What to Eat at Embeya, Opening Tonight in the West Loop

Well it must be Tuesday because another restaurant is opening in the West Loop. OK, jokes aside, but it is Tuesday and another restaurant is opening in the West Loop. Embeya, the pan Asian restaurant from chef Thai Dang (L20, RIA) and owner Attila Gyulai (formerly of the Elysian Hotel), is opening tonight.

Since first hearing about Embeya in June, a lot of news has come out that has helped create buzz and excitement, including a special pop-up dinner at Tenzing Wine & Spirits where Dang's former boss and mentor, Laurent Gras, flew in to cook alongside the young chef.

That night, Dang executed a gorgeous meal that had tongues wagging and now that the restaurant is quietly opening tonight, you'll get to experience his food. Best of all, the menu, which features high-caliber and high-quality food, is fairly accessible.

The menu is broken out into four categories: Cold (Kona Kanpachi with radish and citrus; cuttlefish with celery root, jicama and miso); Hot (shrimp dumpling with toasted almond, cilantro and lettuce; mussels with coconut and lime leaf); From the Grill (short rib with red romaine and pickled vegetable; scallop with shimeji, sake and soy—and if this is the same scallop Dang served in the shell under a never-goes-out flame at the pop-up ... oh boy!); and Large Plates (noodles with rock shrimp and celery; garlic chicken with confit scallion; cote de boeuf with pomme frites). Most items fall between $8 and $18 with a few large plates hovering around $35.

So if you're craving some gorgeous Asian preparations in what will prove to be a stunning space designed by 555 International (the room isn't yet photo ready; watch for a gallery next week), pop over to Embeya. And be sure to get one of Danielle Pizzutillo's cocktails. But first, look at the menu.

Embeya Opening Menu

· Embeya, a New Asian Concept, Headed for Randolph St. [~EChi~]
· First Look: Embeya [~EChi~]