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    El Nandu Restaurant

    3.9 (417 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated over 3 months ago

    El Nandu Restaurant Photos

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    EL NANDU RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - El Nandu Restaurant

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    Milanesa de Pollo el Nandu
    KELLY M.

    This is the second time I came to this place. I love their chicken Milanese. The chicken is thin and well seasoned. The sangria is delicious. The server is very welcoming and the interior design very warming. The paintings inside are breathtaking. Would recommend family and friend to come to this restaurant. Street parking.

    Parrillada Argentina para dos
    Lee J.

    El Ñandú has gotten noticeably worse in recent years. We got the combination for two, parrillada Argentina para dos. Dish came with skirt steak, short ribs, grilled chicken, sausage, and sweetbread. Skirt steak and shorts ribs were cooked well but very very bland. Table top salt and pepper helped salvage the two. Grilled chicken was super chewy, with large portions of fat. Fat is flavor, fat is fine. However, it made the chicken inedible as you're chewing nonstop and getting nowhere. Sausage wasn't bad but wasn't great. Sweet breads were the saving grace. It came with sides, we picked mash potatoes and house salad. Again, very very bland. Mash potatoes were clumpy. Salad was your very basic lettuce, onion, tomato without any dressing.

    Menu (front)
    Julia C.

    Loved this locally-owned Argentinian spot when we stopped through for a quick drink and appetizers while waiting in the area for an event! The Molleja, sweet breads (which is meat, FYI) and the empanadas we tried were awesome! Fav empanada was the Tucumana, but jamón y queso and the pollo were worth it too. The chorizo was not our fav, I think it had fennel in it, which isn't a personal fav of mine. We were hoping it'd be spicy too. I'd love to come back when I can order entrees too! Appreciated the kind, warm service and a visit from the (female!) owner!!! If I lived in Chicago, I'd come back.

    Pollo al Chimichurri
    Claudy C.

    My husband and in-laws came here at 4:30 on a Friday and it was a empty but great for us. We got to choose where to sit and got our waters and bread right away. We ordered a bunch of empanadas (shrimp, spinach, beef). Our server gave us ham empanadas by accident but corrected them by bringing us the shrimp a few minutes later. We got 2 pitchers of their sangria because it was sooo refreshing, especially on a hot day. We got our entrees, I got the chicken in chimichurri sauce. It was a bit salty but the fries were good. The steaks were very good. Our waitress always checked up on us. Place was very clean. Chicken was cooked very well but the saltiness sorta ruined that. I would definitely recommend this place. I would probably order the steak next time.

    Criolla Empanada, Tucumana Empanada
    Jose C.

    We came for dinner. We made a reservations even though I kind of felt a reservation really wasn't going to be needed. It's a decent size dining area but there was only four parties the whole time we were there. Service was great, which is kind of expected since they weren't busy. I like these Argentinian restaurants that start you off with bread, salsa and chimichurri. Both sauces were good. The salsa has a nice kick to it and as always a chimichurri that never fails. We also ordered their Criolla empanada as well as their Tucamana. Both were good, but I might say the criolo was a tad bit better. The Tucamana had sliced steak, green onions and eggs. The Criolla had ground beef, red bell peppers, onions, yellow raisins and olives. My wife ordered their Pollo a la Chimichurri. It was good but I'm honestly not a big fan of ordering chicken at restaurants. Unless it's fried. I ordered their Entraña. I love love love skirt steak and was kind of disappointed in this one. Although it was tender, it missed on flavor. Almost flavorless. Luckily there was still salsa and chimichurri, because that's what I used to have a more enjoyable bite. There's a few other Argentinian restaurants that I would want to try before taking this place off my list. It will definitely be a while before I consider returning here though.

    Parillada
    Edinson C.

    Excelente servicio y comida! Great service and the food is just great! A place you have to go and get some empanadas!

    Entraña with rice and mash potatoes
    Dorhec B.

