Venerable, but Disgraced Sloop Restaurant Acadia Officially Closes Its Doors at 1639 S. Wabash

Likely not the biggest surprise in the world, but it looks like the venerable - but recently disgraced - two Michelin-starred Acadia (1639 S. Wabash) has officially closed their doors (via Eater):

Acadia, the two Michelin-starred restaurant from Ryan McCaskey will not reopen, the chef and owner confirms to Eater Chicago. Earlier this month, “for lease” signs went up above the South Loop restaurant marking the official end of McCaskey’s time in Chicago. The restaurant actually closed in July 2020 shortly after a shockwave of allegations were levied against McCaskey by former employees. At the time, McCaskey said he planned to quickly reopen.

McCaskey has since moved to Maine, where he runs another restaurant, Acadia House Provisions. McCaskey says the ongoing pandemic changed his mind to reopen in Chicago. In a statement to Eater, he writes “we decided to close Acadia because of the mounting obstacles of owning a business, especially a restaurant business in Chicago.”

“Rising crime, burglary attempts, staffing shortages and declining revenue at our price point also forced us to shut the doors,” a portion of McCaskey’s statement reads.

While there may be some truth to McCaskey's statement, it was hard to see how this restaurant could reopen based on the explosive accusations about the toxicity and sexual harassment within this high-profile workplace.

The demise of Acadia is a sad tale for a restaurant that was consistently considered one of the best fine dinning spots in the city.  Furthermore, it was a rare restaurant in the Sloop and one that added a level of eating we simply didn't have before.

When Acadia opened in 2012, there was excitement and anticipation that usually isn't present for new restaurants in the neighborhood.  My wife and I saw the potential during our first visit just one week after it officially opened.

Eventually Acadia shifted to a tasting menu concept and took off.  First they earned one star from the famous Michelin guide in 2013.  Then in 2015 earned two stars from the guide - a distinction that put it in rarefied air with a handful of other top restaurants in Chicago.  It was on the dining map in Chicago and in the world.

During the fall of 2020 - in the midst of the pandemic - the Chicago Tribune published some explosive allegations about owner/chef Ryan McCaskey.  If you read the allegations it was pretty damning and pretty detailed.  At the time, McCaskey said these were untrue and vowed to fight them in court - which seems to be happening currently.

The fate of the restaurant was also in limbo.  It was closed "due to covid", but most felt that it couldn't continue to operate in the face of these allegations.  While there is likely more to this story, it seemed inevitable that they wouldn't be able to reopen.

While Acadia will undoubtedly be missed, fine dinning isn't completely gone in the neighborhood.  Moody Tongue (2515 S. Wabash) brewery surprisingly achieved a two star rating from Michelin last year and Apolonia (2201 S. Michigan) has also been praised and may earn some awards as well.  

That said - Acadia exploded onto the scene about a decade ago, but leaves unceremoniously and disgraced.  A sad story no doubt.

Moody Tongue (2515 S. Wabash) Achieves Rare Two Stars from Michelin Guide

Wow - big moves by the crew at Moody Tongue Brewery at 2515 S. Wabash!  They earned a prestigious recognition by the crew at Michelin (via Curbed):

Alinea in Lincoln Park remains Chicago’s only three-starred restaurant. The full three stars is a rare honor that’s been bestowed on about 130 restaurants worldwide. There was speculation that Smyth (two stars) in Fulton Market would join chef Grant Achatz’s restaurant, but that didn’t happen. In a rare move, Michelin did award two stars to a pair of new restaurants during their first year of eligibility: Ever and Moody Tongue.

The post on Curbed Chicago goes on about Moody:

Meanwhile, near McCormick Place, Moody Tongue effectively replaces Band of Bohemia as Chicago’s only Michelin-starred brewpub. Moody Tongue relocated from Pilsen, not only moving its brewing operations but also adding a full-service restaurant with a tasting menu. The brewery also brought over Jared Wentworth, a chef who presided over Longman & Eagle in Logan Square during its Michelin-starred days.

