Latest news with #Tomaska
Eater
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Eater
Indulge in Caviar, Filet Mignon, and Bubbles at This Posh New Downtown Terrace
The folks from Fifty/50 Restaurant Group dropped a hefty sum of money on their new steakhouse, and as lush as the interiors of the Alston, there are a few months (or weeks) out of the year when patio dining can feel comfortable in Chicago. Leveraging its sweet Gold Coast location near the corner of Chicago Avenue and State Street, the Alston recently debuted a rare Downtown Chicago terrace patio. The patio wraps along State Street with a full view of the 149-year-old Holy Name Cathedral as the restaurant sits on the third floor of One Chicago, the luxurious tower that cost about $850 million to build. There aren't too many terrace patios in downtown, so the Alston had an opportunity. The result is a 100-guest heated space built to withstand Chicago's falls and winters. Though ownership sees the terrace as more of a place for a cocktail or glass of wine, they're not about to squander Jenner Tomaska's talents. Tomaska is behind Michelin-starred Esme and developed the Alston's menu. He's created a special menu exclusive to the patio that leans on seafood with platters of chilled oysters, razor clams, and prawns. There's caviar service, salads, and escargot service with herbed butter and puff pastry. For those envious of the full menu indoors, they can enjoy a filet mignon Bordelaise or a lobster tourte. Bubbles factor large with a nice Champagne selection. Patio pounders are fun, even in the Gold Coast, so expect a refined selection of cocktails made for outdoor imbibing, like the 'Josephine's 75' mixed with vodka and grapefruit cordial. What's the song of the summer? The Alston is offering 'Chanel No. 5' with cucumber and yuzu. There's also a library of rare whiskies for those into brown water. While the Terrace will be open seven days a week, it will be closed on Monday, July 21, and Tuesday, July 22. Check out the photos below. The Terrace at The Alston, 750 N. State Street, open 4 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Sunday through Thursday; 4 p.m. to 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Eater Chicago All your essential food and restaurant intel delivered to you Email (required) Sign Up By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Notice . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. DJs and and live music might be in the works eventually. This is a heated space to withstand cold temps. A special menu is available on the Terrace. The space has room for 100 and is available for private events. The space is more conducive to drinking, but chef Jenner Tomaska has prepared a special menu. Seafood towers are a steakhouse classic. Chilled seafood, like oysters, are a patio pleaser. Yes, there's a burger on the menu. Lobster tourte
Eater
29-05-2025
- Business
- Eater
Inside Gold Coast's Over-The-Top New Steakhouse Perched in a Downtown Skyscraper
In recent times, Chicago has been once again embracing its meatpacking history with a rush of new steakhouse openings. Trend pieces are no doubt on their way about the allure of comfort food and a need to return to the simple life. However, that's not the formula deployed at the Alston, an opulent steakhouse that debuts on Friday, May 30, on the third floor of the 971-foot-tall One Chicago, a $750 million skyscraper built in 2022. This is the same building that houses Gold Coast's Whole Foods. The food's from Jenner Tomaska, the James Beard Award finalist behind Esme in Lincoln Park. Tomaska is showing discipline at Alston, embracing his new role in developing a steakhouse menu that can appeal to the masses without sacrificing his avant-garde style that brought Esme a Michelin Star. The hope is that Tomaksa can incorporate elements of fine dining, including superior service, quality ingredients, and cheffy techniques, to show Chicago that a great steakhouse is about more than just keeping the juices in the chops. Tableside preparations include a bread cart and a duck press with the poultry carved in front of diners. The Alston is supposed to represent Midwestern steakhouses crossed with nouvelle French cuisine. The meat is prime and dry-aged, cooked over charcoal. Wagyu comes from American, Japanese, and Aussie sources. They range from $55 for a six-ounce dry-aged filet to $260 for a 16-ounce, 60-day dry-aged American wagyu chop, called the S.W. Chairman's Cut. That comes with a butter infused with Red Boat Vietnamese fish sauce. An arsenal of sauces is available to accent the selections. A rack of Dover sole is a tribute to Esme's tasting menu and its unique showstopper. Salt-baked trout is also available. A selection of pastas and salads should sate vegetarians. A Members Tower costs $300 and comes with a dozen oysters, four spot prawns, three razor clams, two scallops, a half-pound of King crab, and a whole cold water lobster. Fifty/50 Restaurant Group, which also runs Kindling inside the Willis Tower, continues its downtown push. Visitors will find an assortment of textures used throughout the space. Don't blink, your eyes aren't deceiving you — the art on the ceiling of the main dining room changes. There's a digital projection screen that can stream a variety of art. It's a way Tomaska can bring a touch of Esme to the world of beef. There's a wine cellar, with selections curated by Charlie Trotter's alum Ken Frederickson, and tons of space for private events. A terrace with beautiful views of downtown Chicago will debut later this summer. Management hopes the outdoor seating will be more cocktail-focused, and there are plans for live music. There's also a members-only club which is downright intimate compared to the main dining room. That will come with a special menu. Walk through the space below and check out select dishes in the photos below. The Alston , 750 N. State Street, third floor, opening on Friday, May 30, reservations via OpenTable . Sign up for our newsletter. Pommes Boulangères au gratin
