Maison Yaki

Maison Yaki Restaurant Review:

About the restaurant & décor: Olmsted's Greg Baxtrom is behind Maison Yaki in Prospect Heights, which serves French cuisine with a yakitori spin. There’s a charming garden with two pétanque courts and vines that climb up a brick wall. Inside, the narrow space has a cheerful vibe with a colorful tiled floor, red banquettes and an open kitchen – the better to watch dishes emerge from the wood yakitori grill.

Likes: Draft cocktails; escargots; salmon tartare; skewers.
Dislikes: Can be hard to get a table.

Food & Drinks: Start with a draft cocktail, like a strong Manhattan or martini, a fragrant yuzu gin & tonic, or a glass of rosé (the wine list skews French). Duck leg rillettes arrive in a jar beneath wasabi-ginger foam, which help cuts the decadent richness. Juicy escargots are cooked in plenty of shiso butter and showered in breadcrumbs. Salmon tartare with scallions, onions, egg yolk and fried capers is a welcome burst of fresh, savory flavor. Skewers occupy the heart of the menu, though. They come just one per serving so don’t be afraid to order a few rounds of king trumpet mushroom à la grecque, lamb leg made aromatic with herbes de Provence, or tender lobster with sauce Américaine. Save room for profiteroles with ginger and matcha.