While many were optimistic that they would earn a star from Michelin, getting a second star in their first year puts them at the top of the game in Chicago.  For this year's iteration of the list there are only six restaurants in the whole area earning two or more stars:

Three Stars

Alinea

Two Stars

Acadia

Ever (first year)

Moody Tongue (first year)

Oriole

Smyth

If you're a perceptive reader, you will also know that the Sloop's other highly regarded restaurant - Acadia - also is on the list.  That does come as a bit of a surprise given some of the controversy surrounding the restaurant and owner/chef Ryan McCaskey.  As a reminder, there have been allegations of a toxic work environment at Acadia and the restaurant has been closed throughout most of the pandemic.  McCaskey wants to reopen but that remains unclear how and when.

Also of note, the longstanding French staple just north of the Sloop - Everest is off the list.  They closed after a super long run at the end of 2020.  Everest was a consistent Michelin one star restaurant since the inception of the list. 

But the big story is Moody Tongue.  Sure, it's debatable whether or not we can claim them since in our opinion they are technically a little south of the Sloop, but it's not hard to get down to their establishment from the Sloop (although it might be harder to get a table or reservation now....).

As a reminder, word came down in March of 2019 that the Moody Tongue crew would be moving into the space formerly occupied by the Baderbrau Brewery.  They officially opened late in 2019 and all the reviews were very favorable.  The Tribune suspected a Michelin star was in their grasp and Eater Chicago struck a similar sentiment.

Everything we were reading and seeing had us excited.  Just take a look at some of these pictures:

Another interesting twist is the fact that "brewpubs" aren't usually looked upon as favorably as traditional dining concepts.  Despite that perceived challenge it makes Moody's achievement that much more impressive and unique.

Unfortunately we still haven't had a chance to try them out.  We actually had a reservation in April of 2020, but then the pandemic happened - ugh!  Really looking forward to heading down there...assuming we can get in.

Congrats to the crew at Moody Tongue and glad to have you in close proximity to the Sloop! 

Court Case Continues Against Ryan McCaskey - Chef/Owner of Acclaimed South Loop Restaurant Acadia

The drama around Ryan McCaskey's Michelin starred South Loop restaurant Acadia continues to swirl.  

You can read more about the current state of the allegations on Eater Chicago, but the things that stood out to us was this update about the restaurant:

Acadia has remained closed since the summer, but McCaskey tells Eater Chicago that he intends to eventually reopen.

It's been unclear what the path forward is for the restaurant with many people assuming there isn't one.  We will undoubtedly hear more about this in the future, but it seems like the door isn't completely closed on Acadia (yet).

Renowned Restaurant Acadia Faces Uncertainty as Owner/Head Chef Ryan McCaskey Continues to Face Serious Allegations of Fostering a Toxic Work Environment

The Chicago Tribune has an update regarding the serious allegations directed at Ryan McCaskey - the owner and head chef at the renowned Michelin two-starred South Loop restaurant Acadia (1639 S. Wabash):

After the last guests had left on a Sunday evening in March 2018, employees at Acadia pushed the tables and chairs aside in the restaurant’s private dining room and began unrolling sheets of plastic across the floor. A going-away party was planned for that Monday.

According to text messages shared with the Tribune, Ryan McCaskey, Acadia’s chef and owner, promised employees that the party would be an “extra naughty” affair. He said he would supply dollar bills to tip the strippers.

“He pretty much made it mandatory,” said Brendan Smith, a former Acadia cook who said he felt pressured to commute in from the suburbs on his day off to attend the party and a dinner beforehand.

That drizzly Monday night, about 15 people — Acadia staff, their friends and significant others — filed into the private dining room at one of just four Chicago restaurants to have earned at least two Michelin stars. From chairs usually occupied by customers spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars for an evening of food, wine and cocktails, McCaskey’s guests watched a raucous evening unfold.

The two performers quickly became naked and encouraged onlookers to use sex toys on them, people in attendance said. McCaskey was an eager participant, some in attendance said, licking whipped cream from the genital region of one of the performers. According to attendees, McCaskey encouraged others to become involved and chided those who did not participate, including calling Smith a homophobic term for declining to take a turn.

