Taste On Chestnut

First and last time dining here. Like another reviewer, we found the host not welcoming or friendly. The restaurant was transitioning from a Derby party to dinner. The host was more focused on moving the tv than taking care of the customers. We were seated in the bar area. While I had an view of the smallish restaurant space, unfortunately my husband had a view of the office desk. At the very least they could and should have closed the office door. For the next 10 – 15 minutes, the only employee that came to our table was to fill the water. The two top next to ours, got up and left. If we weren’t waiting for our friends, we would’ve joined them. Our friends showed. I kid you not, we were seated for 30 yes, 30 minutes before my husband finally got up to ask the host if we were supposed to serve ourselves? We learned that no one was assigned to our table. Once a member of the wait staff came by, our service was great. We enjoyed the crab cakes and burrata apps. We had the lobster salad, salmon, branzino & short rib entrees — all excellent. I wish our experience started like it ended. Bravo to the wait staff and kitchen! I still can’t get over the lack of service by the host. With so many other great restaurants on the North Shore, we won’t be coming back to this one.

We scheduled a private Bridal Shower with Jamie & we can’t say enough about how courteous & accommodating she was!
Overall, The quaint space at Taste on Chestnut provided a home like atmosphere where all our guests felt at home. The small event for less than 20 guests was a great success with excellent food and impeccable service!
We had a cocktail hour in the classy bar room, then moved to instructive cooking class with a very professional chef that welcomed questions & made us all feel confident in our new cutting & cooking techniques. We were all impressed when our chopped veggies & cooking efforts were served to us in a impressive plated presentation in the fireplace dining room! Our time to open gifts in the home like room was never rushed & the attentive & kind service of drinks, & dessert topped off our day!
We’d definitely choose them again for a small event!

I have been to Taste twice for lunch and twice for dinner with fairly inconsistent experiences.
Lunch 1– food was decent (really yummy fries) and service was good. Bread basket is not great (bread seemed a bit stale).
Lunch 2– food was just so so. Server was not very polite and clearly rushed.
Dinner 1– food was good but service was so rushed. I honestly dont think the servers are trained properly. Before we were even done eating the waiter would come over, interrupt our conversation, and just take plates away. And we were not eating slowly. It was very off putting.
Dinner 2– food was fine but server couldnt explain dishes when asked. They forgot a few sides and my drink.
Other things to note– layout is cramped and weird. Interior feels old/​dated and not super clean. Speaking of clean– the bathrooms are so gross. Ive seen nicer ones in bars. The place needs a major overhaul of the interior.
If they are trying to be a «nicer» restaurant then they need better trained professional staff and a nicer updated interior. Otherwise its just an overpriced little rickys type of place.

A joke of an establishment. They sent a coupon to Winnetka residents that had specific dates it would not be taken. We went on a different date, and they said when we got there that they wouldn’t honor it on this date either, despite it being specifically one of the dates that should have been honored. This complete lack of integrity is disgusting.

Elegant venue. Took my wife and business associates there last night and very pleased. Bourbon old fashions were strong and tasty service staff excellent. Look forward to returning … Worth the communities support !!

This is one of the best hidden gems in suburban Illinois. Fresh and flavorful. Service is excellent. Went in there for a salad and end up eating much more. Loved it. Will return.

I like Taste On Chestnut. I like the new menu, the delivery, and the service. I don’t see a huge change in décor from Jerry’s to TOC, but I’ve always liked the space. It’s not a place I go to for a quick lunch; TOC is a place to linger and chat. Great salads (my friends and I are big fans of the Lobster Salad, and the Grilled Chicken and Avocado Salad), coffee, and desserts, too. My only complaint is that I almost always feel cold when I eat there, especially if we’re by one of the windows. I know that’s hard to avoid, so keep it in mind when asking for a table. I’ve yet to be there for dinner, and hope to remedy that soon.

I was so pleasantly surprised by Taste. Even before the meal they served the most amazing bread basked with this addictive flatbread and breadsticks. So many items on the menu sounded amazing, I ended up going with the shrimp tacos, they were large and came with a side of guacamole and salsa. My only complain is I think the dish could have been seasoned better, definitely needed salt. My friends seemed to love their meals as well. The décor is very nice, a sunny, comfortable and welcoming place. Winnetka is in great need of restaurants and really hope this one can survive.

