The highly anticipated fine dining destination Temporis opens its doors Thursday in Chicago, showcasing inventive tasting menus, interactive experiences, and cutting-edge design. Co-Chefs Sam Plotnick and Evan Fullerton welcome the world to an intimate, 20-seat dining room in West Town where beautifully plated cuisine meets the forefront of modern restaurant service.
Latin for “the passage of time,” Plotnick and Fullerton craft sophisticated tasting menus side-by-side, changing the way diners perceive the tastes they know and love. Honing in on each dish and each diner with extreme precision, Temporis promises a profound dining experience like nowhere else in the city.
The chef duo serves a 10-course tasting menu every evening, with each seasonally focused dish an elegant variation on a single ingredient. Pushing the envelope of interpretations on the contemporary American palate, menu highlights include Squab Liver Mousse (parsnip, nori, clove), Sunflower in Five Forms (sunchoke, endive, salsify, seeds, chamomile), Rabbit (tandoori spice, carrot, various greens), Hamachi (yuzu, hazelnut, sugar cookie crumble), and more. A “basement to table” set-up incorporates the use of microgreens and herbs from the basement hydroponic garden, presenting diners fresh greens grown right into the tables.
Wine pairings curated by Beverage Director Donald Coen strengthen each course with a mix of uncommon varietals and classic selections. An impressive pre-batched cocktail program helmed by Plotnick and Fullerton offer selections ranging from a Corpse Reviver #2 to a perfect Negroni.
Guests find a sleek dining room changing subtly with time, with recessed LED lighting evolving the color and ambiance of the atmosphere as the nights and seasons progress. Minimalistic seating accompanies unassuming custom-made tables with built-in “secret” compartments housing herb plants and other surprises incorporated throughout the meal. The interactive and surprisingly accessible journey catered for an intimate room sets the modern space and dining experience apart from others, transporting guests to a new culinary realm.
Temporis is open for dinner Tuesday through Saturday, from 5 to 9 p.m.