In an interview in September with the Tribune, McCaskey acknowledged hosting the going-away party in Acadia’s private dining room — he called it “a bad judgment decision” — and hiring the strippers to perform. He also confirmed licking whipped cream from the performer’s body.

The article continues to paint a damning picture of the work environment at Acadia.  McCaskey has attempted to brush away the stories and accusations, but it's hard to know what the path forward is for him and his restaurant.

Covid-19 has provided rationale and time for him to close up shop while he sorts these things out.  It seems like it is unlikely that he will reopen the restaurant - but hasn't confirmed one way or the other.  

No Contact Order Extended as Founder/Chef of Acadia Faces Serious Harassment Allegations

There has been a lot of discussion and accusations online about Ryan McCaskey - the founder and chef at Michelin starred Acadia (1639 S. Wabash) - and this week a judge granted a former employee an extension on a no contact order.

The story is ugly and you can read the full background on Chicago Tribune, but essentially:

Cody Nason, a former employee at McCaskey’s fine dining restaurant, Acadia, was granted a no contact order last month after alleging in a court petition that the chef created a website, multiple email addresses and fake online reviews to harass him.

“We want to conduct discovery and figure out who actually did this,” McCaskey’s attorney, Roger Malavia, said during Monday’s hearing.

Cook County Circuit Court Judge Levander Smith Jr. set a hearing for Oct. 22. The no-contact order will remain in effect at least until then.

Last month a judge ordered the chef and owner of the Michelin-starred Acadia not to contact Nason after Nason alleged in a court petition that McCaskey launched the website codynason.com on Aug. 13, posting Nason’s photo, phone number and home address, along with claims that Nason is “a pedophile.”

Acadia temporarily closed in August "due to the pandemic’s impact.”  It remains unclear if/how this story has contributed to that closure.

From a culinary standpoint, Acadia is the Sloop's most high-profile restaurant and has consistently been credited as one of the best in the city.  We've had good experiences, but that doesn't mean much as it relates to the inner workings of the business.  

We will stay tuned to hear how this progresses and what impact it has on the future of the restaurant.

Various South Loop Restaurants Featured on Curbed/Eater Interactive Maps

One of our favorite things about the Vox media sites Curbed & Eater are their map posts.  It's a fun way to learn about new spots around the city.

Over the past couple of weeks they've had a variety of maps that feature various Sloop spots:

12 Luscious Lobster Rolls:#11:  A two-Michelin-starred restaurant might not seem like the place for a lobster roll but those who sit at the bar are treated to perhaps the finest version in Chicago. Chef and owner Ryan McCaskey, who’s spent time in Maine, produces an indulgent roll that’s lightly dressed with chive mayo and smoky paprika. Guests can also order it Connecticut-style, which is served warm and holds the mayo for butter.

The 20 Essential Outdoor Dining Spots in Chicago  #15: Make the work day a little more bearable by working from this South Loop café. The Spoke & Bird’s 2,500-square-foot patio is a fine stand-in for the office and guests can pass the time with a host of coffees, sandwiches, and — if they desire to get boozy — craft beers.

#16: Dubbed “Reggies Trainwreck Rooftop Deck,” the rock club’s elevated playground is the place to be on a warm day. The patio can accommodate up to 99 patrons and sports a full bar, eight flat screens, picnic tables, a pool table, and other diversions.

20 New Spots for Chicago’s Patio SeasonPut on a bib and get cracking. The seafood boil restaurant emulates backyard gatherings in the South with a patio with abundant foliage and twinkling lights. Dig into bags of delicious shellfish and sip on rotating cocktails from a highball machine.

It's hard to argue with these - that being said, we may suggest adding Flo & Santos to the essential outdoor dining spots, but that's just us.

