Nicolai Mlodinow

Join us in congratulating @chef.nm for being named a @beardfoundation Awards Semifinalist for Emerging Chef. Thank you to the people who believed in the Class Act vision. Thank you to the team that brings that vision to life every night. Thank you to the city of Chicago that nurtures culinary creativity, community, and excellence. Most importantly, thank you to our guests for being apart of our audacious experiment to cultivate connection.

@bouchonchicago Monday’s 😮‍💨 @xoxoginger11 @lisalauck

Class Act called it Winter Salad. I called it a highlight of the season. Tonight, the BANQUET menu takes its final bow, but don’t get too comfortable…the next act awaits: ONE. Preview coming soon.

Making friends isn’t usually the goal when you book a fine dining experience … but at @classactchicago , it happens at every single seating. That’s why we were so happy to have @shreena23 and @chef.nm on The Connection Code to talk about how they intentionally design for connection (from the first cocktail to the last bite). In this episode, we get into: -the kinds of conversations that unfold when strangers share a table -how their relationship with frindship@has evolved in adulthood -the art of storytelling - both in fine dining and in human connection. -how a conversation went off the rails at a dinner, but actually ended up creating one of @chef.nm ’s favorite memories in the restaurant Our biggest takeaway: connection doesn’t just happen … it’s created. Listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts and at the link in our bios.

This last Sunday we hosted our @charlie_trotters Guest Chef Series Vol 13: Chicago Rising. Featuring 3 chefs and 1 mixologist under 30 years old: Chef Ryan Fakih @chefryanfakih of Beity @beitychicago Chef Nicolai Mlodinow @chef.nm of Class Act @classactchicago Chef Justin Lerias @jtlerias of Del Sur Bakery @delsur.bakery Mixologist Olivia Fadden @oliviafadden of Beity We were so fortunate to host these young, talented professionals, all destined to leave a lasting impression in the world of hospitality. Their youthful energy was palpable, electrifying the kitchen as they crafted beautiful, delicious bites. One of the most meaningful elements of the night was our “phone-free” experience, where guests were encouraged to store their phones in a phone hotel at the front door. We wanted to provide a space for everyone to be fully present. Tables engaged in uninterrupted conversation, creating a dining room that felt truly alive. In a world that moves quickly, where we’re constantly being inundated with notifications, it was a reminder that the table can still be a sacred space for connection. Nights like this are a reminder that our industry is built on stewardship. It’s our responsibility to create space for the next generation, to champion their voices, and support one another as a community. Hospitality, at its best, takes care of its own. If this evening was any indication, the future is in very capable hands. Beautiful photos by Nick Robins @chilledelegance In partnership with @opentable @opentable_chi

If you think all tasting menus are the same….Class Act will completely reset your expectations. 📍 Class Act - Bucktown, Chicago I first experienced Class Act during their inaugural “Growing Up” menu and it stayed with me. The storytelling, the energy, the connection. So when they invited me back for their third menu, “Banquet”, I had to see if it was real……or just hype. It’s real. This isn’t just fine dining in Chicago. It’s a 2.5–3 hour immersive dinner party with 16 strangers that somehow turns into one shared experience. 🔥 Standout dishes: 🥩 Wagyu Shawarma – melt-in-your-mouth picanha with crispy fat, layered with saffron béchamel and a horseradish kick that cuts through the richness. Fresh mint + parsley oil bring it all back to life. 🍗 Tikka Masala Squab (“Tenth Jewel”) – tender, gamey, deeply savory with velvety spice, balanced by citrus crema and a nutty carrot-cashew puree. Comfort food….elevated. 🦀 Red King Crab – sweet, delicate, perfectly cooked with a rich butter blanc, bright apple gel, and herbaceous oil that keeps every bite balanced. But what makes Class Act different isn’t just the food… It’s the people. You sit at a communal table with strangers and people you’d normally pass by on the street and by the end of the night, you’re sharing stories, laughing, and walking into a hidden speakeasy together for nightcap. In a city with no shortage of amazing restaurants, Class Act stands out for one reason: It makes you feel something. Chicago needs more of this. Save this for your next special night out. Send it to someone you’d experience this with.

bar snacks through the lens of @chef.nm next wednesday! come through 5pm - sold out for haute dogs, wagyu shawarma and more👀⁠ ⁠ #chefseries #chicagococktailbar #cocktails

LOVED our dinner here at @classactchicago ! 😍 This is their new-ish menu Banquet, which run through April. My fav courses were the wagyu “shawarma”, king crab, and the ice cream sundae, and we loved the wine pairings. Highly recommend for a special occasion! Thank you so much to @chef.nm and the team at Class Act for hosting us - we had the most wonderful evening! 💗 | @classactchicago | 📍Wicker Park P.S. after dinner you can head to their speakeasy @nightcapchicago which is tucked in right behind the restaurant - or you can also make a separate reservation just for the speakeasy and enter from the alley. Enjoy!

