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ALTHEA

Restaurant Bar Vegetarian restaurant Cocktail bar Brunch restaurant Wine bar Vegan restaurant Health food restaurant Fine dining restaurant

Stylish spot for chef-driven vegan fare with organic beer, wine & cocktails & panoramic city views. People often mention vegan, good, great, restaurant, delicious, menu, Althea, cakes, amazing, experience,


Address

700 N Michigan Ave 7th floor, Chicago, IL 60611, United States

Website

www.matthewkenneycuisine.com

Contact

+1 312-525-3400

Price rating

$$ $$

Rating on Google Maps

4.40 (381 reviews)

Open on Google Maps

Working Hours

Permanently closed.

Featured Reviews


Frequently mentioned in reviews: vegan (30) good (20) great (19) restaurant (17) delicious (16) menu (16) Althea (12) cakes (12) amazing (12) experience (11)
Reviews are sorted by relevance, prioritizing the most helpful and insightful feedback at the top for easier reference.
  • 5/5 Justine 1 year ago on Google
    Althea offers the best upscale vegan dining experience in Chicago! My non-vegan mom couldn’t believe the crab cakes were made with jackfruit not real crab! Highly recommend the Crab cakes, Kimchi dumplings and lasagna! There’s also a beautiful City view!
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 cbates614 1 year ago on Google
    Just went here on Sunday 7/24 and I have already made reservations for my next visit in a month! I can’t say enough about how incredible this plant based restaurant was. It was amazingly beyond my expectations!!! I went with my non vegan daughter and she loved it as much as I did. The ambiance was perfect for a Sunday afternoon lunch. Great view of downtown with a bit of a view of Lake Michigan. Everything we had, cocktails, appetizers, entrees, and desserts, were nothing short of spectacular. Great location in the heart of downtown and only a couple of blocks from one of many Chicago lakefront beaches and the bike path. It would be awesome to have more restaurants like this in, and around the city.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Michael P. 1 year ago on Google
    Great food and drinks with a great view. The food was fantastic as was the service. Very friendly staff, who adjusted for our train making us quite late for our reservation. The drinks were good, especially my fiancèe's espresso martini - perfectly balanced the espresso so it preserved the martini flavor AND the espresso flavor. The cheese board appetizer was incredible. Anyone who has dined vegan knows that cheese is very difficult to emulate, but the house-made cheeses at Althea are fantastic. The chevre paired perfect with the olives. The cheddar was perfectly rich while the provolone was cashew-forward but melded into flavor very faithful to provolone. Free house pickles were sweet and tart, the candied pistachios were sweet The highlight of the meal was my fiancèe's Cacio E pepper - another dish that is hard to translate to vegan ism. It was delicious, peppery goodness. I especially loved the cured olives. They are little bombs of briney deliciousness. Everything was levated by the very satisfying, refreshing crunch of the sugar snap peas. As the staff will tell you it is raw and served cold but believe this non-vegan when I say that takes nothing from the experience. Coconut curry risotto was my entrée. It takes a little bit of work to curate your bites, but when properly built they feature layers of excellent flavor - umami from roasted cauliflower, lemony tang from the curry, a rich zip from heirloom tomatoes, sweet crunch of peas, and the cleansing mint chutney. I am certain we'll make a return trip the next time we're in Chicago.
    2 people found this review helpful 👍