Acadia Retains Michelin Two Star Rating for Third Year

In case you missed, on Friday the Michelin stars were announced and Acadia (1639 S. Wabash) retained it's two star rating for the third consecutive year.  It's a pretty special honor and puts them in a top tier of Chicago restaurants.

It's been awhile since we've been to the dinning room, but man o man we love the bar both for their food and drinks.

Anyway, congrats to Chef Ryan McCaskey and the crew at Acadia.

Some Updates from Acadia - Our Local Fine Dinning Spot

Looks like Acadia is welcoming back two former employees (via Eater):

After one left to open his own restaurant and the other bounced around at multiple restaurants and bars, two high-profile staffers have returned to two-Michelin-starred Acadia. According to a news release, Jason Prah is back at Ryan McCaskey’s gem as sommelier following his opening and closing of Bascule Wine Bar (plus his joining of Fork and its forthcoming sister restaurant Knife as general manager), while oft-traveled cocktail guru Michael Simon has also rejoined as beverage director following stints at ROOF at the Wit, State & Lake, Celeste, Charcoal Bar, Qui in Austin, Carriage House, and The Bedford. The restaurant has unveiled a new bar menu that includes a banh mi with "pho" hoisin glazed pork belly and "Kentucky fried" Jidori chicken with kimchi collard greens and honey. Look for changes in the beverage menus too.

The big news here is the new bar menu - banh mi anyone?

Trib: "The Kitchen is Absolutely Killing it Right Now" at Acadia

White-asparagus cremeaux anchors a miniature garden of baby vegetables
that is surrounded by a hot, charred-onion broth. (Via Chicago Tribune)

This is a relatively old review (back in April of 2016), but a good and descriptive read of the Sloop's preeminent fine dinning experience (via ChicagoTribune):

True enough, Acadia, just south of 16th Street on Wabash Avenue, doesn't present much to the outside world. From the street, it's a drab little building on a very quiet stretch (at 10 p.m. that night, the sidewalk was populated by me, the car valet and a guy walking his dog). But once you walk through the front door, it's like Dorothy stepping out of her farmhouse.  

The dining room is drop-dead gorgeous, a warmly minimalist, softly lit and serenely quiet space with alabaster walls, neutral carpeting and beaded-metal curtains. Seating, replaced a year ago, is plush and comfortable.  And the kitchen is absolutely killing it right now, producing a parade of eye-candy dishes that display intelligence, humor and, occasionally, clever riffs on the food of chef/owner Ryan McCaskey's beloved New England region.  

Had McCaskey opened Acadia on Randolph Street four years ago, he'd probably be driving a Lexus by now.  

"I think about it every week," McCaskey said, in a mixture of ruefulness and defiance. "Whenever I talk to Nick Kokonas (Alinea, Aviary, Next, Roister), he tells me, 'You know, you'd have doubled your revenue in the West Loop.' But the South Loop will have its day; I know it's going to happen."

The article goes on to give a vivid description of what you can expect when dinning at Acadia.  Beyond this, the Tribune has rated the restaurant the #7th best in Chicago (you can find an interactive maps here).

Lucky to have this one in the neighborhood.

Article on Prix-Fixe Menus Gets Us Dreaming of McCaskey Casual Restaurant Concept

Acadia featured in Crain's article talking about Prix-Fixe Menus:

Chicago's diners increasingly are willing to hand over a few hours, a few hundred bucks and total control of their dining fate to chefs.  

In the aftermath of the long-running “casualization” of fine dining in Chicago, a phenomenon marked by the proliferation of high-end restaurants pushing small plates made to share, loud music and a dressed-down vibe, a cadre of well-known chefs is embracing the sine qua non of fine dining: the prix fixe meal.  

Celebrity chef Tony Mantuano took his 30-year-old Spiaggia to a tasting menu format late last summer. Ryan McCaskey made the switch at his two-Michelin-starred South Loop restaurant Acadia in November.

It's a fun thing to do every once in awhile, but honestly it's a little much for us.  It's definitely an experience, but in terms of sustenance it leaves us yearning for something else (but that's clearly not the purpose of this style of dining, right?).