After reading some nice reviews, we decided to try Taste on Chestnut in Winnetka. The restaurant occupies the same space that was Jerry’s and the Cooking School. One enters through the double doors off Chestnut, and into a space that has a 8 seat hightop table in the center of the room, which is totally useless, as you could not seat customers there without severely cramping the tables on the sides of the room. About 7 tables are along the walls of the room, and a bar with setting for 6 and no standing room is on the east wall of this room, with a small host station for checking in of patrons. The functional layout of this room is absolutely nuts! If you have to wait for a table (as we had to wait for over 20 minutes for our reservation to be honored), there is no place to stand.
Which brings us to problem number one: the host was certainly not welcoming or friendly, and was vague as to when we would be seated. After 15 minutes, I was told that a table would be available shortly. Finally 5 minutes later, we were taken to the former cooking school space (several tables adjacent to the kitchen) but had to wait while the final placement of linen and silver was completed.
Problem two: the menu. I thought the menu was nicely descriptive, but the prices were a bit high. $ 10.00 for a small wedge of iceberg lettuce, a thin piece of pancetta, and blue cheese dressing (with a very small amount of «Maytag» blue cheese on the plate. $ 29.00 for salmon? $ 28.00 for Idaho trout? $ 32.00 for grilled Branzino with cauliflower purée, broccolini, air dried tomato petals and lemon garlic white wine butter. My spouse had the Branzino, which did not come with the «tomato petals.» She asked for them, and was served 3 slices of tomatoes, with a little olive oil dressing, not sun-​dried, and not anything special. E***, who also had ordered the Branzino, did not get the tomatoes served to him, and when the server brought J*** her «petals,» I had to say, «Well, what about the «petals» for E***. A return trip was required to remedy this deficiency. Her fish tasted fresh, but there was nothing special about the presentation or the taste to make it worthy of the price tag. I had the trout, which came on a bed of lentils, and topped with wilted spinach. My fish was slightly burnt, just enough to be somewhat off-​putting. B*** had the Winnetka Trio salad, a small piece of very uninspired and underseasoned pan roast atlantic salmon with some broccolini, an asian slaw called a chinoise salad, and a small beet salad. She was underwhelmed by this dish.
The uninspired and flawed dishes we were served, the excessive charges, and the unpleasant arrival area make a return visit highly unlikely. The only positive thing that I can report is that our server was pleasant. Reduce the prices by at least 25%, reconfigure and fix the entry situation, get a new host, and do a more intriguing and careful job of cooking. Then I’ll reconsider a repeat visit.

Dinner last night with party of five. Ate upstairs in the little room. It was crowded, but we could talk comfortably. Bring a cushion if you have a bony back, and a hat or shawl if the air conditioning will annoy you.
Professional service from Ricardo and his team.
Unusual menu. Ordered the trout stuffed with potatoes, spinach, and other items. A few bones in the fish; you have been warned. Generous portion. Very full afterward.
Meal was tasty and memorable. Others in our group thought their food was good to excellent. Lobster in sandwich was bland, says one.
I ate here *many* times as a child, when it was the Indian Trail. Loads of dreadful memories. My great aunt could survive for a week on the dinner rolls she stuffed into her purse.
Glad it has been updated. Give it a try.

Tasting Experience:
I think Taste on Chestnut has a lot of potential. I had the pleasure of trying their tasting menu tonight and enjoyed most of the items. Unfortunately, I was told that the shrimp ceviche over watermelon (which happened to be my favorite small bite item from the tasting) is not available on their menu. We were able to sample a few of their cocktails (lemon drop, jalepeno watermelon, mint mojito, etc). After the tasting we decided to sit down at a table and order some food. Johnny, who helped us during our tasting, was pleasant enough. He had a slight condescending tone at times, but we didn’t let that ruin the experience.
TASTE
Overall, the food was presented beautifully, but was overpriced for what we got. The Allen Brother’s Skirt Steak was overcooked (we asked for medium and got medium well) & overpriced at $ 30. The lobster club was again, average. It had a decent amount of lobster meat, but did not taste fresh (e.g. the Cellar in Evanston). The rest of the food followed suit. I think Taste on Chestnut would be deserving of more stars if they either lower their prices to match the quality and freshness or bring fresher and/​or more unique flavors to the table. My suggestion would be tomato a more condensed, solid menu. From spaghetti bolognese to grilled Bronzino and from signature quesadillas to a Moroccan salad, the flavors don’t seem to be aimed at being fine dining American Food. Pick your specialty and stick to it.
SERVICE
Ricardo, our server was pleasant enough.

My girlfriends and I are foodies and always looking for new places to eat. I was super excited to try The Taste on Chestnut. The menu had a nice variety of options, but was average tasting, not exceptional for the $. In fact, one of the women in our group sent her Morrocan salad back to the kitchen because the chicken was very obviously undercooked when she cut into it.
A lot of situations are forgiveable. I recognize that sometimes things go wrong in the kitchen. This being said, I/​we may have given Taste a second chance if it weren’t for the abrasive server named Melina (sp?). As a paying customer, I have zero tolerance for rudeness. Unfortunately this restaurant may have had real potential to thrive, but I have a feeling the wait staff will be the reason it fails.
Winnetka doesn’t have many restaurants. I really wanted to like Taste on Chestnut and hoped it would be a future go-​to, but unfortunately I didn’t leave feeling compelled to return, especially when I can have a much better experience at Trifecta, next door.