    Delicious!!! We started with some empanadas and our favorites were shrimps and spinach this one in particular is so SO good. Our main dish was entraña and was huge so we split in order to not feel stuff because was dinner. Medium rare was just perfect. We ended up our dinner with a tiramisu that came with dulce de leche, I'm not huge fan of tiramisu, but my bf is and he said was extremely good and i guess it was true because there was nothing left. They have beers, wines, sangria (really really good) and a wonderful staff too. Especially the girl, she's super nice.

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    7 months ago

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    Adriana Q.

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    1 year ago

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    Adriana Q.

    Dear Kelly, thank you so much for your kind recommendation.

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    6 months ago

    Quality has diminished significantly, service was only so so... Live music was vibrant, but way too loud.

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    2 years ago

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    11 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Our server made. Great recommendations, the ambiance was relaxed, and the food was outstanding.

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    Adriana Q.

    Is our absolute pleasure to serve our guest!

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    1 year ago

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    Adriana Q.

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    4 years ago

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    2 years ago

    Very friendly staff! Lots of great art on the walls and music being played. Food was delicious. 10/10 would recommend!

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    1 year ago

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    6 years ago

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    3 years ago

    The food, service, and ambiance were all top notch. Their short ribs with chimichurri were delicious.

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    2 years ago

    I loved the empanadas. I had the Criolla and the Tucumana. Awesome chimichurri sauce. The sangria has to be the best in the city.

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    3 years ago

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    6 years ago

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    Adriana Q.

    Thanks so much for your review!!!

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    Page 1 of 11

    El Nandu Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - El Nandu Restaurant

    Is it still BYOB?

    No, we have never been BYOB

    Do they allow Corkage fee?

    Yes, only for some Special wine bottles.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Bavette's Bar & Boeuf

    4.5(3.5k reviews)
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    Was in town for pleasure and business and decided to try this spot after hearing so many great…read morerecommendations. When I arrived the line was out the door so I recommend making a reservation or come early. Since it was so packed, I ended up sitting at the bar, which turned out to be a great experience. I ordered the waygu burger and definitely recommend adding lettuce, tomato, bacon and a egg which really takes the burger to another level. I also ordered the fries and that were cooked perfectly, and a salad, to make it seem as if I was making healthy choices lol. The total cost of the burger was around $50 but totally worth it. I would definitely try this place when I'm back in Chicago.

    Bavette's definitely deserves more than 5 stars. You can never go wrong with anything you order and…read morethe service is phenomenal. I think of Bavette's ALL the time, ever since I tried it, I feel like I can't find another restaurant like it. Reservations are definitely hard to book, but it is worth the trouble. We went here for my partner's birthday and everything about it was perfect. The steak, the sides, and even the dessert were lovely. The restaurant is beautifully lit with intimate seating. We definitely feel very special for this very special occasion. The server (forgot his name) was so kind, he made sure we understood the menu and gave us his personal recommendations. Would love to come here again, perhaps for another special occasion. I will always think of Bavette's P.S. The food was so good that I forgot to take photos of the other dishes we had. Bavette's had the best mashed potatoes ever

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    Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Skirt Steak

    Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse

    4.1(2.8k reviews)
    3.9 miNear North Side
    $$$

    This "sniffs in" at 4.5 stars…read more.. Per our local friend this is a classic Chicago steakhouse. LOADED WEDGE SALAD w/BACON, TOMATO & BLUE CHEESE: -- appropriate amount of tasty creamy dressing -- very large but great for 3 people needing some greens with their beef -- I stirred it up well and very tasty -- good or better balance of ingredients RATING = A 22 OUNCE CHICAGO CUT: -- ribeye type cut -- medium-rare -- pre-cut per our request (I prefer not as steak stays hotter when served) -- nice edge bark -- nicely cooked -- best beef of the night -- the rib bone piece was legit but did adhere to the bone a lot RATING = A FILET MIGNON (14 ounce): -- cooked rare plus -- definitely rare -- pre-cut again -- cuts easily but maybe not like butter -- very good steak but I still feel like a recent Mastro's petit filet cooked rare + was better) -- served with Bernaise sauce RATING = A- JUMBO LUMP CRAB CAKE w/thousand island sauce?: -- big fat delish cake -- lightly breaded -- tender and fresh RATING = A+ CARROT CAKE: The MOOSE is loose!!! -- this slice of cake is the size of our head -- it appears to be a 1/4 cut of a gigantic carrot cake -- there are three cake layers w/thick layer of cream cheese on top of each layer -- it could be better with black walnut throughout the cake -- there are walnuts pressed into the backside of it which is nice -- the golden raisins are not ideal but forgivable compared with regular raisins ("squishy" is not needed in carrot cake) -- very moist even days later stored in their plastic to-go container RATING = A The dining room is super active with staff and very noisy so it may not be the ideal choice for a romantic dinner or true catchup with friends you have not seen in a long time. But there is no denying the STAFF are fun and excellent as is the chowder.