Another interesting quote was this:

McCaskey, for instance, wants to open a more casual restaurant in the next two years that pumps out more volume at higher margins and provides him with more financial cushion. “I wish I had a better car and a better house and a new jacket for winter,” he says. “I never had people trying to give me money before. I had nobody. Now it's to the point where it's happening all the time. People want to be part of (my) next success.”

Could a new McCaskey casual dining restaurant be in the work?

Acadia & Chef/Owner Ryan McCaskey Earns Two Michelin Star; Joins Rarefied Chicago Fine Dining Group

Ryan McCaskey at Acadia (1639 S. Wabash)

If you were hoping to get a reservation at Acadia, our South Loop fine dining option at 1639 S. Wabash, it may have become a little harder (via Chicago Tribune):

Acadia, Ryan McCaskey's fine-dining restaurant in the South Loop, was boosted to two Michelin stars, and Parachute and Dusek's Board & Beer received one star apiece, as the Michelin Guide announced its star selection for Chicago restaurants Tuesday.  

"McCaskey's got it all," said Michael Ellis, international director of the Michelin Guide. "He has great technique and produces elegant food that tastes great. For a restaurant to go from one star to two, that's what we like to see."  

Acadia's promotion and the first-ever star awards for Parachute and Dusek's were the happy surprises on a list that otherwise varied little from the Michelin list of a year ago.

This is a pretty remarkable honor for McCaskey and his team.  This essentially means that Acadia is one of the top 5 restaurants in Chicago according to the Michelin Guide (arguable in the #3-5 range behind Alinea & Grace).

For those unfamiliar with the Michelin Guide it is considered by most Chefs and Foodies to be the preeminent rating guide for restaurants worldwide.

This is the 4th year in a row that Acadia has been honored by the Michelin Guide, but the first year it earned a two star rating.  Interestingly enough, last year we were wondering if Acadia could potentially win that second star.  Well guess we were a little early in our prediction - but regardless congrats to McCaskey and team and glad you call the Sloop home!

Restaurant Updates:Acadia Closed for Repairs; Ma & I Open Again

It seems like there has been a lot of questions surrounding restaurants in the Sloop.  With that said, wanted to quickly post a couple updates on things we've heard and read:

Acadia (1639 S. Wabash)
A reader writes:

Went over in the rain the other night and was disappointed to see Acadia closed for a good portion of the summer. I hope this post can save someone else from making the hike in this endless rainy season. But I really hope this is a real renovation and not "renovation."

While it's natural to be skeptical, according to Chicago Reader the building got damaged during the recent storms:

Ryan McCaskey's Acadia got soaked in the recent rains and will be closed for repairs for about two weeks. To help raise some cash, they're hosting a BBQ on the patio, with beer, DJ Adran Drake, and more. It's a $20 cover, this Sunday, 1-7 PM, rain (hopefully not) or shine.

Hopefully all goes well for our neighborhood high dinning gem!

Ma & I (1234 S. Michigan) 
A variety of readers tipped us to the fact that Ma & I was unexpectedly closed last week.  Well they have apparently sorted out any of the issues they had.  A reader writes:
Looks like Ma&I reopened for business - saw their windows open when I drove by this afternoon.

Good news for them and best of luck!

(Hat tip:  CM, MG, MK!)

Fred Anderson Park Nears Completion; Shooting for Mid-Jan Opening Pending Post Construction "Punch List" Review

Looks like Fred Anderson Park continues to progress.  Last week we posted about a potential "design fail" but regardless of that things are moving forward.  A reader writes:

The turf is in !!! Under heated, makeshift tents installers laid in the turf over the course of last Friday, Saturday and Monday, and it was unveiled for all to see on Tuesday. Looks pretty, hope the glue holds !!! 

Latest word from the Chicago Park District is that the park will open in mid-January. The construction will be completed before then, but there is a 30-day punch list period during which the contractor must address anything identified as needing attention after 'completion'. The South Loop Dog Park Action Cooperative (SLDogPAC) is on board to participate in that punch list process.

