Temporis — Restaurant in West Chicago Township

My review is on the scale of a Michelin restaurant.

Ambiance: 10/10 Service: 10/10 Food: 9/10 ——————————————

Atmosphere is cozy and intimate. Seating was comfortable, which is great as a tall guy with perpetual back issues. Unpretentiously neat furnishings, with splashes of homeiness that brings down your guard.

My reservation was unintentionally missed, and they graciously accommodated for another time. We arrived and was instantly made to feel welcome and special. The staff is knowledgeable and have keen eyes for detail. No need to fidget with placements, fold my napkin, or brush crumbs from one course to the next. All this without feeling stuffy is an accomplishment. Our waiter was great, but it’s hard to judge how this would be at full capacity (given the size of the restaurant, probably would be no difference.) It felt like everyone was family, which was made even more poignant when the chef introduced one of the courses : the corn. Even advised we try the husk which was edible. That was definitely a highlight!

Each course was an absolute delight. The progression from the very start to each following dish made perfect sense, and never breached my 80% full mark, even with the wine pairing (that’s the best way to feel at the end of a wonderful meal.)

The canapes were tasty, playful little bites that definitely piqued our interest. My guest had the raw fish component for the next course replaced on the spot without us giving much notice, and it was still spot on.

I love the homage to fresh, seasonal ingredients, with an almost singular focus of elevating ingredients to their best state. I almost felt like I was in Plato’s Cave allegory and could turn around to see the perfect state of the world casting its shadows on my palette.

I only have one criticism for an otherwise perfect night. I feel the dry aged duck was a tad over medium rare, so I didn’t enjoy it as much as the other courses which broke up the continuity of the experience. Sandwiched between a perfect lobster and wagyu, the night was still amazing.

We will definitely be coming back as their tasting menu evolves and when they get their second and hopefully third...

AMAZING 30TH BDAY MEAL AT @temporischicago - one Michelin star ⭐in West town, Chicago

Temporis means "time" in Latin. Shown in the way each dish was cooked and unveils various textures and flavors in time

They are known for having a ten course meal. Make sure to allow 3 hours for you and your partner/loved ones to enjoy this meal. We got an extra birthday cake an amazing Hojicha caramel + Hojicha meringue & lady finger cake topped with gold flakes

🥂first champagne: 40% chardonnay with crispy apple and linear minerals , enough acidity to cut through first two dishes

1️⃣Canapes: 🥟 wagyu dumpling fried 🐚 Caviar + uni g chive crisp 🍑 Peach juice with basil oil & balsamic pearls

2️⃣foie gras parfait with blueberry, granola, & yuzu

🍷 White wine from Austria in 2021- with wisps of pepper, citrus peel. Very light and unusual. Picked before its over ripened on vine

3️⃣edible terrarium with carbonated tomato & pickled tomato . Gazpacho, basil , watermelon green, puffed rice , & cucumber

4️⃣Caviar, miso banana bread , coconut soup, banana puree, sago, Thai banana

🍷Burgundy white - Aligote 2020 vintage - similar to chardonnay but more acidity with hints of stone fruit. Very buttery like butter and a little banana and pineapple

5️⃣Black cod, piquillo pepper, artichoke puree, & parsley jam. Came with fingerling potato chips & saffron infused boullabaise

🍷 Pinot noir with hints of stone fruit from Burgundy

6️⃣Squab breast slow-roasted with ramp risotto, sorrel puree, strawberry puree , pink peppercorn & elderflower,

7️⃣Beef wagyu ribeye- sea buckthorn (orange), hibiscus jam (purple), & kombu . Came with crisped beef tendons almost like a salted vinegar chip

8️⃣Cantaloupe and goats milk milk punch with foam (pallete cleanser)

🍷Northern Hungary overriped wine from 2006

9️⃣Yuzu jelly, puiffed rice , cucumber sherbet, white chocolate caramel with lemon balm, sago

🔟Meyer lemon sorbet , basil pudding, Meyer lemon sherbet, salted caramel dark chocolate fudge

🎂 Hojicha meringue, hojicha lady finger & hojicha caramel topped with gold

🍬 Strawberry & spruce top paté de fruit (candy) & mojito bonbon

Big big thank you to...

My first time dining at Temporis was a beautiful, memorable, and once-in-a-lifetime experience full of tiny, food-addled moments of catharsis throughout the 11 course tasting menu and accompanying (graciously over-poured) wine pairing.

I came from New York to eat with a Chicagoan friend who was previously uninitiated to fine dining. His reaction to the combination of plating, taste, and serendipitously well-timed musical accompaniment was worth the trip and price, tenfold.

The restaurant is immaculate in style and aesthetics. Everything has a modern look to it, geometric, and playing off their spectacular branding. Their gold, silver, and bronze plated cards use a sophisticated algorithm to randomize the design of the logo on each card. This branding traverses to their menus - no two the same. Their meticulous attention to detail in the experience doesn't stop there.

The soft lights are programmed to react to the outside light and gently adjust to an optimal level. The bathrooms have elegant, galaxy off-black colored, cloth-like disposable hand towels perched upon the well designed sink that gently waterfalls a healthy volume of water for our pleasure. The service matches perfectly in excellence.

The food.

The chefs have a definite affinity for their molecular gastronomic ways. Each dish properly journeyed our senses through the spectrum of flavor. The first dish opened our appetites and made us immediately anticipate the next. Pictured below, the applewood-smoked cheese course was nothing short of spectacular. The Japanese Wagyu with it's french inspired sauce created an absolute explosion of umami. The crab BLT with espuma was an early dish with an inspired variety of flavors. The cauliflower, octopus, and ice cream were creative favorites.

The duck was stupendous. Definitely the best duck I've had and one of the top dishes I've had the pleasure of enjoying. I look forward to returning in the coming months for their next...