Taste on Chestnut was OK. It wasn’t bad and was nothing that I would rush back to. I think this place is way more appealing when you are here for a special event (my first time there). I had fun at the special event, that my husband and I returned on a random night for dinner.
We ordered the lobster spring rolls for an appetizer. It looked really pretty and tasted ok… nothing special. I enjoyed the cilantro/​mint chutney, if you will. Wish they had more of it on the plate. I also had the cauliflower bisque… which was REALLY good!!! Actually, I would return just for that soup!!! YUMMMY! :) When it came to choosing an entrée, I was a bit bummed because it seemed like there were way more salads on the menu as opposed to entrees. I ended up w/​a salad and was so disappointed in it. I ordered a bbq chopped chicken salad. I know… I know… how special can I expect a salad to be… but, this was just thrown together and smothered in bbq sauce. I feel like the garden herb ranch in it didn’t even go w/​the bbq sauce. It was a weird partnership of flavors. :(I actually wanted a pasta, but I couldn’t bring myself to pay $ 20+ for spaghetti!
Maybe it was just an off night, but I wasn’t wowed… well, only by the soup. The service is good. The space is cozy… can feel a little crowded.

Good food, horrible air quality.
The ducted range hood over the stoves was not strong enough. Didn’t keep the kitchen and restaurant air clean. Entire restaurant was polluted with cooking odors.
Warning:Your fancy clothing, body and hair will get odors as well.

Great Sunday brunch buffet. Started with amazing bloody followed by best omelet ever and a great array of other brunch treats. Don’t miss this place.

WOW! Best Brunch on the North Shore. Just came from the most delicious brunch.
We were celebrating a family birthday made perfect by Taste on Chestnut. The food was amazing. A buffet filled with something for everyone. Updated twists on classics brunch food (house cured smoked salmon) and some new additions (tacos for brunch!) Not to mention the amazing Bloody Mary Bar. The staff was also very attentive. Can’t wait to go back

If you’re considering hosting a private event, this venue provides the space and resources for it. You can host a:
1. Cooking class for 30 – 35 people in their open kitchen area of the Savory Room. Each class would take 60 – 90 mins. You can choose from up to 15 menus for the class.
2. Bar and bites activity at the open bar area of the Chestnut Room. They serve a variety of red and white wines, along with light bites like popcorn and trail mix at the event. This would be perfect for others who don’t want to cook or relaxing during the event.
3. Other short and fun cooking tutorials in the Fireplace Room.
Note that the bathrooms and coat hooks are available in a separate hallway for guests. Parking is available on the street and private lot. This is only a 4 min walk from the Winnetka Metra stop.

Living in downtown Chicago, Saturday nights are challenging when it comes to reservations at the good restaurants. I’m so happy to find Taste! It’s an easy drive from the city and the meal was well worth the effort! The drinks here are perfect. NO watered down booze in this joint! The staff is very friendly and made us feel like we were long-​time customers even though the place is new. The salad selection is epic, not just the one or two choices of regular fare. I was surprised to see sandwiches on the dinner menu, but when I saw them coming out of the kitchen, I could see why people were so eager to order them. Personally, I opted for the sea scallops on a bed of creamy risotto and asparagus with crispy shallots and micro greens. It was expertly prepared and the portion was very generous. My other guests had the sea bass roasted whole with sauteed greens. The fish was tender and the skin was crispy.
The skirt steak and fries was so large that it came home in a bag to be paired with eggs at home in the morning! The end of the dinner came with an apple crisp a la mode with caramel sauce and carrot cake with thick cream cheese frosting. Our meal was paired with an incredible wine that was selected with the help of out wonderful server. I was unfamiliar with the label, but it was a great value, and I was grateful for the recommendation. I can’t wait to go back and see what else the chef’s got in mind!
…and the Chicago prices, I didn’t miss that one bit.

As long time Winnetka residents we were excited about this new fine dining restaurant replacing Cooks corner We made reservations for our birthday weekend. When we arrived we were greeted in a friendly manner and we ordered drinks at the bar. Before the drinks were served the hostess tried to seat us at a table next to the bar, by the entrance and next to numerous people waiting for tables. We politely declined and proceeded to O’Neills where we had a fabulous and intimate dinner. Regardless of the quality of food at this restaurant, do not ever accept a table at the entrance by the bar

We stopped in tonight for a drink and loved the new décor. I wish we had more time to try the good but the smell and the menu will have us coming back! Everyone was so friendly and Steve the owner came around to see how we were enjoying everything and to chat a little. Lovely space, can’t wait to try the place for dinner!