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    Grill on 21

    4.2 (91 reviews)
    Closed • 7:00 am - 2:30 pm, 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM

    Order Grill on 21 Takeout or Delivery

    Grill on 21 Photos

    GRILL ON 21 ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Classy
    Upscale
    Happy hour specials

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    Recommended Reviews - Grill on 21

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    Jeudi J.

    Very upscale, intimate spot for delightful cocktails and dinner. Truffle arancini made me rethink this dish; so much more special than usual. Lobster bisque was rich and full of lobster for a change. Best steak frites I've ever had, friends had salmon & garganelli and loved both. Millionaire chocolate cake was my birthday treat with a side of chocolate truffles; I'd go back just for the cake. Aramis our server was charming and attentive, if a bit leisurely, and we made it to our show just in the nick of time. Will be back.

    I'm leaving this as a walk out the door of the restaurant. I ordered the steak frites and it was genuinely impossible to chew and the taste was awful. I can usually look past the taste and I'm not a complainer and always feel awkward complaining anyways. But I was like, ehhh, I'll say something kindly. So I told the waitress, "everything is great but the steak is almost impossible to chew" and she proceeded by saying "it's a hanger steak and it's cooked medium well so that's how it is. If it was filet it would be tender". Then she proceeded to walk away and avoid us for 30 min until it was time for the bill hahah. They didn't try to fix the meal, bring something new, or even remove it from the final bill. Ohhh and I didn't eat it at all...just had the fries on the side. Anyways, nice place, good live music, waitress was initially nice...but the moment they needed to step up and assist a customer, they flopped big time. If you're looking for a fancy dinner, I'd highly recommend going elsewhere.

    Priscilla W.

    This restaurant is located on the 21st floor on top of the JW Marriot which happens to be the entrance of the Autograph Marriott Hotel. The doorman greeted me, then escorted me to the tables. He kindly toured the restaurant and proceeded to let me know. All of the items that on the menu were curated and service was impeccable. I was only there for happy hour. I ended up going with the crab cake and a glass of wine. I was very impressed with the service the bartender gave me along with great tips for places to go in Chicago. I definitely highly recommend this place.

    Lafayette B.

    The food was very good. The service was fast and friendly. And the atmosphere was very nice. It was a very pleasant experience at the hotel.

    Group dinner
    Calvin D.

    Jeanine was our server and she did a fantastic job. She was kind, attentive, and helped us pick a great selection of drinks. We ordered the filets, side broccoli, macaroni & cheese, & Brussels sprouts. Everything was absolutely delicious and to die for. We left happy campers. The experience here was flawless. We will certainly return.

    Lobster bisque
    Victoria L.

    Most hotel restaurants are generic and provide food simply for convenience. This is not one of them. The sitting area, bar and dining area are nicely decorated and furnished, a slight notch below higher end steak houses (like STK, Capitol Grill). Most patrons, like myself, were dressed business casual. Hostess was welcoming and friendly, and water order taken and filled immediately. The server was eager to answer any questions and offer suggestions. When I couldn't decide between two soups, he offered a taste of one, without prompting. I ordered the lobster bisque - on the saltier side but delicious flavor. Not too much sherry, and the lobster pieces were the perfect size for multiple spoonfuls. Just wish there were more. Wedge salad with grilled shrimp added - crisp lettuce and generous tangy blue cheese, creamy dressing and smoky bacon pieces. The grape tomatoes had a burst of sweetness and the shrimp was grilled perfectly. My favorite part of the meal came in the complimentary bread basket: a pop over. Light, crusty with a thin chewiness inside. I could've eaten a whole basket of those as a meal.

    Thanksgiving buffet
    Tracy W.

    Came for the thanksgiving day buffet dinner. Was a very cute and classy venue in the La Salle Hotel. Attentive black tie service. The buffet had a carving table, seafood cart, and tons of sides and desserts. It was delicious. The drinks were tasty. Kid friendly options too. Very nice time w the family.

    Grilled Lamb Chops
    Ivory M.

    Service was amazing. We came for a graduation celebration with ~10ppl. The room is gorgeous and our server was phenomenal. The food was ok but has gotten noticeably lower quality for many of the dishes that were on the menu previously. Like lobster thermidor? But with gnocchi? No, terrible, flavorless and not lobster thermidor. There was little flavor, none of the traditional fixings that come with lobster thermidor, and the little tiny chopped pieces of lobster was definitely not what I received the last time I ordered this at this restaurant.

    Steak Frites   Dinner Potato Puree
    Tamia L.

