Twelve 12 Brings "creative American" Cuisine To The Gold Coast

Doors opened in early May and Twelve 12, named for its address on North State Parkway, features the unrivaled "Creative American" cuisine of Executive Chef David Shea (Spruce, Crofton on Wells, The Hudson Club [NYC]). Shea has reunited most of his Spruce team for the opening of Twelve 12, including Pastry Chef Sheira Harris (Charlie Trotter's, Gordon, Blackbird) and Sous Chef Mark Mendez (Patria [NYC], Spiaggia).

The Twelve 12 menu changes seasonally and currently features such "first course" dishes as asparagus salad with roasted yukon gold potatoes, tender greens and goat cheese fondue, shrimp ceviche with cucumber salad and lobster oil, and a variation on the traditional "surf and turf," sauted diver scallop and roasted beef ribeye with braised potato. Shea's "second course" dishes include spice-rubbed lamb loin with a fricassee of spring vegetables and tarragon-scented consomm, ricotta gnocchi with spring peas, morels and oven roasted tomatoes, and pan-fried Amish chicken breast with garlic potato puree and chanterelle gravy. Harris' desserts, also changing seasonally, currently include baked alaska of espresso ice cream, dark chocolate and toasted hazelnut, fresh strawberry compote with crme fraiche and heavy cream-infused pound cake, and her creamy fresh fruit sorbets which are spun fresh daily.

Despite its low-profile opening, Twelve 12 already has attracted a steady stream of guests ranging from local "regulars" returning weekly to a celebrity appearance by Michael Jordan and guests dining on the restaurant's second night of business. Reviews have been overwhelmingly positive regarding both food and service. Twelve 12 has received three-star reviews from both the Chicago Sun-Times and the Chicago Tribune, as well as a 2 1/2 star review from Chicago Magazine. Metromix on-line (reader reviews) have been consistently 4-star. The physical renovation of the dining room has similarly attracted rave reviews-the room is sleek, simple and sophisticated, a suitable parallel to Chef Shea's cuisine.

Twelve 12 serves dinner from 5:30 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. The dining room is non-smoking, but smoking is permitted in the bar/lounge area where patrons may order from the menu. All major credit cards are accepted. Reservations are encouraged. Valet parking is available.