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 date night, 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 updated•Jul 28, 2026

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•Report outdated information

Fine Dining Date Night Wine Bar Cocktail Bar special occasion refined destination

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Taste ID

Rate this restaurant

Start with one score. Add details or a review when you want to help other diners.

Michelin ★

Taste Score 9.2/10

Rating (Google) 9.2

1,534 reviews

Chicago

At a glance

The fastest read on whether this place fits tonight.

9.2/10

Taste Score

Google 9.2 from 1,534 reviews

Michelin

MICHELIN ★

Best for

Date Night 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

Taste Score

9.2/10

Phone

(312) 441-1920

Inside the restaurant

Photos of Sepia

5 photos

Watch

Sepia on video

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

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

Menu and ordering

Sepia menu: what to order

Start with the dishes below, drawn from the restaurant details and TastyPals notes available on this page. Sepia is listed in the splurge price range. Menus, availability, and prices can change, so confirm current details before visiting.

NV Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige

Chardonnay, Pinot Nero, Pinot Bianco, Franciacorta, Italy

2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino

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.

2021 Borgo Maragliano La Caliera Moscato d'Asti

Check the current menu

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 for

Date Night and Fine Dining

Style

American in Chicago

Spend

splurge | Check restaurant site

Best for

Fine Dining Date Night Wine Bar Cocktail Bar special occasion refined destination

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

Be the first TastyPals diner to reviewFirst-hand reviews are moderated before appearing publicly.

Google snapshot

9.2 from 1,534 reviews

TastyPals notes

Editorial review by James Whitfield

No diner notes for Sepia yet.

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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: 9.2/10
Hours: Check restaurant site
Google rating: 9.2 (1,534 reviews)
Cuisine: American
Michelin: MICHELIN ★
Neighborhood: Chicago

Read guide

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, date night, wine bar, cocktail bar, special occasion, refined, destination. 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 NV Ca' del Bosco Cuvée Prestige, 2019 Altesino Brunello di Montalcino, 2007 Domaine Tempier Bandol and 2021 Borgo Maragliano La Caliera Moscato d'Asti. 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.

Is Sepia good for a date night?

Yes — Sepia is tagged for date night dining. 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.