Quince at the Homestead serves contemporary American cuisine in a friendly, lively setting near downtown Evanston. Our wine list provides more than 100 unique, affordable options chosen carefully to enhance Chef Andy Motto's deliciously refined and globally-inspired cuisine.
"The food was fantastic. Nicely conceived and executed. The price was very reasonable. Service was friendly – the order went in for a soup that the waiter learned was going to be shared and they brought two smaller bowls and served us two portions: an appreciated gesture. And knowledgeable: the suggested wine pairings were well chosen and questions about unfamiliar ingredients well-answered. The setting has some charm: especially a veranda like space out front. But the decor was muddled and tired: neither the adjoining hotel or the restaurant appeared interested in becoming a vibrant scene. As a result it seemed an "outstanding choice" to go with the parents or grandparents, for foodies, and for those seeking to avoid a trendy spot."
Dined on 6/15/2013
2001
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem
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"Quince is an American version of the exquisite satellite bistros we love in Paris. Wonderful presentation, local produce and unique flavor combos are highlights. Excellent service and wine. On our two visits there this month we thoroughly enjoyed the ravioli, two superb fish dishes and very creative, magnificent desserts. Housed in the Homestead Inn (a cozy place to stay instead of chain hotels), Quince is a special dining experience that we recommend highly for foodies!"
Dined on 6/12/2013
2005
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"To celebrate our anniversary I was looking for a nice quiet spot outside the Loop with good service and great cuisine. Quince staff delivered quite nicely. It was a cool evening, otherwise we would have sat outside on the front porch. Chef Motto really likes to pair and contrast texture, color, and flavor. For an appetizer I ordered the Foie Gras Confit while my wife had the soup de jour. The Foie Gras was excellent with the savory granola providing a mild crunch that contrast very well with the frothed peas and pistachio puree. Our entrees were both outstanding, the Lamb merguez (done to perfection and prepared somewhat like venison) and the Walleye with saffron gnocchi. Other reviewer complaints about portion size are unfounded."
Dined on 6/08/2013
2006
Special Features: great for outdoor dining, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"The main courses come with a variety of side garnishes around them, such as sunflower sprouts, fiddlehead ferns, a few fava beans, carrots etc. None of these really tasted like anything. They looked varied, and colorful, but there was little great taste for all the work. Lamb we had med well,somewhat tough. Halibut little to recommend it.The semifreddo chocolate dessert was excellent but the bread pudding, not much of anything. The atmosphere was nice- almost a sense of wanting to speak more softly to mirror the other patrons, but the food did not live up to the billing."
Dined on 6/08/2013
Special Features: special occasion
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"I've been living in Evanston for a few years and happened to come across Quince while searching online for a good birthday restaurant. It was absolutely wonderful--I recommend the Chef's Tasting Menu."
Dined on 5/31/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"This is a quality restaurant -- one of the two or three finest on the North Shore. It's pricy, but worth it. The waitstaff was knowledgeable and efficient. The food presentation was outstanding. I'll go back."
Dined on 5/28/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"The food was terrific but unfortunately the quality of service didn't keep pace. Definitely worth another try especially if our server was having a bad night."
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, great for brunch, notable wine list, romantic, late-night find, neighborhood gem, great for lunch, special occasion
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"My family and I dined at Quince to celebrate two very special occasions. The service was outstanding, the presentation of the food and entire experience was amazing yet never did it feel pretentious. All of our food - lobster appetizer, seasonal spring vegetable soup and entrees (walleye, lamb, steak, pork) were so delicious and beautifully served, as well. Absolutely the best of the North Shore!"
Dined on 5/18/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"Lovely dinner with son and daughter-in-law (whose late arrival from St Louis was treated patiently and graciously by waitstaff) and friend last seen 43 years ago. Food was delicious to taste, glorious to behold and delightful to hear about from the deliverer. Quince never fails to be the best place to eat in an area that is replete with tempting restaurants."
Dined on 5/17/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"The service was very nice and accommodating, space is welcoming, visually appealing and comfortable. Our only disappointment: we expected the food to be great. We went for their mothers day brunch. The service matched the prices/brand but food fell short. Our starter crepes were VERY bland and underwhelming but their poached egg salad with bacon was tastier and more satisfying but lacking vinaigrette (I seem to have missed it). Our entrees were all very well presented but the steak lacked seasoning and the creamy sauce it came with was way too little to help its flavor. My husbands halibut was much better and flavorful. Dessert was the best part of the meal so I would probably recommend this restaurant for a nice occasion coffee/dessert."
Dined on 5/12/2013
Special Features: good for groups, kid-friendly, romantic, special occasion
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"I took my parents there this weekend and they thought it was great. The Spanish Prawn appetizer was very cool and the Foie Gras was delicious! The only reason why I'm giving four stars for the food is that my Ravioli dish was extremely salty, it would have been good without the excessive saltiness. Other than that everything was great!"
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"My wife and I really enjoyed the tasting menu with wine pairings. Each of the five courses was fantastic, the service was impeccable and the price was a great deal. Quince was perfect for an elegant and romantic night out. I highly recommend it."
Dined on 5/11/2013
Special Features: fit for foodies, notable wine list, romantic, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We almost cancelled our resevation after reading a description in Chicago Magazine which implies that Quince is a duck restaurant. Management assured us that this was not true. The food was excellect, well prepared and displayed and the menu had a dish for all. Shame on Chicago Magazine........"