Truly a night to remember at @classactchicago and @nightcapchicago ✨ Led by @chef.nm , Class Act is an intimate, multi-course dining experience that feels like a dinner party. I recently tried the debut of the Banquet. Act 3 tasting menu, inspired by rituals of connection—those moments where food becomes ceremony and shared meals mark life’s milestones. Afterwards, we all moved into @nightcapchicago , the attached speakeasy bar. Send this to someone who needs to visit ✨ #chicagofoodie #chicagoinfluencer #foodie #finedining #thingstodoinchicago

Announcing the 12th installment of the @charlie_trotters Guest Chef Dinner Series: Chicago Rising 🔥 Join us in celebrating 3 Chicago Chefs under 30 years old! Booking link in @dyltrot bio 🔗 Featuring: Nicolai Mlodinow @chef.nm - Class Act @classactchicago (Bucktown); Nicolai’s story starts where many great ones do: feeding people out of love. What started as intimate dinners in his college apartment evolved into formal training at Michelin-starred Temporis under chef Troy Jorge. Today, he leads Class Act, a 13-course communal tasting experience in Bucktown that reflects both technical precision and a deeply personal approach to hospitality. Ryan Fakih @chefryanfakih - Beity @beitychicago (Fulton Market); Trained at Le Cordon Bleu in Paris, Ryan’s path to Chicago was shaped by discipline and inspiration. After watching Chef Grant Achatz on Chef’s Table, he relocated to Chicago to work at Michelin-starred Alinea. In 2024, he opened Beity (Arabic for “my home”) in Fulton Market, the first Lebanese tasting menu restaurant in the United States. His cooking is rooted in Lebanese heritage, expressed through classical French technique. Justin Lerias - Del Sur Bakery @delsur.bakery (Lincoln Square); Born in the Mindanao region of the Philippines, Justin brings a perspective shaped by his heritage. His work bridges Filipino flavors with Midwestern sensibility, resulting in pastries that feel both nostalgic and entirely new. After honing his craft at Lost Larson and leading the pastry program at Big Jones, he launched Del Sur Bakery in 2025. His brilliant creations have quickly made him one of Chicago’s most compelling young talents. The menu will be paired with wines curated by Master Sommelier Serafin Alvarado @finoalvarado and non-alcoholic pairings designed by Michelin-awarded Olivia Fadden @oliviafadden , the head mixologist of Beity. In the spirit of presence and intention, this will be a phone-free experience. Upon arrival, your phone will be secured in our “phone hotel” and returned to you at the conclusion of the evening. This is an invitation to slow down, savor fully, and be present together.

your sign to experience one of the most unique tasting menus in Chicago ✨🥂 this exclusive dinner party blends a multi-course chef’s tasting menu by @chef.nm with curated drink pairings, designed to take you through bold, seasonal flavors from start to finish. Introducing @classactchicago and their speakeasy in the back room @nightcapchicago expect thoughtfully crafted dishes, elevated pairings (cocktail, wine, or spirit-free), and an intimate communal table that turns dinner into a full experience 13 courses. 7 drinks. one unforgettable night in a hidden speakeasy 📍 class act chicago & night cap #chicago #thingstodoinchicago #chicagobucketlist #chicagodateideas #chicagofood

Check this out before it blows up. 👀 This 8-course immersive dining experience at @classactchicago in Bucktown is such an unforgettable food journey. When I say journey, Each course transforms in front of you, inspired by cuisines from around the world, making the 2–3 hour experience exciting from start to finish. They also offer alcoholic and spirit-free pairings, and after dinner, there’s even a hidden speakeasy bar @nightcapchicago behind the dining room to keep the night going. If you’re looking for a unique dining experience in Chicago, add this to your list. ✨ . 📍 Class Act: 1737 N Damen Ave, Chicago, IL 60647 (hidden entrance) . #chicagorestaurants #chicagofinedining #chicagofoodie