  • 1/5 Maggie O. 4 years ago on Google
    Absolute terrible experience at Althea. Called ahead for a team lunch for their restaurant week menu. They knew a large group was coming for their set menu and it took FOREVER to get our food. Food was pretty disgusting, staff was not helpful. The coconut ice cream literally tasted like vomit, everyone around our table of 12 thought the same. What was supposed to be an hour and half break for lunch turned into an hour longer, please note most guests had to leave early and we had to bring their lunch back to the office because it took so long to get our food. Cherry on top is that a chair broke. We expressed our concerns over everything and they only comped one meal "only because her chair broke". I will never suggest this restaurant and will never go back ever again.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 3/5 T M. 2 years ago on Google
    I was really excited to find this plant based restaurant as there aren't many in my area. We arrived 15 minutes after opening so there was only one other party in the very small and quaint space. I was surprised that the host sat is literally one table over from the other party in an empty restaurant. Because of the pandemic and the mask mandate, I thought this was odd so we asked to be moved further away. Well that didn't last long because as more parties arrived, the host placed everyone right next to each other when there were enough empty tables to spread everyone out. Our waitress was very attentive but didn't seem too familiar with the ingredients on the menu and had to keep checking with the chef. We ordered the plant burger (not so good), the barbacoa tacos (amazing) the roasted potatoes (another hit) and a side of asparagus. Notice I stated "side" yet we got the asparagus entree ($7 more than the side) which was too much and we ended up not finishing them. For dessert we ordered the hibiscus strawberry cheesecake which was perfect and looked too pretty to eat. Overall, we liked the food, but the dining in experience was not so great and not worth the money. Will order to go next time.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Asha B. 4 years ago on Google
    Love the concept and food. So far my favorites are the curry risotto and spicy udon noodles. Desserts could be more flavorful (I would skip) but overall a wonderful experience.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Liliana M. 2 years ago on Google
    The service was exceptional. Our server, Azul, was friendly, efficient, and knowledgeable. We ordered the artisanal cheese plate as a starter. For main dishes, we had the burger with a side of roasted potatoes and the lasagna with a side salad. Lastly, we enjoyed a flight of ice cream (the hazelnut and key lime flavors were our favorites).
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 raj t. 2 years ago on Google
    Went here a day before valentines and ordered one of the valentines day set menu and the rest was Ala carte. Crab cakes were the best and the desert was really good! Cocktails are pretty good too.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Sahil J. 2 years ago on Google
    Althea is one of the many gems of Matthew Kenny. I have been to many vegan restaurants but Althea beats everyone. Every item is a delicous. The presentation is artistic and the flavors are distinct and amazing. Must try- Kimchi Dumplings and Chocolate truffle slice
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Jay S. 1 year ago on Google
    One of the few vegan places in the city, although I actually do not know if all of the dishes are vegan. Regardless, the food is delicious. It is located in a fancy department store, so the vibe is a check. They have lots of innovative dishes, such as almond udon and kimchi dumplings, and, to my surprise, they are very good. The portion is small, so you may spend quite a bit here. But I personally think the quality matches up the price. I had a crab and avocado toast, an al pastor taco, and baked mac and cheese, and I enjoyed them all! You can definitely find something you like here, whether it is starters, mains, or desserts, and whether you come here for brunch or lunch or dinner. They got you covered.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Hosanna P. 1 year ago on Google
    Although it was very difficult to find off of my phone gps, it was well worth the effort to find. The potato leek soup was mouthwateringly delicious. The Baked Mac and Cheese was also extremely good. I had the crab sandwich as my main and it was tasty as well. They even served me a very refreshing and fruity mocktail. I would love to eat here again. 10/10.
    1 person found this review helpful 👍

  • 5/5 Prima R. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing food great service

  • 4/5 Amal H. 4 years ago on Google
    Lovely little restaurant located inside Saks fifth Ave. Beautiful ambiance and friendly wait staff. The food was delicious and gorgeous presentation!

  • 5/5 M. Kamran A. 4 years ago on Google
    Great Vegan options. Pleasantly surprised.

  • 5/5 Eric S. 4 years ago on Google
    Great food and drink menu

  • 5/5 ankur p. 4 years ago on Google
    Food was delicious and staff was so friendly. Given that all the menu items are vegan I was a little hesitant but came away very impressed. The chickpea fratatta is amazing and their pistachio ice cream was a treat!

