Atelier

The story

Atelier Chicago | Michelin-Starred American Tasting Menu in Lincoln Square

Atelier

Atelier, in Chicago’s Lincoln Square neighborhood, is a Michelin-starred restaurant that lives up to its name. The word itself means a workshop or studio, and that spirit of craft and exploration defines the experience here. The kitchen operates as an artisan space where creativity is encouraged and the menu changes with the seasons.

The food is American, but the influences are global. Executive Chef Bradyn Kawcak builds his tasting menus around hyper-local, thoughtfully sourced ingredients, then layers in techniques and flavors from across the world. A recent menu shows the range: a char broiled oyster with allium, a muffaletta with mortadella and tapenade, jambalaya with beef tongue and kale, and walleye with red beans and cornbread. The cooking is precise and confident, never fussy.

Chef Kawcak’s path to Atelier is rooted in a deep connection to local food systems. After studying economics and environmental studies in Seattle, he worked in restaurants and on farms in South America, then honed his fine dining skills at Cloverdale Farm in Colorado and at Michelin-level kitchens in Chicago. He returned to Atelier as Executive Chef in 2024, helping the restaurant earn a James Beard semi-finalist nomination for Best New Restaurant before receiving its first Michelin star.

The beverage program is equally thoughtful. Beverage Director Ali Martin, who has worked at Michelin-starred restaurants like Blackbird and Elizabeth, curates a wine list that emphasizes underrepresented producers and unique selections. The by-the-glass program offers wines rarely seen in that format. Owner Tim Lacey, a longtime figure in Chicago’s craft cocktail scene, brings his expertise to the spirit-free pairings, using seasonal ingredients to create unexpected flavor combinations.

Atelier received a Michelin star in 2024 and has maintained that recognition, a testament to the consistency and ambition of the kitchen. The setting is intimate, the service warm, and the tasting menu changes often enough that each visit feels like a new discovery.