaps it is worth trying again. We'll see. With so many other reliable choices, one hesitates to spend lots of money on a second chance.

jesteinf wrote:Or maybe a summary of head to head match-ups

Tru vs Everest - Tru
Tru vs Alinea - Alinea
Charlie Trotter's vs Tru - Tru
Alinea vs Moto - Alinea
Tru vs Avenues - Avenues
Everest vs Avenues - Avenues
Spiaggia vs Everest - Everest

The obvious missing comparison is Avenues vs Alinea. I vote for Alinea, although I await with undisguised anticipation and joy the rumored announcement of Chef GEB's free-standing restaurant, which announcement I hope will be on LTHforum.

For the record, I do not accept the outcome of the death match between Iron Chefs Trotter and Tramonto.

Tru vs. Everest would be pretty much a draw.

I vote for Everest. When I was there a couple of years ago, it was one of the very best meals I've ever had, one of those meals where every bite of every dish screams YUMMMMM!!!! And I just haven't gotten that same feeling from the other places mentioned above (although they're still all very good, obviously). It had nothing to do with the view (which was very nice also, but as a foodie, food trumps view every time). The food was just superb in every way, without trying to be good just by virtue of being different.

And the service was not just excellent (efficient and friendly), but exquisite. I still remember two occurrences in which that manifested itself. At the next table sat a couple of adults with a young girl approximately five years old. Their waiter walked over and addressed the girl, ever so sweetly without the slightest note of condescension, "I noticed that the sun is in your eyes. Would you like me to lower the blinds on that side of the room?" Also, as is my habit, I gave the wedge of lemon that came with my iced tea to one of my companions to put in her glass of water. When her glass ran low, the waiter brought her a replacement - with a new wedge of lemon, without any prompting. So these are two examples in which their service was unparalleled in my experience.

One other advantage that Everest has over the other places mentioned is that it's somewhat less expensive, in my experience. Not that you necessarily care, at this level of dining, but it's nice to know nonetheless.

What a wonderful dilemma to have!

I've been to both Everest and Tru several times, and in my experience, Everest is the more consistent restaurant for food quality. Tru gets points for style and presentation, so it may be an easier restaurant to appreciate for a special occasion. At either restaurant, you are sure to have a memorable meal. Enjoy!

Does anyone have any updated opinions on this? I've narrowed it down to Everest, Tru, or Avenues for a romantic dinner.

I've never been to any of them.

For romance I would select Everest. If you get tired of looking at each other there is always the view.

I haven't been to Avenues since the chef transition, but perhaps it remains as good as it had been (reports are strong).

Thanks. That's my inclination as well. I just put down my $50 reservation deposit.

teatpuller wrote:Thanks. That's my inclination as well. I just put down my $50 reservation deposit.

You won't be dissapointed. My experience at Everest (even though I'm slightly biased because the Chef is the husband of my previous chef) was amazing. I can't say it's 'better' than Tru because it's totally different...but for a great romantic dinner I'd lean towards Everest. You can't beat the view and the main dinning hall.

I'd think about Nomi over Everest or Tru frankly.

It terms of fun - I think Tru is more fun, still fancy but less sober.

I'd think about Nomi over Everest or Tru frankly.

And just think of the fun when you try to pay for it with your LEYE gift cards!

I would go with Avenues over anything else mentioned here. They're at a much higher level than either Tru or Everest right now.

Well, my wife and I had a fabulous dinner at Everest on Saturday Night. A couple of thoughts...

1. We got there early (5:30) which assured us a table by the window. A table without a view would not be nearly as nice. It's actually much smaller place than I expected with about 20 tables (?). If you make reservations discuss with them how/when you can get a table on the lower level, preferably by the window.
2. The service was outstanding - so well that I can't imagine how anything could go wrong.
3. The sommelier was very pleasant - even guiding us toward wines cheaper than my stated price range. We had a very nice Tokay pinot gris ($89).
4. We had the 10-course degustation ($120), which was outstanding. Not one clunker in the lot. The highlight was a verbena-thyme sorbet creation that my description could not do justice, so I won't try. Let's just say that I could not stop laughing because it was such a pleasant sensation in my mouth.
5. I chose Everest in part because I'm a little afraid these "old school" places might be an endangered species and I wanted to go there before it was gone. Glad I did.
6. $500 dinners are something we do maybe every couple of years. Everest was everything I had hoped for and more. It was worth every penny.

Anyone been to Everest recently? I have never been. We have plans to go, and I wanted to hear if anyone has any thoughts, suggestions regarding the restaurant.

Thank you!

My wife and I went to Everest in the summer for our anniversary and had a wonderful meal. The view is incredible, the service was great and we were thrilled because they have the opportunity for a vegetarian and a regular tasting menu (it can be hard to fine true fine dining experiences that can accommodate my vegetarian diet while not short-changing her more omnivorous one). The room feels a little dated, but I would definitely recommend the experience.

I can't speak to the specifics of the food anymore because it's been almost five months and the menu is quite different at this point but I definitely thought it was a worthy place for such a special occasion.

Everest is decidedly unhip, but the food is fabulous. Can't go wrong either way. People watching is better at Tru.