    My wife and I had one of the best dining experiences we've ever had here last night. (Living in…read moreChicago for 30 years, I like to think that's saying something.) For whatever reason, we've been stuck in our North Side routine -- and, hey, there are a lot of nice places around Lakeview, so not a bad routine -- but we got out to one of the classics downtown to shake things up. And, holy cow, we're glad we did. Every moment in Gibsons, from the host to the service to the food, was a joy. Our server, Avery, was excellent. He knew the menu. He made us feel comfortable and, above all else, welcome. He was funny. He saw we were getting tipsy and rolled with it. MY WIFE and I took our time a little bit, enjoyed the wine, perused the menu. We each picked the perfect entrees. MY WIFE is pretty small and short but she loved the skirt steak so much she ate the whole thing. I've never seen her do that before. And we still had a ton to take home. Just a great night for us. Thanks to everyone at Gibsons who helped make it so. We're definitely coming back, and we're not waiting five years to do so. The patio they have there is calling my name.

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    Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Upstairs Bar

    Upstairs Bar

    Gibsons Bar & Steakhouse - Carrot Cake & Chocolate Mousse Pie

    Carrot Cake & Chocolate Mousse Pie

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    Butcher & The Bear

    Butcher & The Bear

    4.4(173 reviews)
    2.5 miLincoln Park
    $$$$

    Yes, this place hits all the marks very well: service is astounding, food was amazing, ambiance was…read morereally fun (i.e., dark, romantic, lounge-like). I took my wife here for her birthday. She absolutely fell in love with the place and said she was having a great birthday. She wasn't planting seeds, I swear, but our server, ever the professional, said he'd take care of us. And he did, punctuating our dinner with a wonderful dessert with a birthday candle. Speaking of candles, the focaccia appetizer came out with a lit candle that melts a tasty, buttery dipping sauce. I had work done at the dentist earlier, so I had a hard time eating. Every bite was painful, but I heated up our leftovers and fell in love with my rigatoni with vodka sauce all over again. Yum. The only drawback is the prices. We're not rich, but we love a great experience. We understand that an experience like that comes with a price, so we'll be back as much as we can.

    We visited Butcher & The Bear and had a disappointing experience in terms of food, service, and…read moreambiance. Especially not a good dinner option despite being excited for it for our Valentine's Day dinner. Food- really liked Caesar salad and Mac n cheese. However, this is a steak house. We ordered ribeye in medium and NY strip in medium rare. However, ribeye was medium rare and ny strip was cooked medium well. I considered telling our waiter but he never appeared at our table to ask about how our food was. He showed up half an hour later to ask if we wanted dessert. I didn't eat my ny strip because it was so dry and my husband had a few bites. Service- as mentioned above, the server barely showed up. Also our food arrived later than everyone next to us. The couple next to us got sat down after we put in our entree order and get they received their entree before we did. No apologies or context given on the delay. Also, I know they offer half orders for certain dishes like salad for takeouts and deliveries and saw older TikTok videos that mentioned getting half portions too. We asked if they do half portions so we can try more items in the menu, we simply got a "NO" without any kindness or explanation given. It was said as if we were asking them something stupid. Ambiance- I think the bar area is nice looking, but we were sat in the basement. It was crammed, the tables were small, and because it was a small room, you can really hear other tables conversations. For casual restaurants I don't mind that type of ambiance but if we are dropping more than $300 for 2 of us, I am going to compare it to comparable places in that price range: Bavettes, Gibsons, maple and ash, swift and sons, Alston, etc. this is significantly lacking compared to all of those "nice steakhouses". Theres not even a coat check. Also our leftover was packed in a cheap black plastic bag. Once again, not matching with the price point. We are locals and were very excited to try this place not far from us, but sadly, it was a truly disappointing experience and if anyone asked me if I'd recommend this place, I would say look elsewhere.

