The M Room
The M Room

Enjoy a decadent tasting menu paired with creative Macallan cocktails or wine pairings at The M Room. 

A swanky new concept has been unveiled in River North that takes your typical dining experience up several notches. The 45-seat former Enolo Wine Cafe was transformed into the M Room, a first-of-its-kind concept that combines the highly successful restaurant Roka Akor known for Japanese-style sushi and steak, along with a highly regarded Scotch Distillery, The Macallan, to create a brand new, not-to-be-missed culinary journey for guests.

The M Room
The M Room

The brand new concept was conceptualized by Roka Akor Executive Chef Ce Bian, who worked closely with The Macallan team in Ireland to show off flavors that highlight whiskey, barley, yeast, oak, and sherry. “We’ve been enjoying a really nice relationship with [The] Macallan so we’re strengthening that relationship through collaboration,” says Roka Akor President Sunny Mehra. “Our chefs have held multiple dinners [with The Macallan] over the years and it started to make sense: why can’t we have a concept that brings these selections of whiskies and cocktails and brings Roka to the table? We can make it a complete experience rather than just a few drinks.”

The M Room
The M Room

We recently stepped into the sleek restaurant and were blown away by the dishes’ flavors, neat pours, and decadent cocktail pairings. Some highlights we loved include toro sashimi with baked Macallan yeast seasoning and wasabi zuki. Another beloved dish we tried was the seared scallops with Macallan brown butter, foie gras mousse, and xo sauce. One of the heartiest and coziest dishes we tried was the American wagyu filet Wellington with mushroom duxelles, prosciutto, and a Macallan demi-glace, and Smoked Oak Affogato. For dessert, the chocolate orange mousse cake should not be missed! 

The decadent 9-course tasting menu runs $185 a person, and Macallan pours for $145 and reservations can be made at mroomchicago.com or via Tock. If you prefer wine pairings, that is an option as well. Here’s a closer look at the delicious tasting menu with the delightful cocktail pairings! Not only were the dishes flavorful, but they were unique, and we loved trying so many of the specialty cocktails, many that featured 12, 15, and even 18-year-old liquor.

Course 1

course 1 at the M room
Oyster with Oloroso Sherry Granita, Apple Jelly, Purple Shiso, Edible Flowers, Chawanmushi, Ikura, Uni, Chives with the M Goes with T cocktail featuring Macallan 12-year-old Double Cask, Top Hat East India Tonic and East Imperial Grapefruit Soda

Course 2

Toro Sashimi, Baked Macallan Yeast Seasoning, Wasabi Zuki, Pickled Radish Wagyu Tataki, Barley Miso Sauce, Wild Herbs, and Fresh Truffle paired with Blood on the Sand cocktail with Macallan 12-year-old Sherry Oak, Rare Wine Co. Madeira Charleston, Tempus Fugit Creme de Noyaux, Blood Orange Bitter, Cordial, Priorat Cask Reserve Red Vermouth

Course 3

Oak Smoked Hamachi with Shiso Gremolata, Truffle Caviar, Sweet Soy Oak Smoked Hamachi with Shiso Gremolata, Truffle Caviar, Sweet Soy paired with Divine Droplets Ginga Shizuku, Junmai Daiginjo, Yamagata, JP

Course 4

Wagyu Filet Tartar, Almond Aioli, Dried Berries, Rice Tuile paired with the ‘Boulevardier i do cocktail’ featuring the Macallan 18-year-old Sherry Oak, Valdespino Moscatel Sherry, Amaro Nonino, Gran Classico, Fermented Honey

Course 5

Seared Scallops, Macallan Brown Butter, Foie Gras Mousse, XO Sauce paired with Emilio Lustau Dry Oloroso Sherry

Course 6

Roasted Sea Bass, Szechuan Pepper Seasoning, Crispy Eggplant, Ginger Charred Cask Oil. For the cocktail pairing, we enjoyed one of our favorites of the night, the ‘Gold Rush leads to Penicillin’ featured Macallan 15-year-old Double Cask, Strega Liqueur, Alipus Mezcal, Ginger Honey Oleo-Saccharum, Lustau Manzanilla Sherry, Lemon Kabosu

Course 7

Roasted Lamb Cutlet, Barley Risotto, Shiso Pesto, Pine Nut Natto Crunch paired with ‘Spiced give me Cider’ made with Macallan 15-year-old Double Cask, Cynar Amaro, Bigallet Thyme Liqueur, Falernum Hard Cider, Angostura Bitters

Course 8

American Wagyu Filet Wellington, Mushroom Duxelles, Prosciutto, Macallan Demi-Glace paired with Macallan Rare Cask

Course 9

Chocolate Orange Mousse Cake paired with Espresso is the Martini

The M Room is the perfect spot to celebrate a special occasion, and is located at 450 N. Clark Street and reservations can be made via Tock.

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