    Our waitress, April was attentive just a little standoffish and in a hurry. My meal, wedge salad was pretty good, crumbles a bit sharp/puckering. Steak frites was set on mashed potatoes and outside the sauce the steak was bland. My dinner companion ordered shrimp de jonghe and twice baked potatoe.Which upon eating the potato discovered it had an off flavor and discovered corner of it was black. Our waitress and the manager excused it away first indicating it was burned but that's not what it was. In the end an apology was given and the meal was simply comped. Didn't take a picture of that

    Mac and cheese. Delicious, but about the same as other places.
    Jaron R.

    Everything here was delicious from the bread selection to the New York Steak, to the potatoes and the Mac & cheese. All very good. The only problem was the steak came not cooked enough. Ordered medium but got medium rare. But I sent it back to cook a little more and it came back perfect. The service was great. Lots of people making sure you have a great experience. I would eat here again.

    Poke bowl
    Khadijah H.

    I have to give it up to the hotels that serve food and do it perfectly. Grill on 21 did not disappoint my friend and I during a nice lunch for restaurant week. (Missing cocktail photos) We arrived super early before the lunch rush and thank God we did. The staff - a thousand hand claps - they were quick, attentive, assertive and knowledgeable. They paid attention and kept an eye on us. Each time I finished a dish, there was someone nearby to grab it. The food was great. The lobster bisque had actual pieces of lobster and lemme tell ya ,.. they weren't stingy. The pieces were so large I cut them to even them out as I ate. The bisque was thick and creamy. The flavors were there. Oh! My friend and I didn't need the salt or pepper the entire visit. That's a first for me Poke bowl- fresh raw tuna and salmon. Couldn't miss it. It was on the sweet side for me but I appreciated the portion size. I was able to finish it and still feel energetic and not weighed down. The salmon was a large portion. Usually restaurants give thin or skinny slices of salmon and attempt to ration you out with starches or veggies. Not here. They also gave butternut squash and sweet potatoes. I loved the variety of veggies given to elevate the flavor of the perfectly crisped salmon. My heavens honey pannacotta did what it needed to do! Mmmkay! Very rich and didn't taste like gelatin. They even sprinkled pistachio on top and that's a winner for me. I will be returning. Now I know my money won't be spent in vain.

    Steak and Eggs Brunch
    Joneice B.

    Grill on 21 is a beautiful restaurant located on the 21st floor of the La Salle hotel. Location is right on the edge of the financial district. We decided to come here for our last meal of restaurant week because we wanted to try something different. I wish we would've looked at coming here for dinner because the menu seems divine. For starters we got the lobster bisque, which came with old Bay season croutons. The lobster bisque was really good and you could actually see chunks of lobster included in the soup. For brunch we got the steak and eggs, which is included potatoes and toast. The steak was good and was served with a delicious chimchuiri sauce. The last item in our brunch for restaurant week was cheesecake. Overall just a really nice set up and well worth the money spent. I really like this restaurant and would come back for dinner for sure or even to bring people for drinks that are from out of town. I like that not only was the restaurant located up high with a view but there were several seating areas there was a library, area a full bar, and a big party area. Our server was also very nice I believe his name was Rory.

    Chicken

    Irene at the host stand was so welcoming and warm. She made me and my service dog feel right at home. She even made sure we BOTH had water. Nate at the bar made great recommendations. The Caesar salad is delicious - very light and citrus-forward. The wine selection is amazing. Prisoner company - the famous blend and the zin (Saldo). If you prefer heavier Pinots, they have Lyric by Etude by the bottle. Roasted chicken was like Thanksgiving on a plate. Two thumbs up!

    Grilled Octopus. Best dish!

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    3 months ago

    Very nice room. Jazz on Sat night was very good and the food - I had the steak frites were really good!

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    11 months ago

    Food was mediocre and not cooked properly. Service was slow. Overpriced!! Go anywhere else for a nice night out with friends. Trust me

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    1 year ago

    Goran was amazing! Thank you for hosting our group and the absolutely wonderful service!

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    Ask the Community - Grill on 21

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    Au Cheval

    Au Cheval

    4.4(9.6k reviews)
    0.9 mi•West Loop, Near West Side
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    I read all the bad reviews before coming and... they were just hating, having a bad day, or have…read morenever eaten a burger before to be an objective judge! Because no way did we eat at the same place. WOW! It's only been a handful of times that I've had the urge to write a review while I'm still eating because of how amazing the experience is. The ambiance is bustling and will FOR SURE keep you awake as you fill your belly. And the burger? It's not just a burger, it's culinary art and a full on flavor experience. I was full well before my plate was empty, but I simply could not imagine reheating any part of it later. The egg was cooked to sunny-side perfection, and every bite was ridiculous. It's bar-style, so the fries came out first, hot and paired with a garlic aioli that absolutely did what it needed to do. Everyone moves with purpose. The food, the service, the atmosphere--this place is a well-oiled machine of greatness. 1000/10. Will absolutely be back.

