Fab Review: Maple & Ash

The Gold Coast…just got a little more luxurious. We can’t help but give a warm welcome to the brand-new steakhouse, Maple & Ash, which opened on October 23rd. Three years in the making, Maple & Ash is pulling out all the stops to make sure you have a magnificent experience. Fab Food Chicago was honored to be invited to the restaurant’s Preview Week, where we got a chance to see their full menu and select cocktails. Here’s a rundown of our night…

{Ambiance}
Maple & Ash screams luxury from the moment you walk through the doors. The downstairs floor is dedicated to a full bar, which is extensive not only in size but also in drink options. There are chandeliers that light the area with seating along the bar as well as in the high booths facing the bar. I definitely wanted to stop and admire the bar area a little longer. However, the hostess quickly led me to the elevators and up towards the main floor.

The main dining area is on the second floor of the building. As soon as you step out, you arrive at another hostess stand and a large wine room. From there, we were led into a bar/lounge area, adjacent to the dining tables where we sat while they found us a table. Although we declined a drink so that we could be seated right away, many people were relaxing and chatting over drinks in the lounge.

The dining area for Maple & Ash is gorgeous. Your eyes are automatically drawn to the large chandelier that hangs down like a necklace in the middle of the room. There are windows near the ceiling that open up the space and let the natural light shine through. There is romance in the air and its surroundings. The tables are decorated simply with a single candle burning brightly in the middle. The chairs are comfortable and cushioned so you feel relaxed while eating. The drapes around the center dining area also help create an intimate mood.

The space itself is vast. Besides the middle dining section, there are additional dining areas throughout the restaurant including the lounge. They have an open kitchen so you can watch all the action if you wish. However, Maple & Ash provides a personalized experience at each table and is an ideal place for a romantic evening with your significant other or social dinner with co-workers or family.

A small side note: the restrooms are on the third floor, a floor up from the dining area. However, you have the option of taking the stairs or elevator so it is not too much of a hassle to get to.

{Food}
The menu at Maple & Ash is pretty sizeable, but it is divided in a way that is very easy to read and follow. The waiter was nice enough to go through the menu and point out some of the star dishes. The first section of the menu focuses on the starters that are perfect for sharing. Not only do they offer hot plates, but you can choose from raw/chilled seafood and caviar as well. Their signature starter is the Coal Roasted Seafood Tower where you can choose from a variety of seafood such as Gulf shrimp, oysters, octopus, Maine lobster, and more. You can choose from the semi-pro or baller sizes for the seafood tower, which dictates how much seafood you will receive. There is also a small salad section which will provide you a good start to your meal.

FAB TIP: There is an option on the menu entitled “I don’t give a F*@K”. This option entails a full meal of the chef’s choice, meant to be shared family style for $125 per person. This meal is customized directly by the chef and highlights Maple & Ash’s best sellers.

The main dishes on the menu are split up into steaks & chops and regular entrees. The steak & chops are kept very simple and range from the classic steak frites to a rack of lamb. The entrees are very straight-forward and although there are only a few options, these entrees come in big portions that will surely fill you up.

At the bottom of the menu, you are able to choose from smaller side dishes to go along with your meal. The side dishes are divided into classics and potato dishes that are always on the menu, and the seasonal sides are subject to change. For dessert, there is a separate smaller menu that is brought out at the end of your main meal.

As mentioned above, the food comes in large portions. My fab team and I ordered a couple dishes to share and we ended up with lots of leftovers. What really struck me about the food was how distinct the flavors were in each dish. Every flavor that was described on the menu or by the server was immediately distinguishable when I bit into the dish. We did notice the food was a little salty, but because I am a salt-lover, I didn’t mind at all. The food is simple, but at the same time the level of flavor in each bite was memorable. For example, by brushing their French fries in beef fat, they were able to add an extra layer of flavor. The presentation for each dish really stood out as well. We could tell everything was prepared carefully and with a great deal of thought.

What we tried…

Pre-Meal: Manchego, olives, salted nuts, radishes served with butter to dip. Bread and butter.

The small pre-meal starters were perfect to start the night while we looked over the other menu items. I especially enjoyed the bread and butter as the bread was very warm and fresh, as if it had come straight out of the oven. The manchego cheese was also an amazing starter. It paired perfectly with the accompaniments.

Starters: Warm Buttered Hazelnut Hummus and Tenderloin Steak Tartare

The hazelnut hummus was incredible, it was very gooey and almost tasted a bit cheesy. There was a perfect amount of salt added to the dip. The pickled lemon added just the right hint of acidity. The grilled flatbread had a nice crispy texture and held up the hummus nicely.

Next, we tried the steak tartare. The presentation was gorgeous and the center of the dish came with a runny egg yolk and sourdough bread. The bread was brushed with beef fat which made each bite flavorfully rich. I loved the little pickles that came with the tartare because it gave your flavor palate a nice reprieve from the rich savory steak. We found the tartare a bit salty, but it was my first time trying steak tartare, and I fell in love with it.

Entrees: Maple & Ash 1/2 lb Burger and Grilled Salmon

The burger came with cheddar, bacon, pickles, red onion jam, garlic aioli and a side of French fries brushed with beef fat. The stand out flavor of the burger definitely came from the red onion jam. It added a nice hint of sweetness that balanced out the saltiness of the burger very well.

The grilled salmon was the highlight of our meal. The chef cooked it perfectly tender. Every bite melted in our mouths. I probably could have eaten the two orders of salmon all by myself. The charred Brussels sprouts on the bottom of the salmon were creamy and went great with the freshness of the fish.

Sides: Four Cheese Mac & Cheese

The Four Cheese Mac & Cheese was very straightforward and simple but super delicious. The mac was perfectly cheesy without being runny. You could taste the complexity and richness of the four cheeses in every bite.

Desserts: Key Lime and Chocolate Stout Cake

The desserts were some of the prettiest I have seen. The Key Lime dessert came with a meringue wafer on top and pineapple chunks on the side. There was also a fun frozen whipped cream center which paired very well with the tartness of the key lime.

The Chocolate Stout Cake, which looked very rich was actually very light. The mound of whipped cream on top added to the airiness. There were also a fun play on texture with coffee bits and rice krispies around and in the cake. There was a frozen ice cream component to the dessert hidden under the whipped cream. There was more than met the eye with this stout cake.

{Experience}
I had such a wonderful time at Maple & Ash. Besides the standout food, I have to commend the amazing and attentive service that we received all evening. Even as the place became busier at night, we were still very well taken care of. Our water was always filled and someone was always keeping an eye out on us to clear our table as we finished our food. They were very helpful in recommending dishes and drinks.

FAB TIP: Reservations currently available via Open Table.

{Location}
Maple & Ash
Gold Coast || 8 W Maple St, Chicago, IL 60610 || P: (312)944-8888

{Price Range}
$$$ ($36-$65)

{Fab rating 4.5 Fabs}

I would definitely come here again for a special occasion because eating here was truly a special experience.

Eat on!
Chelsia

Note: This meal was not complimentary. The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the writer.