  • 5/5 Angela M. 4 years ago on Google
    So happy to have Althea in Chicago! The service was good, our waitress was attentive and paced our meal nicely since we ordered quite a few dishes. I would highly recommend the Kimchi dumplings. The coconut wrap is outstanding and made in house with dehydrated coconut & cilantro. The filling had a light nuttiness with a beautiful umami flavor. We ordered 2 plates, it was that good. The mushroom tacos were highly recommended and were just okay. The seasoning of the mushrooms were delicious and well prepared but the tortilla tasted store bought and a bit old. It wasn't anything more than a standard taco in my opinion. The anipasti platter was thoughtful and flavorful - the olive oil cashews were delicous and the pickled beets were flavorful. I loved the stuffed olives too, it's rare to get a vegan stuffed olive anywhere! My husband had the flatbread and loved it. I had the kelp cacio de pepe which was absloutely amazing. My only critique was that it needed more pepper and olives. I asked for more pepper on the side, which made it divine. The briny saltiness of the olives was outstanding but there were only a few small chunks, having more would have been amazing. We didn't save room for dessert but hope to have some next time. The setting is really inviting yet simple. We sat by the window with great views of Michigan Ave. They are currently BYOB for a short while, it's nice to have the option to bring alcohol. I look forward to their wine selections once they receive the license. We will be back for sure!

  • 5/5 Payton P. 4 years ago on Google
    Even if you are not vegan, you absolutely need to try the cuisine at Althea. Some of the most mouth watering food I’ve ever had. So many flavors and options for everyone on the menu. We had the crab cakes, coconut curry risotto, kelp noodle cacio e Pepe, and finished with the chocolate cashew cheesecake. Chef Matthew Kenney is a genius with flavors and I cannot wait to try more of his dishes.

  • 3/5 Craig T. 4 years ago on Google
    Nice place. Little of a pain to find and there's not a great selection on the menu but overall had a nice time.

  • 5/5 Edward B. 4 years ago on Google
    Very good vegan food. A bit pricey. The servers tried to bring us somebody else's food 2 different times.

  • 5/5 Angela K. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing vegan food with great service and a nice view! Must do while you are visiting Chicago! Highly recommended! #govegan

  • 4/5 Patrick F. 4 years ago on Google
    We decided to try Althea out during Restaurant Week and were not disappointed by the food we got. Everything, sans the Little Gem Cesar, which we found a bit underwhelming and bland, blew us away. The Barboca Taco was packed with flavor and set our expectations high for the rest of the meal. The Kelp Noodle Cacio e Pepe was the real winner for me. Absolutely delicious! We tried the Seasonal Flatbread (kale with truffle oil if I remember correctly) and quite enjoyed that too. For dessert, we tried the Tahini Ice Cream, something I could eat an entire carton of if given the chance, and the Pineapple Coconut Sorbet, which was light and refreshing, better suited for the spring or summer in my opinion. What we had a major issue with was our server. We inquired about the Restaurant Week brunch menu and were told it was only available Sundays, which is fine as we weren't aware. However, he never followed up with letting us know the lunch course was an option. We had to ask the hostess, who was very nice and got us the menu to order from. Bad impression aside from our server, we'd go again to try some of the other dishes and definitely sample more desserts.

  • 5/5 Robert D. 4 years ago on Google
    Holy F. Plant based food finally done right. Bravo!

  • 5/5 Kevin James C. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing vegan food, great decor and awesome staff especially our server Devin! This place is definitely worth a visit! The crab cakes and the lasagna are excellent.

  • 4/5 Sam C. 2 years ago on Google
    Hugh scale vegan restaurant, delicious and good looking food. I will definitely come back. Good option for a nice dinner

  • 5/5 Cheyenne D. 2 years ago on Google
    The food was absolutely exceptional! What a great spot for lunch with the girls. We ordered a variety of appetizers, main courses and dessert. Every bite left us in awe and it definitely exceeded our expectations. This is plant-based dining at its absolute best. I wish I could eat like this every single day. Great views were an added bonus.

  • 5/5 Danielle F. 2 years ago on Google
    Outstanding food and atmosphere... Extra bonus is that everything is Vegan. The raw lasagna was a fun summer dish. The cocktails are amazing too.

