NoMi Kitchen

NoMi was a restaurant that was perpetually just off my radar. Back in May, short on ideas as to where to celebrate Mama happy_stomach's birthday, I thought it might be time for a first visit to the Park Hyatt restaurant. It was from trying to make a reservation that I learned about the restaurant's closing, renovation and transformation into the much more casual and less French NoMi Kitchen.

I regret not visiting the old NoMi. With the exception of the sushi and seafood for which the previous restaurant was known, the new menu reads like a lot of menus around town, say, a cross between Sable at the Palomar with some very casual done-up snacks (barbecue chips, for example) and Balsan at the Elysian with some perhaps more refined, yet still very accessible bistro-like fare (such as the token roasted chicken with fingerlings).

With my Whiskey Smash, I had the Prime Beef Tenderloin Tartare.





I hope I just ordered wrong. Both the tartare and fries were way over-salted. The tartare tasted overwhelmingly of caper juice. The fries were not crisp, not soggy and lacked middles. However, the truffle aioli, which I think you have to ask for, was excellent: very truffle-forward and creamy without too much slick. The condiment was the best part of my visit.

The new NoMi didn't strike me as a place for drinking either. I understand that the location affords a pretty view of the Mag Mile. Over this, I'd take the view (and selection) of Sable's gorgeously-stocked bar any day.

I kuhdo'd at Chick-Fil-A.

NoMi Kitchen @ the Park Hyatt
800 N. Michigan Ave.
Chicago, Illinois 60611
312-239-4030

Has anybody else tried to the new version of NoMI? I was strongly considering it for an anniversary dinner, but after reading the above review I'm having strong second thoughts.

Has anybody else tried to the new version of NoMI? I was strongly considering it for an anniversary dinner, but after reading the above review I'm having strong second thoughts.

Good friends actually celebrated an anniversary at the new NoMI on Friday night. Their take - food was good, not great. Service was atrocious for what they paid. Said they sat for close to fifteen minutes before the server even got to their table. When they asked him what he liked on the new menu, his reply was that he hadn't tried anything on the new menu so he couldn't make a recommendation.

Thanks for the head's up. Time to cancel that reservation. Now to choose between Naha (were I've had about 20 great meals) and Aria (where the food is probably not as good but since we had our first date in a bar at that building, there may be reason to go).

Looks like the Hyatt is having a couple issues:

http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2011/07/21/ ... cket-line/

Not a lot of love for NoMi these days, eh? Wanting to try a new place for brunch this past Sunday, a couple friends and I decided to give them a try. I have to say, although our meal was pricey (15 dollars for a bloody mary?!), we enjoyed our food quite a bit.

The view


I had the wonderful
BUTTERMILK FRIED CHICKEN & WAFFLE Burton's maple syrup, sawmill gravy


and a side of the
PORK SAUSAGE HASH

chicken was crunchy and managed to not get soggy under that thick, gravy sauce.

my friend had their
NoMI KITCHEN OMELET Nueske’s ham, mushroom, spinach, petit frère


and a side of their
SEASONAL FRUIT BOWL


And though they did make one hell of a bloody mary, it was a bit daunting to see that 75 dollars of our bill came from 5 of these drinks...


No, not a cheap brunch, but I really enjoyed the chicken and hash so I'd still be back...I would just opt for a glass of OJ instead of a cocktail next time

Ryan LaRoche is stepping down as executive chef of NoMI and Park Hyatt Chicago after five and a half years.

Mr. LaRoche, 36, who earned a Michelin star in 2011 before the fine-dining spot closed for six months and reopened in June 2011 as the more casual NoMI Kitchen, will be executive chef at Park Hyatt Washington and its restaurant, Blue Duck Tavern.

http://www.chicagobusiness.com/article/ ... parts-nomi

BDT is amazing and will be even moreso under his guidance.

incite wrote:Not a lot of love for NoMi these days, eh?

doesn't seem to be, has anyone been recently? I have a company dinner there this weekend, so am curious.

A number of my business team dined at NoMi Kitchen to celebrate a very good year end.

Mrs Willie & I arrived early, so headed out to the open air bar. It was one of the first nice days of spring, so place was packed. We were able to get a table for two. It was 10 mins before we were waited on and another 10 mins for the drinks. Wasn't pleased with that but didn't care too much as we were happy soaking up the sun. I had a Pepper & Pine, a tequila cocktail with pineapple & red pepper flavor, was delicious. Mrs Willie had a Pimm's Cup, again a refreshing cocktail on a beautiful day.

Started with NoMi sushi platter and the 5 cheese board.

5 cheese board mostly consisted of goat and sheeps milk options, there was a cow's milk option. For the quality, I didn't feel I was getting a value.

NoMI Sushi Platter - tuna, yellowtail & scallop sashimi. tuna, salmon, shrimp & eel nigiri. tiger & california maki. Sushi was incredible fresh, standout for me was the scallop sashimi, a huge diver's scallop cut in 1/2, luxurious!

For our main, Mrs Willie & I ordered a shared Roasted Red Snapper entree (besides mains, there are 3 shared entrees on the menu). Snapper came with clams, black mussels, vegetable fricassee, sauce mariniere. Served boneless after roasting, this dish was a stunner, just perfect. While the pieces I had were devoid of bones, Mrs Willie ran into a piece that had dorsal fin bones, so slight dig there on prep.

A co-worker did offer me a piece of their entree, the Niman Ranch Heritage Pork Chop (bone in) w/charred onion, baby carrot, mustard seed sauce. Chop was cooked perfectly and full of flavor. I'm sure I would have been pleased had I ordered it, that said, the snapper was sublime.

Various sides were passed around, fried kale w/bacon, Yukon gold potato puree w/churned butter, sauteed forest mushrooms w/baby spinach, shallot, garlic.
Both the kale and potato puree were fantastic. I'm a mushroom fanatic but something was off with the mushroom side, almost like some soap had made it into the dish somehow.

A delicious wine list, then again, when paying well north of $100 a bottle, I expect the wine to be great.

Service had some jerky moments, I'm sure some of that was our group's fault as there were stragglers. When on, service was quite good.

Based on the snapper alone, Mrs Willie & I are sure to return to NoMi.

Dinner menu: http://www.hyatt.com/corporate/restaura ... menus.html
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