In other related news, DNAinfo sat down with Acadia Chef/Owner Ryan McCaskey who operates his well regarded eatery next door to the soon to be open park.  The article mostly talks about his restaurant receiving its third consecutive one-star rating from the Michelin guide, but also talks about the restaurants newest neighbor to the north:

Yet for now he'd settle for the dog park to finish construction, which would allow him to put in an outdoor patio for cocktails. "I knew this was coming in years before I got this space," McCaskey said. "There will be some green space, I hope.  

"This makes me nervous," McCaskey said, looking out the window at the fenced-off construction zone. "It looks like they're building Jurassic Park. But we'll see how it pans out for us."v

Sounds like you may be sipping on Acadia cocktails (see post about the Sloopin cocktail at Acadia) while watching fido frolic.

(Hat tip:  BE!)

Acadia Earns One Star Rating from Michelin Guide for Third Consecutive Year

McCaskey and team in Acadia Kitchen (via Facebook)

Last week it was the Michelin Bib Gourmand list.  This week, it's time for the big dogs...the Michelin Guide stars!

Honestly though, it was relatively uneventful.

The big news was that Grace, the West Loop restaurant at 652 w. Randolph joined Alinea as the only restaurants in Chicago to be awarded the sought after three stars rating.

In local Sloop news, our venerable neighborhood restaurant Acadia earned a one star rating for the third consecutive year.  While we know Ryan McCaskey and team are really shooting for a second star, maintaining their one star rating is still nothing to sneeze at.

If that's not enough for McCaskey maybe he can hang his hat on the fact that he recently won the judges award at the inaugural Ramenfest at BellyQ this past weekend.  Maybe not as prestigious, but probably more fun.

In other local Michelin star news, Everest, the classy French Lettuce Entertain You restaurant at 440 s. LaSalle, also retained their one star rating.

Congrats to everyone and our South Loop restaurants!

(Hat tip:  BR!)

2015 Michelin Bib Gourmand Announced - Kurah on List Again; Mercat a la Planxa Falls Off

Inside Dinning Room at Kurah

Foodies rejoice, it's Michelin award season.  Like previous years, first up is the Bib Gourmands recommendations that are defined as "good food at moderate prices" (or 2 courses, a glass of of wine for under $40).  While moderate might not be moderate for everyone you're probably not going to go bankrupt at these restaurants.

For this years guide, there aren't many surprises for the South Loop.  A big shoutout to Kurah (1355 S. Michigan) for earning it's second consecutive year on the Bib Gourmand list.  Unfortunately it wasn't all good news for sloop restaurants as Mercat a la Planxa (638 S. Michigan) fell off after being included for the first time this past year.

There is a chance Mercat could get a bump up and receive a star (which is considered more of an honor), but that's a big question mark judging by some tweets from the @MichelinGuideCH handle (via Curbed Chicago):

The Michelin Man wondered back in August if Mercat a la Planxa's attention to detail in their dining room was slipping. However, once the food arrived things perked up. 

Sitting @MercatChicago staring at a scratched, greasy and worn table. Has it peaked? Perhaps food too?
— Michelin Guide (@MichelinGuideCH) August 28, 2014 

but spinach-fig-walnut salad topped with slices of Serrano ham and a tasty sherry dressing was a nice start to my meal @MercatChicago— Michelin Guide (@MichelinGuideCH) August 28, 2014

We're guessing, this means they won't get a star but we will find out soon.

Similar to previous years, Chinatown stalwarts Lao Sze Chuan (2171 S. Archer) and Lao Hunan (2230 S. Wentworth) also received Bib Gourmand recognition again.

One surprising omission we noticed (but isn't getting much attention in the press) is Opart Thai falling off the list.  While the Opart Thai on the list was always referenced as the Lincoln Square location, the sister restaurant in the South Loop (Opart Thai - 1906 S. State) is still one of our favorites and continues to turn out good food.

