Keith Luce

Executive Chef
Spruce Restaurant
Chicago, Illinois

Depending on whether you are an art lover or a food lover, Chicago’s most celebrated opening last year was either the new Museum of Contemporary Art or Esquire Magazine’s Best New Restaurant of 1996, Spruce. Owner, Dan Sachs united his fine dining management experience with his culinary and wine expertise to realize a dream when he opened the restaurant in May of ‘96 with Executive Chef Keith Luce.

Prior to opening Spruce, Luce served as Sous Chef at The White House under Walter Scheib. At The White House, the potential of a career as a culinary professional became clear as he worked with some of the world’s best culinary artists to prepare food for international leaders in politics, arts and sciences. He brought these experiences to Spruce.

Honoring American arts & crafts, both in culinary style and decor, Spruce specializes in contemporary American cuisine while demonstrating an honest quality and loyalty to local ingredients. Keith Luce, one of Food & Wine magazine’s national rising star chefs of 1997, celebrates the bounty of indigenous American ingredients with ingenious creativity and artistry while also paying homage to classic European cooking techniques.
 
Spruce’s menu showcases the breadth and style of Luce’s cuisine. Moving smoothly from coast to coast or continent to continent, Luce combines the innovative with the familiar. He treats seasonal vegetables, grains and naturally raised meats to his sophisticated brand of contemporary American cooking.

Diners are welcomed to the restaurant by a dramatic staircase leading to a comfortable bar with a slate floor and maple bar top. Filled with fresh flowers, original artwork and fine serviceware, Spruce is comfortably sophisticated.

A must stop on any Chicago dining tour, Spruce can be found in the Streeterville part of Chicago not far from the new Museum of Contemporary Art. Why not visit both?

• Spruce is located at 238 East Ontario Street in Chicago. Lunch is served Monday thru Friday from 11:30 am - 2:00 pm. Dinner is served Monday thru Thursday from 5:30 pm - 10 pm. Dinner is served Friday and Saturday from 5:30 pm - 11 pm. Reservations are recommended. Closed Sunday.
• For information, call (312) 642-3757.