a dining pop-up passion project that grows with its founders
in 2022, three members of the varsity men’s crew team at uchicago took their love for cooking each other elaborate after-school meals to the next level. they founded the crescent, a weekly pop-up restaurant. every wednesday night they offered a five-course dinner to three lucky tables of two. word spread quickly around campus, and soon their waitlist grew to 200+ students who were eager to snag a seat at the chef’s table.
the founders were inspired by the opportunity to explore new recipes and expose fellow college students to unfamiliar dining experiences and flavors—all at an accessible price point of $45 per person. they never intended to make a profit. at times they lost money, when they refused to compromise the quality of their ingredients or charge their friends more for the experience…
