A Twelve-Seat Chef's Counter in Chicago
One menu a night, cooked a foot in front of you. Seats drop monthly and go fast — request yours below and we'll hold you a place at the counter.
- Seats drop monthly
- One menu, two seatings
- Private buyouts available
How to Get a Seat
We don't take walk-ins or open the whole calendar. Seats are released in a monthly drop — here's how it works.
Seats Drop Monthly
On the first of each month we release the next month's counter. It's twelve seats a night, and they go quickly.
Request Your Night
Put in a request for the date you want and how many of you there are. We confirm within a day, or add you to the drop list.
One Menu, One Seating
There's no à la carte and no substitutions — a single tasting menu, built around what's best that week.
Sit at the Counter
You'll eat at the twelve-seat counter with the kitchen in front of you, course by course, all night.
Twelve Seats, One Kitchen
Seat Twelve is exactly that — a single twelve-seat counter wrapped around an open kitchen in a quiet corner of Fulton Market. There's no dining room, no sections, no host stand. You sit down, the kitchen is in front of you, and for the next three hours the meal unfolds course by course, hand to hand.
We cook one menu a night because that's how you cook something well: buy the best of the market, prep it all day, and send it the moment it's ready to the person it's meant for. It's the most personal way we know to feed people — closer to a dinner party run by people who happen to be very serious about food than to a restaurant.
- ✓A single twelve-seat counter
- ✓Open kitchen, cooked in front of you
- ✓One tasting menu, changed weekly
A Night at Seat Twelve
The counter, the pass, and a few courses from recent menus.
What a Seat Feels Like
The single best dinner we've had in Chicago. Twelve seats, one menu, and a chef who cooks a foot in front of you and talks you through every course. It felt less like a restaurant and more like being let in on a secret. We booked the next drop before we left.
Getting a seat is genuinely hard and completely worth it. The seat drop is a bit of an event in itself — you set an alarm, you grab your date, and then you eat one of the most thoughtful meals of your life. The dry-aged duck is still something I think about.
We did a private buyout for an anniversary and it was flawless. The whole counter to ourselves, a bespoke menu, the wine pairing dialed in exactly to our taste. Understated, personal, and world-class. This is the place I send anyone who really loves to eat.
Questions About the Counter
How do I actually get a seat?
Seats drop on the first of each month for the following month. Put in a request for the date you want; we confirm within a day or add you to the drop list for cancellations.
Can I book a private buyout?
Yes — the whole twelve-seat counter can be bought out for a bespoke menu and pairing. Send a request with your date and headcount and we'll build it with you.
Is there a set menu?
One tasting menu a night, seven courses, changed weekly around the market. It's $145 per seat, with optional wine or non-alcoholic pairings.
Can you handle dietary needs?
Most of them, with notice. Tell us in your request — allergies, vegetarian, no alcohol — and we'll adapt the menu rather than hand you a lesser version of the night.
How long is dinner, and what's the vibe?
About three hours at the counter with the kitchen in front of you. It's relaxed and conversational — closer to a serious dinner party than a formal dining room.