  • 4/5 Chris R. 2 years ago on Google
    Excellent meal with a great view! I’m always on the lookout for an all plant based restaurant, my wife is vegan and it is nice to not worry about what might be an option for her on the menu. We had a great experience, vegan cheeses plate was great and very interesting. I really loved my fried tuna sandwich, what a great idea! The vegan banana creme pie is worth the trip al by itself! Beautiful view!

  • 5/5 Nicole P. 2 years ago on Google
    Coming from an area that has very little vegan options I was extremely excited to have the opportunity to experience elevated vegan dining. To start I had the cheese platter, everything was made in house according to our waitress, and every bite was even more delicious and mouth watering than the last. Each cheese was so packed full of flavor and so creamy it was incredible. I couldn’t help but order the crab cakes as well seeing as those were always my favorite. My only complaint was that I couldn’t get enough! The Jackfruit base is seasoned so well, again, it’s like the real thing! For our main courses my husband ordered the vegan zucchini lasagna and I ordered the spicy udon noodles. We honestly took turns each other’s meals because we just couldn’t get enough. The lasagna is a cold dish, but it’s so fresh and full of fragrant flavors it’s electrifying with each bite. The udon noodles are in a world of their own! The creamy broth has the perfect kick to it and the tempeh served on top is seasoned to absolute perfection! I cannot say enough good things about this place! It should be an absolute must on anyone’s to do list!

  • 5/5 ANA S. 2 years ago on Google
    This restaurant is great!! My mom is vegan and usually I’m not the biggest fan of vegan food but this restaurant really impressed me . I LOVED the vegan crab cakes definitely recommend! The pineapple juice is really tasty and refreshing and the desserts are rich and full of flavor.At first I thought they were weird combinations of flavors but once again it proved me wrong!! Love this place! I hope I can come back soon!!

  • 5/5 Elise S. 1 year ago on Google
    Food was delicious but service was outstanding especially with minimal staff. Rachel, was especially charming and bumped a 4 star review to 5. Al pastor taco was very flavorful. Would have been even better with another teaspoon of the mango salsa. Kimchi dumplings were very good. Loved the Cacio e pepe (note this is a cold noodle dish but PERFECTLY flavored and delightfully refreshing for the summer. The crab cakes were just ok but the picked relish that came with it was delicious. For cocktails the staycation was very good while the mandarin mile was a bit lacking. The only dish I did not like was the macaroons cheese. Very much lack flavor and not up to standard of the other dishes. All in all would definitely revisit if in the city if only for the attentive and kind service.

  • 5/5 Gee B. 3 years ago on Google
    Creative, fancy ,nourishing ,beautifully presented .Special. Polenta dish with Kale pesto lacked flavor but still cannot wait to return .Thanks for giving vegan a good rep.

  • 5/5 Sui B. 3 years ago on Google
    We ate here several times at Althea when we were in Chicago. The food is wonderful - delicious and innovative. The service is great - the staff is attentive and very helpful. They clearly know the menu very well and can explain it if you have any concerns or just need advice. The views are also terrific! We ended up going to Althea three times and tasted most of the menu. We enjoyed everything. We're looking forward to a return trip to Althea .... Once we can travel again.

  • 5/5 Chase C. 3 years ago on Google
    The general manager, Kelly, is exceptional. On Christmas Eve, we ordered the holiday special for pickup, and after arriving home (30min from the restaurant), we realized the portion size of the main dish was smaller than expected. We called and spoke with Kelly. She went above and beyond to deliver us another portion of the dish free of charge, with a few drinks thrown in as well. She turned what could have been a sour experience into an expression of generosity, truly embodying the spirit of the holidays. Thanks, Kelly!

  • 4/5 Thea k. 3 years ago on Google
    We loved Wild seed. All seven of us. Inventive flavors. Great service. Alluring ambiance. The childless with soyrizo were to die for. Frittatas, amazing. Fritters, could eat them all day. Really fantastic all around.

