Oceanique
{{Short description|French-American cuisine restaurant in Evanston, Illinois}}
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{{Infobox restaurant
| name = Oceanique
| image = Oceanique Restaurant.png
| image_caption = The Front of Oceanique
| established = 1989
| current-owner = Mark Grosz
| head-chef = Mark Grosz
| food-type = French American French cuisine Seafood
| dress-code = Semi-casual
| rating =
| street-address = 505 Main St.
| city = Evanston
| state = Illinois
| zip = 60202
| country = United States
| seating-capacity =
| reservations = Yes
| other-locations =
| other-information =
| website = {{URL|www.oceanique.com}}
| coordinates = {{coord|42.0341|-87.6781|type:landmark_region:US-IL|display=inline,title}}
| mapframe = yes
| mapframe-zoom = 15
}}
Oceanique is a fine dining gourmet French-American cuisine restaurant in Evanston, Illinois that serves seafood. Oceanique has consistently been ranked as the number one seafood restaurant in the Chicago metro area by the Zagat Guide.{{cite web |title=Oceanique |url=http://www.zagat.com/r/oceanique-evanston |accessdate=9 November 2014 |publisher=Zagat.com}} "Make It Better Magazine" deemed it the best fine dining restaurant in 2014 and awarded them with the "Best of the North Shore" prize.{{cite web |url=http://www.evanstonedge.com/2014/07/28/evanston-restaurants-dominate-dining-best-of/ |title=Evanston Restaurants Dominate Dining Best-of |work=Evanston Edge |accessdate=9 November 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106071807/http://www.evanstonedge.com/2014/07/28/evanston-restaurants-dominate-dining-best-of/ |archive-date=6 November 2014 |url-status=dead }} It opened in 1989. Mark Grosz is the head chef and owner. It is located at 505 Main Street, two blocks from the Main St. 'L' Station.{{cite web |title=Restaurant: Oceanique |url=http://isanu.org/restaurant-oceanique/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141106112411/http://isanu.org/restaurant-oceanique/ |archive-date=6 November 2014 |accessdate=9 November 2014 |work=ISA NU}} Oceanique has an adjoining outdoor patio that customers can use, weather permitting.{{cite web |url=http://checkplease.wttw.com/restaurants/oceanique |title=Oceanique |work=Check, Please! - WTTW |accessdate=9 November 2014|date=2012-07-30 }}{{cite web |url=http://chicagoalphabetsoup.com/2014/03/09/je-suis-en-amour-avec-oceanique/ |title=Je suis en amour avec Oceanique |work=Chicago Alphabet Soup's Blog |accessdate=9 November 2014|date=2014-03-10 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.chicagogourmet.org/?page=314 |accessdate=November 6, 2014 |url-status=dead|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140718090231/http://www.chicagogourmet.org/?page=314 |archivedate=July 18, 2014 |title=Mark Grosz - Chicago Gourmet }}{{cite web |url=http://nu.spoonuniversity.com/restaurant/oceanique/ |title=Oceanique |date=4 March 2013 |work=Northwestern University |accessdate=9 November 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://www.ninacheriephd.com/you-your-body-and-your-health/oceanique-a-fun-and-surprisingly-nutritious-dining-experience |title=Oceanique: A Fun and Surprisingly Nutritious Dining Experience |author=Dr. Nina Cherie Franklin |publisher=Ninacheriephd.com |accessdate=9 November 2014}}
Menu
Oceanique's menu, which consists solely of dinner selections, is subject to change daily due to the freshness and availability of the fish. The fish used are freshwater fish found in the Great Lakes{{cite web |title=Interview with Chef Mark Grosz of Oceanique. - Chicago Foodies |url=http://www.chicagofoodies.com/2012/10/chef-mark-grosz-of-oceanique-on-fish.html |accessdate=9 November 2014 |publisher=Chicagofoodies.com}} Although Oceanique's specialty is seafood, the menu does include other meat, vegetarian, and vegan options.{{cite web |title=Oceanique Restaurant Review – More Than Just Fish in the Sea |url=http://www.lasplash.com/publish/FoodAndBeverage/cat_index_chicago_food/oceanique-restaurant-review.php |accessdate=9 November 2014 |work=Splash Magazines – Los Angeles}} The cooking style is French, reflecting chef Mark Grosz's three-year training under Jean Banchet of Le Francais'.{{cite web |date=30 January 2013 |title=Oceanique |url=http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/oceanique/Location?oid=1024258 |accessdate=9 November 2014 |work=Chicago Reader}} Mark Grosz also leanrned in Hong Kong and France. The dishes also incorporate many Asian and Latin ingredients.
The dishes are prepared using local, organic produce and seafood from green-friendly suppliers such as Supreme Lobster. The restaurant offers dishes off an à la carte menu but also offers a seasonal seven-course tasting menu. Both options are accompanied by an amuse-bouche interspersed throughout dinner, and sorbets of varying flavors as intermezzos.{{cite web |title=Oceanique: Phil Vettel reviews the Evanston restaurant ✭✭✭ |url=http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-21/features/chi-oceanique-review-vettel-20131121-20131121_1_evanston-restaurant-menu-dining-room |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131122093416/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2013-11-21/features/chi-oceanique-review-vettel-20131121-20131121_1_evanston-restaurant-menu-dining-room |archive-date=November 22, 2013 |accessdate=9 November 2014 |work=Chicago Tribune}} The bar menu includes lobster sandwiches, Maine pemaquid oysters, market ceviche, and poached shrimp.{{cite web |author=Julie Chernoff |title=Oceanique, Part Deux: New Look, Same Great Food |url=http://makeitbetter.net/dining/restaurant-reviews/5524-oceanique-part-deux-new-look-same-great-food |accessdate=9 November 2014 |publisher=Makeitbetter.net}}
Wine list
File:Oceanique Wine Bottles.png
Oceanique is known for its extensive wine collection of nearly 900 wines, including rare Champagne, Burgundy, Bordeaux, and California Cabernet.{{Citation needed|date=January 2025}} The reserve library includes well-known labels such as Domaine de la Romanée-Conti, Angelo Gaja, and Domaine Leroy.{{cite web |title=Sheridan Road Magazine Welcomes You! |url=http://www.sheridanroadmagazine.com/article.php/vol/6/issue/3/title/article-1335475398828 |accessdate=9 November 2014 |publisher=Sheridanroadmagazine.com}} As a result, Oceanique has consistently won the Wine Spectator Magazine's "Best of Award of Excellence" every year since 1993.{{cite web |date=2014-04-09 |title=Best French Restaurants In Chicago |url=http://chicago.cbslocal.com/top-lists/best-french-restaurants-in-chicago/ |accessdate=9 November 2014 |publisher=Chicago.cbslocal.com}} Oceanique offers wine-paired dinners that come in three levels and at varying prices: the Introductory Cru Pairing, the Intermediate Cru Pairing, and the Grand Cru Pairing.
Remodel
Oceanique underwent significant remodeling in July 2013 during its annual summer closure. They went from what "Make it Better Magazine" calls a "country-French look and billowing draperies" to a more contemporary look. Oceanique consists of two dining rooms, with the West Room as the main dining room and the East Room as the room that customers walk into when they enter through the door. The bar is located in the East room. After the remodel, the bar area changed and added "a communal trestle table" that provides an extension of the bar to accommodate customers who want a drink and to eat a small plate or two. It also provides a waiting area.
See also
References
{{commons category|Oceanique (restaurant)}}
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