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    Butcher & The Bear - Mac n Cheese

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    Penumbra - Creole shrimp, ribeye and lobster (surf & turf) with roasted potatoes and delish side salad. Delish!

    Penumbra

    4.8(1k reviews)
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    I had the pleasure to dine at Penumbra on a Thursday evening. We were celebrating a graduation and…read morethe staff were very welcoming when we arrived. I was visiting from out of town and was not familiar with the parking around the area. I asked one of the staff members and immediately they reassured me that the side street would raking was totally fine to park just so long as it wasn't the front of the building where you have to pay. The food started with a complementary potato soup which was flavorful and lovely. We got a round of drinks and one of our party didn't care for her drink and it was replaced no question. We had the flat iron steak, the chicken, and the salmon and each entree was wonderful. The proteins were all very tender and juicy. I was also very pleased with the salad that came first which was lightly dressed and very seasonal. We finished our dining experience with a slice of cheesecake. It was a nice cap to the end of a wonderful meal. I would recommend this restaurant for any occasion - I would love to come back and try some of the other items on their menu.

    **Hidden gem!!!**…read more Penumbra is SUPER sexy and low-key elite. This is one of those spots that will make you look like a total restaurant pro if you take someone there or recommend it. The ambiance is intimate, romantic, and just feels exclusive without trying too hard. I took my girl there for her birthday and she absolutely loved it -- which is always the real test. We had the ribeye and the Rotini Bianco, and both were excellent. The ribeye was cooked perfectly, tender and flavorful. The Rotini Bianco was rich, creamy, and done just right. Every dish felt intentional and well executed. Don't hesitate to book. If you're trying to impress or celebrate something special, this is the move.

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    Perilla korean steakhouse

    Perilla korean steakhouse

    4.2(190 reviews)
    4.5 miThe Loop
    $$$$
    Locally owned & operated
    Takes reservations

    Perilla absolutely exceeded my expectations…read more The premium set was incredible -- perfectly paired with the banchan, ssam, ssamjang, japchae, and scallion muchim. The soondubu stew was rich and comforting, cocktails were on point, and the white peach sorbet was the perfect ending to the meal. Amazing food, beautiful presentation, and such a great dining experience! We are planning to go back to try their brunch menu!

    Unfortunately, one of my worst dining experiences was in Chicago. Starting off, our food was…read moredelicious. I have nothing but praise for the kitchen team. For starters, we ordered the kimchi pork dumplings and grilled octopus, which both tasted great, but the kimchi flavoring did overpower everything. Our main course included the marinated short rib, wag rib eye, and a5 5 brisket which were all cooked to perfection by our server. However, my experience at Perilla Steakhouse was hands down frustrating. Upon arrival, things were off to a rough start when I could barely hear the server over the music. At times, I felt like our server was rushing us through our meal based on how much less attention he gave us versus the other tables. I'm not someone who needs my glass refilled every minute either to be clear, but things did feel off with how slow our meal was paced out and the general disinterest the server had in us. For reference, we arrived early to a nearly empty restaurant that hadn't started peak dining time yet. I recognize the steakhouse is an upscale, chic take on traditional Korean dishes and I admire the chef for sharing his culture with the city. I also understand restaurants are going to be more expensive, the closer you are located in relation to downtown. Even so, in comparison to other nearby high-end restaurants, the price to portion ratio for our meal felt off. For example, our $16 dumplings included 3 dumplings on a plate. Yes, there's an argument for inflation and the cost of quality ingredients, but I argue that at this price point we shouldn't have left hungry either.

