Food and art at Esmé
Yelp reviewers remember handmade serving pieces, playful dishes and staff explaining how the food connects to the art. That full progression happens in the dining room. A meal at Bar Esmé is a different experience.
Some guests wanted a clearer link between the courses and the artwork, or found the flavors less memorable than the presentation. Reviews from Restaurant Week cover a shorter menu, so they say little about the full tasting. Esmé suits diners interested in both the cooking and the art collaboration.
How much does dinner at Esmé cost for two?
OpenTable lists $265 Wednesday, Thursday and Sunday, and $295 Friday and Saturday. For two, 2 × $265 = $530, plus 22% service = $646.60; or 2 × $295 = $590, plus 22% = $719.80. Tax, drinks, supplements and extra tips are excluded. The difference is $73.20 for two including service.
There are two wine pairings and a non-alcoholic pairing. Ask for their prices when you book. Corkage is $65 for one 750 ml bottle per two guests, for wine not on the list. Count the bottle cost and confirm service and tax on corkage.
How do you book a table at Esmé?
The Book Now button goes to OpenTable, but the FAQ still says reservations open 60 days ahead "via Tock." Use the button and read the terms it shows. Tickets are non-refundable. If you need to change the date at any point after booking, the FAQ charges "$150.00 ++ per person," and the new date has to fall within six to nine months of the original. For two people, moving a dinner costs $300 plus tax and service.
The FAQ also sets terms for chargebacks. If you dispute the charge for an active reservation with your bank, you "will not be eligible to dine with us or rebook, irrespective of the dispute outcome." Parties of seven or more book by email through kbravo@twobyfive.com. Ask Esmé whether you can transfer a ticket to someone else. Esmé publishes no phone number, so send questions to reservations@esmechicago.com.
FAQ with ticket, rebooking and chargeback terms
The tasting listing accepts 1 to 6 guests and requires prepayment. Check the full total before you pay.
Leave time for the meal
The FAQ puts dinner at 2.5 to 3 hours on average and warns that "multiple interruptions will add more time." Esmé is open Wednesday to Sunday, 5 to 9 p.m. The kitchen can adapt the menu for pescatarian, vegetarian and gluten-free diners with 72 hours' notice. Vegan isn't on that list. For anything else, email info@esmechicago.com.
For dinner, use the dining room entrance at the corner of Webster and Sedgwick. The Bar Esmé door on Clark Street, across from Francis Parker School, isn't the way in. There's no dress code and no valet. Metered parking is nearby, and Esmé suggests a rideshare, taxi or transit. Ask Esmé about step-free access.
FAQ with timing, dietary, entrance and parking details
OpenTable lists closing at 10 p.m. and smart casual dress; the site says 9 p.m. and no formal code. Confirm your seating and any requirement that matters. Ask about age rules and step-free access before booking. Allow at least three hours for dinner, plus travel, before planning anything afterward.
Compare before booking
BOKA's tasting costs $405.60 for two with its removable surcharge, before tax and tip, and it also offers à la carte. Esmé is $646.60 or $719.80 with mandatory service before tax and drinks. Esmé's dining room requires the full prepaid tasting.
Alinea's November Salon estimates two hours for two guests; Esmé estimates two and a half to three. Esmé charges $150 per person plus tax and service to rebook, while Alinea allows changes with at least 72 hours' notice within the same calendar year. Read the exact terms if your dates are uncertain.
Sources
Prices and policies change, so confirm the terms for your date before paying.
- Diner reviews on Yelp
- FAQ with charges, ticket terms, dietary rules and entrance
- Artists, current and past
- Menu archive with dates
- Elite Essential prepaid package
- Homepage with hours and booking link
- OpenTable: current collaboration and prices, September 30
Checked September 30, 2026. Found a change? Send a correction with a source link.