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  1. Catering & Design
  2. Event Design & Decor

Epic: Contemporary American Fare and Reception Space for 600

Jenny Berg
January 27, 2010

In December, Epic overtook a former mill building in River North. With an industrial look that incorporates reclaimed wood, exposed brick, glass, and steel, the 14,000-square-foot venue can host cocktail receptions for 600.

A first-floor lounge area holds 40, and looks onto Hubbard Street through floor-to-ceiling windows. With a 58-inch flat-screen TV for presentations, a mezzanine area hosts seated dinners for 50. Above the second-floor dining room, which seats 115, another semiprivate mezzanine seats 60.

Chef Stephen Wambach offers a menu of contemporary American fare. For events, he can prepare passed hors d'oeuvres such as duck rillete with croutons and pickled mustard seeds, platters of buttermilk fried calamari and Moroccan-spiced lamb sliders, and entrees such as Chilean sea bass with caramelized cauliflower. Pastry chef Christine McCabe, a Charlie Trotter's alum, can prepare passed sweets such as almond tea cakes with candied kumquat-cranberry preserve and red velvet cupcakes with walnut-cream-cheese icing.

This spring, the restaurant will debut a 3,000-square-foot rooftop lounge. The space will have its own menu and will likely host receptions for 175 and seated dinners for 100, though final numbers may change when it opens.

River North restaurant Epic
River North restaurant Epic
Photo: Courtesy of Epic
The 14,000-square-foot restaurant overtook a former mill building in December.
The 14,000-square-foot restaurant overtook a former mill building in December.
Photo: Courtesy of Epic
Exposed brick walls can be branded with corporate or product logos.
Exposed brick walls can be branded with corporate or product logos.
Photo: Courtesy of Epic
Overlooking the main dining area on the second floor, a mezzanine can host semiprivate dinners for 60.
Overlooking the main dining area on the second floor, a mezzanine can host semiprivate dinners for 60.
Photo: Courtesy of Epic
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