THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Zest

THIS RESTAURANT IS CLOSED Zest Restaurant Review:

Hovering one floor above Michigan Avenue, Zest is a respite for weary shoppers and harried business travelers. Earthy tones and understated-but-luxurious touches give the dining room a regal feel; the experience, however, is anything but precious. In the kitchen is Austria-born executive chef Kurt Mittelberger, who worked for the royal family of Kuwait. He crafts seasonal menus that are full of flavor, starting with grilled scallops with ginger-lemon-dressed watercress salad and watermelon. More enjoyable, however, is a petite, refreshing cup of chilled fennel soup, topped with goat cheese-fig crostini. When it comes to entrées, Allen Brothers’ wet-aged rib-eye is topnotch and paired with a wasabi double-baked potato tart. During lunch, dining is a particular steal: you can get out the door with a cup of soup and (a very large) half-sandwich or half-salad for $12.