Salt Bae

A restaurant name can either be a true mission statement or a case of protesting too much.

For example, Ever in Chicago’s West Loop has a moniker which declares chef Curtis Duffy and director of operations Mike Muser’s desire to build an everlasting restaurant, after their last place, Grace, closed unexpectedly due to its business partner deciding his money, and not Duffy and Muser’s talent, was the reason for its success.

On the flip side are places like the defunct Clever Rabbit of Chicago, which by serving a $40 crudite platter filled with sawdust-tasting “summer truffles” proved early on it was neither particularly bright nor swift.