My Eating Evanston: Sea Ranch Sushi + Evanston Pour

By: Mikey Griglak, Staff Writer

Photo credit: @evanston_pour

If you have stopped by Evanston Pour for a steaming cup of coffee and a warm pastry in the morning, you would be forgiven for not realizing that, by night the same cozy café transforms into a spot for  sushi rolls, crisp wines, and live jazz. Evanston Pour partners with its next-door neighbor, Sea Ranch Sushi, allowing guests to order rolls straight to their  seats while sipping from the wine- and cocktail-focused evening menu.

Evanston Pour remains counter service, even if you’re seated at the bar. I ordered a glass of their Albariño from Bode

ga Santiago Ruiz—crisp and not too fruit-forward with a complexity from the bouquet through the back of the palette, making it a perfect white wine to hold onto while we transition into chillier fall weather. The menu offered a variety of world white, red, sparkling, and skin-contact wines by the glass and bottle for everyone’s tastes. 

Photo credit: @sea.ranch.evanston

I’ll assume most Kellogg readers have a go-to sushi order from Evanston’s many Japanese restaurants, and Sea Ranch’s menu won’t disappoint. Any favorites are sure to be listed across their 70+ regular and specialty rolls. I opted for regular rolls of salmon and fatty tuna and a specialty Dragon Roll featuring unagi, roe, and avocado. Within about ten minutes of scanning the QR code at my bar stool, Sea Ranch hand delivered my meal. The rolls were excellent on their own, with top-grade, fresh cuts of fish. The fatty tuna with scallions was buttery, bright, and nearly dissolved on my tongue. Pairing with the soy and wasabi garnishes as well as the Albariño added a level of depth to the dish, even further emphasizing the prime, silky quality of the fish.The Dragon Roll especially stood out for its smoky, umami eel and slightly sweet glaze combination that brought out the citrus and tree fruit notes of the wine. 

Credit: Mikey Griglak

Pour itself is a quaint and quirky spot with a mix of students and locals—some hanging out with friends, on dates, or working on laptops. Whatever your weeknight vibe, you’ll likely find it here.  The night I visited happened to be ‘Jazz Dads’ night featuring a live jazz quartet performing a mix of autumn inspired songs. The music was a bit much for the tiny space, but just one example of the wide array of theme nights Pour hosts. (Check their Instagram to see the schedule of events.)

Overall, the experience was unique, flavorful, and an undeniable value—a standout within the Evanston food scene. My three rolls totaled under $35, tax and tip included, which helped offset the nearly $15 glass of wine.True value-seekers might prefer to carry out from Sea Ranch directly, while checking out their selection of imported Japanese grocery items. 

Evanston has no shortage of cafés, but Pour stands out for its transition from daytime to nighttime hot spot and for seamlessly blending what could otherwise be a cacophony of drinks and sushi.

Evanston Pour and Sea Ranch Sushi are located at the intersection of Dempster and Chicago, a ten-minute walk from downtown Evanston.

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