This is just the prelude to the big Michelin star announcement which is expected next week.  Acadia has been the lone South Loop representative on the star list (you could also include Everest at 440 S. LaSalle to the list if you'd like).  They've received a one star rating (which is a big honor) the past two years.

Could Ryan McCaskey and his team earn two stars?  We will see next week.

Acadia Awarded One Star By Michelin Guide

Local fine dining gem Acadia (1639 S. Wabash) has been awarded one star from the Michelin Guide.  This is the second year in a row that the restaurant has been awarded this honor:

@AcadiaChef_Ryan Congrats chef & team! The ambition is evident on the plates every night. Who knew Maine could be so wonderful? #onestar
— Michelin Guide (@MichelinGuideCH) November 12, 2013

 Also, it looks like chef Ryan McCaskey had to work double duty for the annoucnement party last night:

.@AcadiaChef_Ryan setting up the chef tasting table for tonight's Star Gala! #MichelinStars pic.twitter.com/s0BqYFLClp
— Michelin Guides (@MichelinGuides) November 12, 2013

Congrats and glad to have you in the Sloop!

Acadia's McCaskey Outlines His Sloop Favorites

We recently read a post on Serious Eats Chicago about Ryan McCaskey's (owner of fine dining establishment Acadia) favorite spots in the Sloop.

It's worth a read as it gives you tips on where to find the best milkshakes, coffee, burger, pizza, Thai, Vietnamese, BBQ Duck and sandwhich in our neighborhood.

While we don't agree with them all, his Thai recommendation is spot on:

Thai: Opart Thai on State Street. They're really good and have one of my favorite Thai dishes, I think it's called Tiger Cry or Crying Tiger. It's marinated beef that's grilled and served with cucumbers and this kind of sweet and vinegary spicy sauce. It's an appetizer, but oh my gosh, I could eat plates of it.

The Lobster Roll Trend on Display in the Sloop

Lobster Roll on the Bar Menu at Acadia (1639 S. Wabash)

If the Lobster Roll is trend...call us trendy, because we like the damn thing.  Our go to spot for food news in the city, Chicago Eater, had an in-depth recent post on the trend.  They checked in with Ryan McCaskey of Acadia on the topic and dissected what a good Lobster Roll consists of:

A lobster roll's essential ingredients are simply a top split bun (so, it opens on top instead of the side) and lobster meat. Like so many sandwiches that have come before, the bread is of the utmost importance. It's so vital that McCaskey worked out a deal with his lobster purveyor for them to buy and send packages of a specific type of bread, used for lobster rolls, and only sold in Maine (and not available for interstate shipping) with his order. "I tried making buns in house and they just aren't the same. The bread," he explains, "should be buttery and crispy on the outside and steam on the inside—warming the lobster with the steam." 

And what of the lobster—which part makes for the best roll? Claw, tail and knuckles are used for the filling, but McCaskey says his favorite part is the knuckle meat 'because it's sweet and more toothsome than the other parts.' The meat is quickly cooked in hot water, broken down, chopped, mixed with some mayonnaise, a squeeze of lemon and some chives. A high quality paprika blend is sprinkled over the top to give a bit of depth. He explains the spice is a traditional garnish on Maine lobster rolls. Armed with definite opinions on what goes into a good roll, he tells us he finds the addition of celery "kinda gross" and views lettuce "as just a filler…because I'd rather have more lobster." He quickly adds that these opinions are based on what he ate there as a child. "This is what I grew up with, its what I know." So instead of giving a gussied up version of his childhood fare, he focuses on offering the best, most authentic version of its simple self. "I'm a purist at heart," he says, "I wanted to give an authentic experience, not try to change it."

........[mouth watering]......[noises coming out].....[hungry]........oh yeah we need to finish this post.

We don't particularly like mayonnaise but that doesn't stop us and we suggest that it shouldn't stop you either.

Tribune Columnist on Acadia: "Wouldn't Be Surprised if He Earned Second Michelin Star"

It's the time of year when "best" lists seem to pop up (see story on best bars from last week).  Well the Chicago Tribune food columnist, Kevin Pang, has given his best of and Acadia was a highlight for him this past year.  Here is a link to the story (which includes a video and Acadia mention at 0:31).