Dined on 04/12/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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"We come to Quince often, and the food is always excellent, the service very good to excellent. My pork entrée (seared tenderloin, with caamelized onions and leeks) was perfect, and desserts - particularly ice creams and sorbets and quite good, too. It's usually a quiet and subdued place, but this past Saturday a large and obnoxious group was the only sour note; wish the staff had had the stones to suggest they were not alone in a fine-dining place."
Dined on 04/13/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, special occasion
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"It provides spectacular food . I thought I detected Napa Valley . Then we were informed that the chef trained at The French Laundry ! I believe it . A great place for a wonderful meal with intelligent service and attention to detail that I find unsurpassed on the North Shore. We will be back."
Dined on 03/24/2013
2008
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, special occasion
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"Using the healthful eating ratio of vegetables to meat, I would have preferred something more dazzling and of greater proportion on the vegetable side. Also, I have never seen veal shaped like a baked potato, but it was tasty!"
Dined on 03/16/2013
2013
Special Features: special occasion
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"Wonderful evening! From the melt-in-your-mouth liquid parmesan balls accompanying the green salad, to the rich and delicious wild mushroom sunchoke soup, everything was beautifully presented and delightful! Accompanied by Gruet bubbles, the meal was perfect! Will go back again and again..."
Dined on 03/16/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"Most of our food was really good but our experience did not live up to the expectations we had based on the great reviews on Yelp. The service started up very slow and we had to wave someone down to place our order. Also, it took them so long to bring in our wine that we had almost finished our starters when that came in. Main courses and desserts were really good though and the ambiance is nice."
Dined on 03/15/2013
2013
Special Features: neighborhood gem, romantic
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"Perhaps they were short staffed the evening we went, but service was horrible from start to finish and it really ruined the night and will prevent me from returning. We were pointed to where our table would be (instead of being shown), and it took the staff over 40 minutes to even bring us bread and take our orders. The food was alright, but I wish the only vegetarian entree didn't have blue cheese in it (a polarizing flavor). I guess it doesn't matter that much as we will not be returning."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2007
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"Incompetent service, especially in the kitchen. The wrong dish was delivered in two different courses and the server said he had told the kitchen the correct dishes. Then they delivered the remaining guests' dishes while they remade the incorrect dishes! Nothing was comped for the multiple errors. One main dish was very good, the others not well spiced. A disappointment. We will not return. No excuse because the room was nearly empty. I guess others knew about the poor service. The server was polite, but that was little consolation."
Dined on 03/10/2013
2000
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"We had a very disappointing experience. The wait staff was disinterested and inattentive. We finally were able to submit our food order. My wife's Foie Gras was burnt. My octopus was very good. No one bothered to check on us or refill our water glasses. The duck main course was very good while the veal was okay. We ordered the cheese platter for dessert which was disappointing. The food presentation and preparation was very uneven. Finally, when I made the reservation, I made it clear that this was for my wife's birthday. When they called to confirm they confirmed this but at no point during the course of the evening did they ever acknowledge the special event."
Dined on 03/09/2013
2013
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"Our first time to Qunince, and we really enjoyed it. Really charming and romantic, and the food was very interesting and very good; the veal was just perfect. And, the wine list is quite extensive, with a wide range of choices and very reasonable prices. We will definitely return."
Dined on 03/03/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"Although I have not been to all of the best restaurants in the Chicago area, Quince must be considered as one of the top dozen for food and value. Unlike some of the so called gourmet restaurants, Quince does not use foods so far afield that you feel like you are part of a food tasting experiment. (for instance Squab to gag on at North Pond) Instead, Quince takes ordinary and makes it extraordinary!
The sophistication of the varied flavors of each dish was a wonderful treat at Quince. Each part of the meal, from soup to dessert had a complimentary fireworks of subtle but distinctive tastes. Our group of 7 diners was equally impressed. We will certainly return individually and perhaps as a group."
Dined on 03/03/2013
2009
Special Features: fit for foodies, good for groups, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"EXCELLENT FOOD AND SERVICE, BUT OVERPRICED FOR THE AMOUNT OF FOOD. OUR CHECK FOR TWO WITH TIP WAS $120 WHICH INCLUDED ONE GLASS OF WINE, TWO ENTREES AND TWO APPETIZERS. WE LEFT THE RESTAURANT A LITTLE HUNGRY."
Dined on 03/01/2013
2012
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"Scallops with carrot risotto was terrific. Everyone at the table was crazy about the peanut butter semifreddo. Noise level wasn't bad. Good place for conversation between friends."
Dined on 02/22/2013
2010
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"we had a glorious time at quince! it was my wife's birthday and they treated us like royalty - in a reserved, perfectly tuned way. the food was fantastic, too. we particularly loved the veal main course and our dessert. overall, an outstanding experience!"
Dined on 02/20/2013
2007
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, notable wine list, romantic, special occasion
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"The food and the service associated with the fine cuisine make Quince a mini-vacation. Everything is done exquisitely - staff welcoming you like you were the person they most wanted to see, describing the merits of each item that interest the diner, presentation of the dishes, artistic arrangement on the plate/palette and tasty ingredients. Really conspire to make a perfect evening."
Dined on 02/13/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, romantic, special occasion
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"We went for Valentine's Day and enjoyed a wonderful prix fixe menu. Portions were generous,nice wine pairings, very tasty, service great. Expensive but given the quality, a good value for the $$."
Dined on 02/14/2013
2012
Special Features: fit for foodies, romantic, special occasion
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"Very good food and very good service. Went during Restaurant Week last year and was blown away by the food and service. This year, the prix fixe menu was a little less inspired, but still a great place to go for a lovely, elegant meal."
Dined on 02/08/2013
2004
Special Features: fit for foodies, neighborhood gem, special occasion
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