    Photos
    Perilla korean steakhouse - Custom built-in table side grilling

    Custom built-in table side grilling

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    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Ahi Tuna Tartare*

    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab

    4.4(3.2k reviews)
    4.3 miNear North Side
    $$$$

    Service, from Sarah, was wonderful! A member of our group had an allergy, and the staff were on top…read moreof it making sure she had a great experience. The food was outstanding. Best calamari I have ever had. Highly recommend the chocolate fudge pie. It was to die for! It is a very cool place. I will definitely make another stop when I'm in Chicago.

    So, I've made a clean sweep with Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab, by going to the Las Vegas…read moreone, the DC one and now the Chicago one - HooRay! Walking into the Chicago Grand Avenue Joe's was like walking into a full elevator - difficult, but not impossible. This place was jammed, on an early Thursday night. I guess the word is out - this place is good. I grabbed a high top bar table right in front of a TV with the Cubs game on and got everybody's attention in the very sports centric city! I know "Joe's" menu very well and I ordered: * Their Wedge salad with a ton of accoutrements and asked for this salad to be chopped and tossed. It was excellent * Their fried calamari with two dipping sauces which was also very good and filling. * A light pale pilsner that (again) was very good paired excellently with my order. I guess what I'm trying to say is - this place earned such a stellar reputation that being in this sea of happy diners is well deserved. The staff was accommodating, the ambience was wild and wooly and the people were enjoying themselves, to no end, me included.

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    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Inside

    Inside

    Joe's Seafood, Prime Steak & Stone Crab - Creamed Corn

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    La Grande Boucherie

    La Grande Boucherie

    4.3(619 reviews)
    4.2 miNear North Side
    $$$

    I took advantage of their prixe fix lunch deal. I had the French onion soup and the chicken…read morepaillard. The soup was very tasty and was a huge portion. The chicken paillard was very tasty but it seemed odd that the chicken and salad were both served on the same very hot plate. Luckily the salad didn't get warm enough to wilt the greens. My server was Michelle and she was wonderful. Very helpful, very cheerful, and just a joy to interact with.

    Came here last night for dinner with another couple for the first time. While the food was good,…read morethe service was not so I don't think I'll be back. For starters, we had a reservation which I would recommend. We were seated right away and while the place is large inside, I'm not sure what walk-in availability is like. The food: we really enjoyed the octopus, escargot, I had the Filet Mignon Au Poivre, and the banana/coconut entremet. The octopus was tender and flavorful; octopus cooked right (especially in smaller pieces) is hard to find so I was impressed. The escargot was nice and buttery/garlicky, and piping hot. I LOVED my Filet with the green peppercorn cream sauce! It was delicious and my husband was surprised I ate so much of it. It was cooked exactly as I asked, the meat had good flavor, and the sauce was delicious and well balanced + the right consistency. Lastly, the banana and coconut dessert was a pleasant surprise. The banana flavor was fresh (not artificial) and had the right balance of coconut. It was creamy, not too sweet, and had the right balance of textures with the outer coating and the crumble underneath - if you like banana or coconut at all I'd say it's a must order! The creme brulee was just okay. My issue was the service - the table next to ours LIT ON FIRE because a menu was over the top of a candle. After burning half the menu and the fire was getting larger, our partners ran over and put it out with their napkins. They yelled and there was NO ACKNOWLEDGEMENT from the staff at all - at least 2 staff saw and one waiters eyes got big for a minute and she turned away. Not even a thank you from anyone to our partners for putting it out, and they had to ask for new napkins because theirs had black char on them. We were in the middle of enjoying our appetizers and my friend was just digging into her French onion soup from our first round and the staff kept trying to take our plates away. My friend had to tell them 3 times to please leave the soup at the table, and overall made us feel very rushed. We weren't taking a long time to eat at all so felt very weird? When the entrees were dropped on the table, my friend got a steak and they kept trying to give her a butter knife. It took multiple attempts to get the correct knife. Then once we were done eating it took a while to get our plates and old glasses cleared away. Overall service timing was off and their aggressiveness in the beginning of trying to take our plates away + the lack of response to A FIRE in the restaurant was pretty alarming. While I enjoyed the food there, the service was pretty bad and I feel unsafe with the lack of response to a fire in the restaurant so I don't think we'll return.

