After Lounge
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When Michelin-starred chefs open cocktail bars, whimsical things happen (case in point: The Aviary). Now, one of Chicago’s most coveted and dazzling new bars comes courtesy of none other than chef Curtis Duffy, whose fine dining venture Ever reigns as one of the hottest meal tickets in the nation. Next door, the aptly dubbed After is designed as an after-dinner lounge for decadent cocktails, snazzy mixology, and the fanciest Margaritas and Old Fashioneds you’ve ever sipped. Swanky and dark, and presided over by dapper barkeeps, it’s all about the fine details here, like the elegant glassware, ice, and garnishes used to execute pistachio-infused Japanese Cocktails, black truffle Espresso Martinis, and brown butter bourbon digestifs with amaro and strawberry. To snack, look for Caviar Flights, Lamb Ribs, and Wagyu Skewers.
How to book: Reserve via Tock.
The gist: Most late-night snacks involve regrettable fast-food and post-booze stops at the Wiener Circle, but if you’re a night owl with your wits about you (and some cash to burn), it doesn’t get much better than After, an after-dinner bar that far exceeds the call of digestif duty. Created as a late-night counterpart to tasting menu sister restaurant Ever, this posh parlor is a project from chef Curtis Duffy and Michael Muser, who have put together a space that’s dark, sultry, and romantic, with intricate bites and drinks that are well worth the second wind.
The food: Most of the eating to be done in this corner of Fulton Market involves hours-long degustations at seasonally driven Ever, but for those who want a taste of Duffy’s cuisine without the budgetary blowout, After scratches the itch with snacks like sticky-sweet Vietnamese Duck Wings, paprika-spiced Lamb Ribs, and Purple Sweet Potatoes with pecorino, brown butter, and mascarpone. There’s also Caviar Service, with roe so ritzy that it costs upwards of $2,000. The drink list shares top billing, with classic riffs like Fig Sazeracs, coconut Daiquiris, and truffle-infused 24K Espresso Martinis.
How to book: Reserve via Tock.
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