  • 5/5 Derek B. 4 years ago on Google
    Service was excellent, food was amazing, and the atmosphere was inviting. When we went it was BYOB with no corking surcharge, but I would call before hand to verify. I am already excited to go back! Ever sense my girlfriend and I have changed our diet to plant based only, it has been hard to find good tasting food without removing everything. Coming here was a dream! Everything we ate tasted amazing! Their desserts are a must! Definitely try their lasagna. This is a must try for a date night!

  • 3/5 Anna A. 3 years ago on Google
    Good vegan food but simply not worth the wait. We waited well over 50 minutes until our main course was served. The main course was (1) risotto and (2) udon. None of these items require so long for preparation so we are really clueless of what might have happened. The server endured that this was a normal wait time though - so I guess beware. Crab cakes were on top ($14 for 3 pieces) Udon is 3 out of 5 ($19 - ouch!) Risotto was 4 out of 5 ($18 - ok) I guess I wish the server admitted the mistake and tried making things right. Negligence to admit the mistake and overall high price will stir me away from this place in the future. Drinks are good Cheers

  • 5/5 Daniel L. 4 years ago on Google
    Delicious! Great views, comfortable atmosphere, and friendly staff. Everything on the menu looked delicious. I had a bowl of soup and the risotto; both were excellent. Might go back tomorrow night just to try a few other things that were on the menu.

  • 5/5 Tre N. 4 years ago on Google
    Lovely open space concept tucked neatly into the NE corner of Saks Fifth. A fun, filling plant-based experience with delicious classics. For plant-based eaters, this is fine dining, for us. For skeptics, this is an upscale introduction into the future of food.

  • 5/5 Carol D. 4 years ago on Google
    Had a wonderful brunch! We received complimentary scones, had great service and loved that the cappuccino and lattes were made with oat milk. My friend and I split the Toast Flight and Upside Down Pancake, and since the latter takes 20 minutes it worked perfectly because it was cake-like and pretty much dessert! Everything was very yummy. Can't wait to go back again :)

  • 5/5 Zen R. 4 years ago on Google
    Everything was delicious. Staff was nice. ♡

  • 5/5 Barbara C. 3 years ago on Google
    Service was excellent, recommended.

  • 5/5 Gregory C. 3 years ago on Google
    7 floor in Saks 5th Avenue

  • 4/5 purva j. 3 years ago on Google
    Due to the COVID restrictions, we couldn't dine in but we did takeout and got kimchi dumplings, barbacoa taco, noodle soup with tempeh, curry risotto, and the chai spice cheesecake. I think my least favorite dish were the dumplings because the stuffing just seemed too mushy, I am not sure if it's because it doesn't travel well. Another dish i wasnt too impressed by was the curry soup. I just found it to be underwhelming, taste-wise. But, the taco was delish. I could eat three of those as an entree. The risotto with cauliflower was very tasty and the cheesecake was scrumptious. All in all a very good experience but like in any other restaurants, it depends on what you order.

  • 5/5 Dan J. 3 years ago on Google
    Delicious! got carry-out during 2nd covid surge

  • 5/5 Cody D. 3 years ago on Google
    Great service, great view. It feels like a vegan restaurant you'd experience in LA. Loved it!

  • 4/5 Rebecca P. 3 years ago on Google
    First time visiting! Love they are all plant based! The food all looked beautiful! The cheese platter was fun to try as they were all three very different from one another. Our main dishes were also good and pretty flavorful. Unfortunately our cheesecake was very frozen and we could hardly even eat the crust with the cheesecake itself. Having a very frozen cheesecake also changed the overall texture and it honestly is not something we’d want to try again and the reason for 4 stars overall!