    Photos
    La Grande Boucherie - Inside during Christmas

    Inside during Christmas

    La Grande Boucherie - Les Escargots -- La Grande Boucherie Chicago

    Les Escargots -- La Grande Boucherie Chicago

    La Grande Boucherie - Meet La Lorelei, a must-try among our exquisite cocktails

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    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    4.4(2.8k reviews)
    4.4 miThe Loop
    $$

    New favorite! Came downtown from the 'burbs for a show - my sweetie called ahead and we got a GREAT…read moretable just inside the door, perfect for people watching. Tasty drinks - the grapefruit pilsner was a perfect choice for a warm spring evening, and our server was funny and sweet. Sticky ribs appetizer was spot on, with just enough heat to keep it interesting. We shared the fish and chips - perfectly cooked, crunch and sweet, great fries! House made slaw and tartar sauce was out of this world! Gotta make one comment on something we didn't have. The next table over, two middle aged women order cheeseburgers. When they came out I almost regretted ordering the fish. They were huge, juicy, and looked incredible. This two ladies, drinking their Chardonnays polished them off, that's how good they were. Next time... Dessert? Why not? Sticky toffee cake please. Perfect with a cup of black coffee. Out the door and on our way - we'll be back! Thanks!

    We dined at the Dearborn on a Saturday afternoon with my family. Our reservation was strategic we…read morearrived hours before we assumed it would become very crowded. The seating was tight. Overall I was having a good experience. The food was OK. The menu was limited. Oh btw, the special that day was a $70 wag goo burger. That interaction between me and the server reminded me of a car salesman trying to sale me undercoating for the car i just purchased. REALLY I can't make it up. The experience dropped to a single star as our dining experience was nearing an end. The manager of the front of the house. Made a conscious effort to make it clear that the table we were dining was needed by waiting customers. I've never ever experienced this before in any restaurant in the Loop. I can't and will not recommend dining here. This is why I'm giving 1 star. I my opinion The Dearborn maybe they need to be in a different location. Maybe located far west of the Loop. I would suggest instead of Dearborn maybe Halsted St. and probably change their name to The Halsted. Im not going back. OH btw good luck in your new location.

    Photos
    The Dearborn - $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    $12 Martinis for Martini Mondays

    The Dearborn - New Spring Menu

    New Spring Menu

    The Dearborn - Spring desserts

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    Spring desserts

    Sophia Steak - Chicago - Super green vegetable salad

    Sophia Steak - Chicago

    4.3(108 reviews)
    4.0 miNear North Side

    We had a beautiful luncheon on Easter across from the Cathedral, at Sophia's steakhouse. I just…read morehave to say how wonderful our waiter Brent was. He was incredibly efficient, attentive without ever hovering, and had such a natural sense of humor that made the whole experience even more enjoyable. The food was excellent! It's rare to find someone who balances professionalism with warmth so effortlessly. He truly added something special to our afternoon, and we left feeling very well taken care of.

    Wow!!! The best service we have had In a hot minute!!!! Had the pleasure of sitting in Nina's…read moresection tonight and she was such a delight! So helpful with the suggestions, so attentive and so kind and personable!!! Off of her amazing recommendations we got the tuna tartare, hamachi crudo, miso salmon , skirt steak and bread pudding !!! I would order every single item again! The skirt steak specifically was cooked perfectly and the chimichurri was absolutely phenomenal!!! I will be thinking about it for a while! The blueberry spritz was so good I had three lol! I love that every day they have specific specials so Monday night was steak frites. The tartare was perfect to share and lasted a lot longer than we thought! Who I think was the manager came by a few times to make sure all was well which just felt so nice for a Monday night. This place is perfect for GNO, Business Dinner, or a Third+ date! I have nothing but positive things to say!! AMAZING place

    Photos
    Sophia Steak - Chicago - Bathroom hallway upstairs

    Bathroom hallway upstairs

    Sophia Steak - Chicago - Whipped potatoes and spinach

    Whipped potatoes and spinach

    Sophia Steak - Chicago - Apres Ski Display

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    Apres Ski Display

    El Nandu Restaurant - latin - Updated May 2026

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