Ajasteak: 5 Stars

By Neonu Jewell


Location: 660 N. State St., Chicago, IL 60610 Web:http://www.danahotelandspa.com/restaurant/index.cfm
Reservations: 312.202.6050
Price: $$$$

Ajasteak is located at the Dana Hotel & Spa in Chicago. Ajasteak has an East Asian inspired menu ranging from sushi to variety of meat cuts, including Kobe Beef, American Prime, Chops, and Wagyu. The modern design is subtle and warm. Downstairs is the main restaurant and bar; upstairs are a sushi lounge and private dining rooms.

The staff was immediately and consistently welcoming and helpful. We dined at the bar and Susie our bartender was very attentive. We were attending the Maxwell concert after dinner, and Susie was very conscious that we were on a time schedule and made sure our dishes came up fast. The General Manager came by to introduce himself and to confirm that we were enjoying our dining experience. The answer was an unequivocal, yes!

We started with the Kumamoto oysters on the half shell with a soy mignonette of Red onion, capers, lime. If you have not had Kumamoto oysters, you must try them. They are small, plump, and flavorful. For dinner we ordered the 6 oz. Wagyu filet mignon, iron seared main lobster, and whipped potatoes. The filet was butter knife tender, cooked a perfect medium and was served with a choice of side sauce and butter. I chose the standard ajasteak sauce with smoked tamarind chipotle and white truffle butter. The ajasteak sauce had a delightful light bbq flavor. The lobster, which was also cooked perfectly, (I still don’t understand why so many restaurants under/over cook lobster) was served out of shell on a bed of yuzu basil butter succotash. Yum. Sides are sold a la carte. We chose the truffle whipped potatoes. They were buttery, fluffy, heavenly delish.

For dessert we ordered the coconut creme bulee with fruit cerviche and macaroons and the Oreo dessert, which was two homestyle chocolate cookies with a whipped crème center and side of milk.