Restaurant

Sepia

Name: Sepia
Address: 123 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL, 60661, US
Telephone: (312) 441-1920
Price range: splurge

American•Chicago•splurge•Check restaurant site

MICHELIN ★

Sepia is one of the best american restaurants in Chicago for special occasion, especially if you want a strong option in Chicago.

Sepia occupies a specific register that Chicago's fine dining scene rarely sustains: the special-occasion room that doesn't perform occasion at you.

Editorial review•Dec 9, 2025

Sepia occupies a specific register that Chicago's fine dining scene rarely sustains: the special-occasion room that doesn't perform occasion at you. Where many tasting-menu destinations layer ceremony over substance, Sepia is consistently described as working in the opposite direction — the room, with its warm antiqued tones and Edwardian-inflected bones, absorbs the evening rather than amplifying it. Diners who track this kind of thing report that the pacing feels editorial rather than procedural, and that the experience holds coherence from first course to last. That coherence, according to those who follow the room closely, is rarer than its price point suggests. This is a restaurant for people who want the meal to be the event, not the architecture around it. The wine program is where Sepia's curatorial intelligence is most legible, and the list reads as considered rather than exhaustive. The 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino is known as a structured, patience-demanding Tuscan — the kind of selection that signals a list built around what food actually requires of a wine, not what sells on name recognition. The 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol is a more provocative inclusion, a Provençal wine with real age that suggests the sommelier is worth trusting. The NV Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige is widely regarded as the natural aperture into an evening like this — precise, unfussy, correct. The 2021 Borgo Maragliano La Caliera Moscato d'Asti closes a tasting progression without tipping into cloying sweetness, a technically considered choice that most lists don't bother attempting. Book the full tasting format if the occasion warrants it; à la carte here is reportedly like reading alternate chapters of the same text. Regulars suggest requesting a table along the inner banquette for better sightlines and softer acoustics, and Tuesday or Wednesday bookings tend to yield service with more room to breathe. The consistent advice from those who know the room: let the sommelier lead the pairing, and open with the Ca' del Bosco.

James Whitfield, Restaurant Critic

Methodology•Chicago guides•Editorial team

Fine dining special occasion refined destination fine dining wine bar

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Taste ID

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Michelin ★

Rating (Google) 9.2

1,534 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.2

Rating

Based on 1534 reviews

Michelin

MICHELIN ★

Best used for

special occasion and Fine dining

Price and pace

splurge · Check restaurant site

Neighborhood

Chicago · 123 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA

Hours

Check restaurant site

Price

splurge

Google rating

9.2 from 1,534 reviews

Phone

(312) 441-1920

Photos of Sepia

Watch

Sepia on video

Short: Andy Garcia (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

Short: 4SeasonsTravelerJeannie (third-party feature) · plays on YouTube

What to order

Signature dishes at Sepia

2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol

Mourvèdre, Provence, France. With centuries of history, the wines of Domaine Tempier hearken back to a simpler time, with strong connections to the land, the local produce, and the people who steward them. At eighteen years of age, this bottling's firm structure has opened up to reveal the sauvage nature of the Mourvèdre variety.

2007 Antinori Tignanello Chianti Classico

Sangiovese, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Tuscany, Italy. The Antinori family's history of winemaking dates back to 1385, and today the 26th generation manages the company. This wine comes from their Tignanello estate in San Casciano Val di Pesa, a subzone of Chianti Classico, and is their most prized bottling with the first vintage debuting in 1970. Tignanello was also the first Tuscan red to be matured in barrique and among the first few to include international varieties. The wine shows powerful structure and dark-brooding fruit.

NV Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige

Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, Franciacorta, Italy

2023 Domaine Gilles Noblet La Collonge Pouilly-Fuissé

Chardonnay, France

2023 Ridge Lytton Springs

Zinfandel blend, Sonoma County, CA

Why go

What makes Sepia worth the move

Sepia is a clean first click in Chicago when you want a american option you can trust. 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol and 2007 Antinori Tignanello Chianti Classico also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,534 Google reviews.

What to know fast

Public rating

9.2 from 1,534 Google reviews

Best used for

special occasion and Fine dining

Style

American in Chicago

Spend

splurge | Check restaurant site

Best for

Fine dining special occasion refined destination fine dining wine bar

Know before you go

Google rating: 9.2 from 1,534 reviews

Price point: splurge

Popular dishes: 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol, 2007 Antinori Tignanello Chianti Classico, NV Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige

Website linked on this page

TastyPals Reviews

What diners are saying

0 diner reviews · reviewed by James Whitfield for Sepia

Google snapshot

9.2 from 1,534 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by James Whitfield

Dhanteraz Indian Fusion occupies the former Savannah Supper Club space on West Roscoe Street, and the transformation matters: what was once a supper club is now one of Roscoe Village's most talked-about Indian kitchens, a BYOB spot where…

Plan the visit

Quick details

Book on OpenTable Menu Directions

Address: 123 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA
Phone: (312) 441-1920
Price: splurge
TastyPals score: Coming soon
Hours: Check restaurant site
Google rating: 9.2 (1,534 reviews)
Cuisine: American
Michelin: MICHELIN ★
Neighborhood: Chicago

Frequently asked questions

What cuisine does Sepia serve?

Sepia is a American restaurant located in Chicago, Chicago. Sepia occupies a specific register that Chicago's fine dining scene rarely sustains: the special-occasion room that doesn't perform occasion at you.

What is Sepia best for?

Sepia is best for fine dining, special occasion, refined, destination, fine dining, wine bar. Sepia is a clean first click in Chicago when you want a american option you can trust. 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol and 2007 Antinori Tignanello Chianti Classico also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,534 Google reviews.

How much does it cost to eat at Sepia?

Sepia is in the splurge price range (splurge). Google rating: 9.2 from 1,534 reviews

What should I order at Sepia?

Start with 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol, 2007 Antinori Tignanello Chianti Classico, NV Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige and 2023 Domaine Gilles Noblet La Collonge Pouilly-Fuissé. These dishes are shown from TastyPals notes or restaurant data on this page.

Is Sepia worth visiting?

Sepia holds a 9.2 Google rating from 1,534 reviews. Sepia is a clean first click in Chicago when you want a american option you can trust. 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol and 2007 Antinori Tignanello Chianti Classico also give you a decent sense of the menu. It also holds a 9.2 rating across 1,534 Google reviews.

Where is Sepia located?

Sepia is located at 123 N Jefferson St, Chicago, IL 60661, USA. Directions are available via Google Maps.

What are Sepia's hours?

Sepia's listed hours are Check restaurant site. We recommend checking directly before visiting as hours may vary on holidays.

Does Sepia take reservations?

Yes, Sepia accepts reservations. You can book a table online through their reservations page.

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