Breaking Hibernation

Unfortunately winter is still be upon us. It's cold. It's snowy. And because of this, I, like many locals, tend to avoid extraneous socializing—hence the "hibernation mode." Dinner and a movie with friends? Drinks after work? Fuhgetaboutit. This thinking, I'm shamed to say, has been going on for several months so I decided to end it.

My first official declaration out of winter hibernation was a recent meeting with friends for dinner and drinks at Agami in Uptown—and I am so glad I did!

Agami in Japanese means gills of a fish. Considering the amount of sushi and seafood they serve, it is quite apropos. The restaurant's very impressive décor equally befits their name. In fact, stepping into their space from the still blemished surroundings of Uptown is a bit shocking to the senses. This place rivals any upscale dining establishment downtown with its rich color palette and modern underwater themes. However, the chic ambiance isn't too intimidating for casual clothing. The mood lighting and diverse seating arrangement showcase the owner's appreciation for intimacy whether couple or group dining. My favorite space is one of their curtained private booths—it screams of decadent romance. Simply call and reserve one before your next date. Sah-weet.

Fortunately, their food and drinks live up to their surroundings. In my opinion, they serve the best sushi in Chicago. Period. For starters, I recommend their Mackerel sushi topped with pickled red onion. The flavor combination was very impressive and inventive. As for Maki, their California Crunch Roll (snow crab, cucumber, avocado, and spicy mayo battered and delicately fried) was outstanding. I could not get enough of this. Within their Signature Maki selection, try the Green Turtle. It is fresh water eel, avocado and tempura crunch topped with shrimp and wasabi tobiko decorated with creamy wasabi and eel sauce to look like a real turtle. It's delicious and presents very well. If you are not a sushi fan, they have an equally impressive selection of entrées including Filet Mignon and chicken inventively prepared with Japanese influences.

To top it all off, my friends and I enjoyed our traditional "Ten o'clock-tails" with some of the best Martinis we've ever tasted. Trust me, as skilled Martini drinkers, we are rarely impressed to this degree. Their Agami Martini is exceptional and I plan to return often to sample their entire selection.

This is also a perfect place to late-night diners so, if you're up for it, there is no need to worry about fighting a seven or eight o'clock dinner rush crowd.

If you are also prone to hibernate as I do, I encourage you begin to surface in time for the spring thaw and venture out. Agami reminds me again that Chicago is one of the greatest food cities in the world and it is right outside my door.

AGAMI
4712 N. Broadway
Chicago, IL 60660
(773) 506-1854
Hours:
Mon-Thu 5:00 p.m.-12:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 5:00 p.m.-2:00 a.m.
Sun 5:00 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
Payment Types: AMEX, Discover, MC, Visa
Parking: Street, Valet