  • 2/5 Josh S. 4 years ago on Google
    I’m surprised to learn that that they do not carry nonalcoholic beer at this restaurant. They have beers here that range from seven dollars to nine dollars, but nothing in the nonalcoholic variety. That is something that definitely needs to be changed. They do have house cocktails which range from $14-$15 that can be mixed spirit-free—For the same price. This pricing doesn’t make any sense: if you leave out the most expensive part of the drink— the alcohol – the price should go down accordingly. It would be different if these drinks just used some ordinary bottom shelf spirits, but they use really fancy stuff like Chairman’s Reserve Spiced rum and Ransom Old Town gin. Since this is a vegan restaurant it should be pretty easy for them to do the math and fix these prices, because vegans are sensitive to discriminatory pricing, Justice people who don’t drink alcohol recognize that booze-free drinks should cost considerably less

  • 4/5 Nkemdilim N. 4 years ago on Google
    Fellow carnivores, although this is a plant based restaurant it is also for you! Food was amazing, my favorite being the chickpea frittata (pictured). Was the perfect easy lunch with an incredible view overlooking downtown.

  • 5/5 Keri F. 4 years ago on Google
    So good! Such a creative kitchen to make veggies taste, feel, and act like meat in new ways. Makes you wonder how other chefs call themselves creative when all they do is puree something and call it deconstructed. Try making kimchi feel like ground meat! Crazy! Favs were kimchi, crabcakes, and bbq tacos.

  • 5/5 Cyborg S. 4 years ago on Google
    Excellent spot for lunch or a date. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. Everything was delicious. Hope to return soon.

  • 5/5 Chippley F. 4 years ago on Google
    Such a great place ❤️

  • 5/5 Mikael F. 4 years ago on Google
    Althea is definitely a must go to restaurant if you're in Chicago!

  • 5/5 Gina H. 4 years ago on Google
    I really have to start getting better about taking pix of my food BEFORE I start chowing down. I have been up and down Michigan Ave a million times and never noticed the sign for this place. Today I did and I’m glad I did. The food was fabulous! lol ordered the barbacoa tacos and crab cakes with a glass of wine for an afternoon snack. Small portions but so yummy. Tacos are $5 a piece so o got two. The crab cakes were three small cakes but between the two was just enough. Add a glass of wine and your day is made. Next time I’ll order an entree and take pix before I devour it!

  • 5/5 Dheeraj C. 4 years ago on Google
    Amazing amazing amazing! Vegan or not, the food is just absolutely fantastic!

  • 5/5 Shiva 7. 4 years ago on Google
    Delicious vegan meal

  • 4/5 Stephanie H. 4 years ago on Google
    Delicious but Sooooo overpriced! Lasagna 22.00 had to cost under 1 dollar to make:(

  • 5/5 christopher s. 4 years ago on Google
    Best high end vegan restaurant in chicago

  • 5/5 Ryan K. 4 years ago on Google
    This is one of the best vegan restaurants in Chicago. The taste matches the presentation in every way. I've had several menu items and they've all been great. Their desserts are very good too. And I can't forget to mention the spectacular view.

  • 5/5 Roman T. 4 years ago on Google
    Friendly staff great food!


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Amenities


  • Payments
    • ✓️ Debit cards
    • ✓️ Credit cards
    • ✓️ NFC mobile payments
  • Offerings
    • ✓️ Beer
    • ✓️ Wine
    • ✓️ Coffee
    • ✓️ Alcohol
    • ✓️ Spirits
    • ✓️ Cocktails
    • ✓️ Halal food
    • ✓️ Comfort food
    • ✓️ Small plates
    • ✓️ Organic dishes
    • ✓️ Happy-hour food
    • ✓️ Happy-hour drinks
    • ✓️ Vegetarian options
  • Accessibility
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible lift
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible toilet
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible seating
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible car park
    • ✓️ Wheelchair-accessible entrance
  • Dining options
    • ✓️ Lunch
    • ✓️ Brunch
    • ✓️ Dinner
    • ✓️ Dessert
    • ✓️ Seating
  • Service options
    • ✓️ Dine-in
    • ✓️ Delivery
    • ✓️ Takeaway
    • ✓️ No-contact delivery
  • From the business
    • ✓️ Identifies as women-owned

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