The first Chicagoan to appear on the wildly popular reality show "Top Chef," Dale Levitski is known for his soulful yet sophisticated comfort foods, bold spicing, game and braised specialties, playful reinterpretations of forgotten classics, and striking plate presentations. A self-professed meat-and-potatoes man, Levitski pairs items such as braised short rib with truffled dumplings, sturgeon with sausage, and quail stuffed with foie gras. He has a love for sauces, so expect deep and complex flavors accenting the plate.
Big on taste sensations, Levitski is a student of flavor math, a method he uses to calculate his perfect balance of taste, texture and temperature in a dish. His bold, affordable prix fixe concept entices with descriptions deconstructed down to the flavor notes and key ingredients, sparking diners' imaginations as they choose their own three-course menu.
Sprout's intimate setting offers upscale dining with a relax-your-shoulders vibe. Having stepped in to take over the restaurant shortly after it opened, Levitski chose a characteristically bold move for his decorative do-over: redesign by crowdsourced committee. With a blank canvas of towering ceilings and French doors leading to a quaint outdoor patio, diner input will drive the choice of colors and accents, artwork and fixtures. The opportunity for the public to weigh in will draw diners into the process through various social media as well as comment cards in the restaurant's check presenters.
With Levitski in the kitchen, and the crowdsourced redesign underway, Sprout is sure to be the talk of Chicago's Lincoln Park neighborhood.