Following last year’s somewhat disappointing foray into Chicago’s annual Restaurant Week, I was ready to eschew Restaurant Week forever. That sentiment was only strengthened after viewing the offerings for 2026, from over FIVE HUNDRED participating restaurants. Honestly, I’m not sure how pizza places have gotten in on this multi-course prix fixe deal, but I was overwhelmed and ready to just say, “not this year.” However, After really caught my eye – mainly because I have been absolutely loving eating at the bar version of high-end restaurants around Chicago lately (see my thoughts on The Loyalist and The Asador Bastian Bar). I figured I’d give After (the sister bar concept to the two-star Michelin Ever) a shot for Chicago Restaurant week, and I was so incredibly happy I did – After really shows off in ways that were surprising, and we had a really fantastic evening here.

To start, Ever and After are located in the west loop, however they are pretty far west so parking on Fulton Market was ample when we came around 5pm on a Tuesday. When you walk into After, you are immediately taken in by the chic and sexy vibe here. It’s really dark, but happily, the lighting at each table and at the bar is somehow very good so you can see your menu and your food and drinks. Gorgeous photographs of big time rock stars adorn the walls, and my husband was happy we were seated at the Jack White table (his favorite). It was a high top table, but situated in a booth, and there was a bar around the bottom of the table for your feet, so it was quite comfortable.

Service here was attentive and prompt, and it was easy to choose the restaurant week menu. The normal bar menu is relatively limited, although does contain some snacks that looked amazing such as whitefish brandade, duck wings, and a burger and fries that I think I’m going to have to come back and try. Between Brian and me, we tried everything on the Restaurant Week menu, and while some might say it’s not be the best value for Restaurant Week, I thought that the high quality ingredients, superb plating, and absolutely delicious flavors, paired with yummy cocktails and wine, were worth the price tag of just $60 per person. Note that the beverage pairings were extra – $40 for wine and $50 for cocktails.

Brian started with the Hamachi Crudo, and I got the A5 Wagyu tartare. Both were absolutely outstanding. I loved the gingery freshness to the tartare which was unique and even though the texture was slightly mushier than expected, the flavors came together nicely. The Hamachi Crudo was bright, fresh, and Brian lapped up every last drop of the sauce. These were served with crunchy toasted focaccia, which was oily and a nice way to soak up the acidic food.

Next up were the Chestnut Cappelletti and Parsnip Risotto. Again, both were outstanding. The parsnip risotto was artfully plated, and offered multiple textures to delight your palate including crunchy parsnip chips. The pureed chestnuts were contained in elegant pasta cappelletti, bathed in a butter and truffle sauce. I ate them slowly to savor every bite of this yummy dish.

Finally were the protein offerings, which were grilled pork belly and braised A5 Wagyu. The pork belly was crunchy, fatty, and flavorful, and the 2-3 ounce portion was perfectly paired with a sunchoke puree. The braised beef was extraordinarily tender. Interestingly, you rarely will have braised wagyu beef, mainly because it’s so tender and fatty on its own, but I’m guessing this was perhaps from the chuck or short ribs that is not typically used for steaks and other fancier cuts and still needs time braising in order to soften. It was a nice, unexpected take on A5 wagyu.

I have to note here that After is known for their bespoke, hand crafted cocktails, and they offered both a cocktail and wine pairing with the Restaurant Week menu. While Brian ordered the cocktails, and I got the wines, I stole Brian’s final cocktail, the Sunchoke Adonis, made with two different types of sherry, sunchoke, sweet vermouth and mustard, since it was one of the best cocktails I’ve ever had. It was the perfect balance of savory and acidic, with the slightest tinge of sweetness. Absolutely dynamite – you must try this cocktail when you visit After.

We still had room for dessert, so we got the two desserts on offer that evening – a milk stout semifreddo, and a blood orange meringue. Both were completely opposite in flavor profiles, but both had a nice mix of textures that made the dishes far more interesting then what you might normally expect from either of these desserts.

I absolutely loved every moment of our meal here at After, and it makes me excited not only to return, but also to put Ever at the top of my list for my next fancy meal in Chicago. The chic atmosphere, the elevated food, and the outstanding cocktails make After an absolute yes for a recommendation for an amazing evening out in Chicago without breaking the bank.