So we're not sure if he is saying McCaskey will earn one star again in 2013 or if he is saying he wouldn't be surprised if he earns 2-stars in 2013.  Regardless, it's clear he likes what they're doing at Acadia.

We also like that he mentions "this empty grass lot" and fence next door like that has anything to with the restaurant.  As we know, the plan is for the city to convert this space into a park hopefully this year.

Fine and Affordable Dinner at Acadia's Bar

The Lobster Roll on the Bar Menu at Acadia (1639 S. Wabash)

We've spent plenty of time covering Acadia and are happy to give them their props.  However, for us, consistent dinning at Acadia is tough given our lack of monetary resources (sigh).  We happily will treat ourselves every once and awhile for a special occasion, but that simply doesn't happen all the time.

If you're in the same boat as us, but still want to experience this fine establishment at a more affordable price point, we have a suggestions...check out the bar menu.

While it's not a huge menu, most of the items won't break the budget and will definitely bring a smile to your face.  Better yet, you get to experience Acadia in a more low key environment.

When we went it was a low key Sunday night.  Carlos was tending to the bar and was masterfully mixing cocktails.  We were pretty confident on what we wanted to eat (see old Sloopin post about Acadia's Lobster Roll), but had a little more uncertainty about the drinks.

We quickly put in an order for the famous Acadia Lobster Roll ($16), the Acadia Burger ($13) and asked some questions about the drink menu.  As we experienced last time we were at Acadia, the drinks are well thought out and amazingly concocted   The head bartender, Arunas, does a solid job of being creative but not at the expense of providing a tasty drink.  Anyway, we opted to start off with the Local Agent (a new seasonal drink on the menu) and the Moscow Mule (a drink that is usually on the menu).

The drinks came first and were beautiful.  The Local Agent is a vodka/gin based drink which intrigued us. Carlos gave us some background that this was inspired by the Vesper Martini.  Lovely!  It was delicate, flavorful and easy to drink.  And for those of you asking about the creativity, there was an interesting ice cube made from olives and orange peel (see image to the right).  A nice creative and functional touch.

The Moscow Mule was delightful and clearly made from natural ingredients, including Acadia's own ginger beer.  Definitely different than any mule you will find at the typical bar.

After some sips on our cocktails, we were pumped for dinner.  Not surprisingly, the presentation was top notch.  While the Lobster Roll was not huge upon first glance, but it was a solid portion (see image at the top).  As a person who doesn't love creamy dishes, I was naturally a little worried about ordering a lobster roll.  But this thing was delicious.  Chef McCaskey knows lobster, so we knew we wouldn't be disappointed -- we weren't!

I barely had time to breath as I devoured the roll.  The seasoning (chives and parpika) were delicious and the lobster was buttery and tender.  We were thinking about ordering another, but had to quell that urge.

The burger was solid.  Again, not a "man-that's-a-huge-portion", but that was to be expected.  This isn't a split your pants type of establishment.  Regardless, we were happy with the portion and more importantly the taste.  One of us attributed the great taste to the Capretta cheese on the burger..the other thought the onion bacon jam gave it the unique taste.  It also came with some potato salad and for those interested, the other saucer in the picture to the left is a spicy 1000 island dressing that we asked for on the side.

But then came the decision...get another round of drinks and some more food?  or go home?

Wanting more we decided to stay and go for round 2.  We went for an order of Mussels to share ($10), a "Gin / Tonics / Limes" drink, and a glass of Chardonnay that was recommended by Carlos based on our Mussels order.  Again everything was good in our book and we left knowing that we would be back soon.

It's definitely a different experience, but a good one.  If you're up for a low key experience that will excite your taste buds we suggest trying the bar at Acadia.  They don't take reservations, which is probably a good thing for people in the neighborhood like us!

Kudos to Chef McCaskey, Arunas, Carlos and the entire team at Acadia for providing a new way to the Acadia experience.  See you soon!