“I’m excited to share with everyone our new restaurant, Ever,” shared chef Curtis Duffy in a casual mic drop on Instagram earlier this morning. Duffy is a household name in Chicago—the Ohio-native has trained with some of the very best in Chicago’s dining scene including Charlie Trotter and Grant Achatz. Perviously, Duffy was the executive chef of Grace in Chi-town’s bustling West Loop, widely considered to be one of the very best restaurants in America at the time. It was awarded two MICHELIN stars in Chicago’s 2014 selection and a third the four consecutive years following.
After a dispute, Grace abruptly closed in December of 2017. Brindille’s chef/owner Carrie Nahabedian (who closed one-MICHELIN-starred Naha last year) told the New York Times that the closure would, “shake the restaurant community to its core.” And it did—Grace was only one of 14 restaurants in America to hold the three MICHELIN star accolade. But since that time, Duffy, as well as former general manager Michael Muser, have been busy plotting and planning their future venture behind the scenes.
Enter Ever, a 6,000-square-foot restaurant haven slated to open around the corner in the Fulton Market next spring. Designed by Lawton Stanley Architects—who also designed Grace. At the 75-seat restaurant (which includes a 12-seat private dining room), guests can expect tasting menus featuring 12 to 15 courses priced at a premium, and also reminiscent of what Duffy did at Grace.
“Food is to me is my livelihood. If there was one word I can use to describe, it would be . . . everything,” the 43-year-old Duffy told the MICHELIN Guide digital team back in 2017, as if he was somehow foreshadowing his own path.
Curtis Duffy is back and ready to bring it. And no doubt, the world will be watching.
Hero image courtesy of Curtis Duffy/Facebook.