    Finally made it to Au Cheval and it did not disappoint! It seems to be busy all the time, so make a…read morereservation or plan to be there when they open. Not a huge inside seating area, but it is nice to sit outside on a nice day. We got the single cheeseburger with egg, the double cheeseburger with egg, the fried bologna sandwich with egg, crispy fries and the crispy potato hash! The single is a double patty and the double is a triple. The burgers were deliciously cooked and very hearty! Root beer compliments the burgers well! The crispy fries with the garlic aioli and mornay sauce were very yummy! The crispy potato hash was probably the lowlight of this meal... love the crispy-ness of the hash, didn't love the gravy. Service overall was okay, they were busy so it got slow once our food arrived. It does get loud inside so be prepared. Au Cheval lives up to the hype! We will totally go back for the burgers, crispy fries and root beer!

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    Americano, Lincoln Park

    Americano, Lincoln Park

    3.6(160 reviews)
    2.5 mi•Lincoln Park

    Went here for their daily happy hour which includes weekends, 4-6pm. Was happy with our drinks, the…read moreespresso martini was a highlight loved the little toasted marshmallow. Fries were also delicious and the 1$ oysters were a good deal, not the best oysters but for a dollar I was happy. Burger was also good. Staff were very nice and attentive. The host was sweet and sat us right was and our server was amazing. Constantly checking on us and was so friendly. Very cute vibe on the inside, nicely decorated a lot of seating. Honestly a little pricey but the happy hour made it worth it.

    Been meaning to try this HH for a while! This place is attached to hotel Lincoln so it essentially…read moreserves as the hotel bar and restaurant. It was good! The inside feels kind of like Gemini with open windows, modern fixtures etc. The service was good overall, and they fixed a drink when I didn't like it. The happy hours is definitely worth it to get the burger and fries. Both were decently sized and worth the $15 price. The burger had a lot of toppings, including a sauce and pickled onions and a very good amount of pickles. The Caesar salad honestly was not good, tasted very artificial and I probably would only try their sandwiches or appetizers if I went back. The truffle fries didn't have a strong truffle flavor, but I like the shoe string shape and they come with ketchup and mayo. But overall, a cute place, an easy walk in and a good patio!

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    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    4.4(2.8k reviews)
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    This was my second visit to The Dearborn, and the food and service were both on point. We ordered…read morethe salmon tataki, fish and chips, Wellington burger, and Midwest fried chicken. Everything was well prepared, but the fried chicken was the standout, especially with the hot sauce adding another level of flavor. The staff stayed attentive throughout dinner and even replaced our plates between rounds, which was a level of service I wasn't expecting. I also respected seeing the owner personally making the rounds, stopping at every table to check on the guests and the food. Calm atmosphere, solid hospitality, and a kitchen that delivers.

    OMG! Walk, run, sprint here to get the FISH N CHIPS THAT ACTUALLY BEAT BOBBY FLAY. The executive…read morechef and now chef partner, Aaron Cuschieri, is absolutely amazingly talented. I am used to really good fish and chips... I've never had better fish and chips than Tom Douglas's Mr. Fish in Seattle, UNTIL NOW!!!! Wow, wow wow wow! Do not pass GO, do not read the menu, just order the darn fish and chips! It might be a whole heart attack on a plate... But it doesn't matter... You can walk all of Chicago and burn it off. I decided to work out before I came here for this big splurge and I'm so glad I did. I can see that this is the theater district... And you could come here before a show fish and chips and have the best night of your entire life! I can't wait to try more of this chef's food! I'm BEYOND INSPIRED! ps great beers here toooooi!

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    Little Bad Wolf - Wolf Burger and frites. Duh. Solid meat to face thing.

    Little Bad Wolf

    4.4(2.6k reviews)
    7.4 mi•Andersonville, Edgewater
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    Had lunch today at Little Bad Wolf in Andersonville and ordered the Bad Burger -- and it was…read morephenomenal! Two juicy patties, American cheese, house-made pickles and red onion mayo. Nothing overly complicated -- just a really well-executed burger. Little Bad Wolf has the accolades to back it up. Time Out ranks its larger Wolf Burger #1 in Chicago, while The Infatuation actually prefers the Bad Burger, saying the simpler version allows the meat to shine. After eating it, I understand the hype.

    Have you ever heard the story of the Little Bad Wolf... who huffed, and puffed, and blew my socks…read moreaway because of HOW DELICIOUS of an exerience it was? YUP FOLKS. The Little Bad Wolf isn't just a story... it's a phenom dot com restaurant that you NEED to visit! My family and I visited after a Saturday Cubs game and luckily, there were still a handful of tables available and we were promptly seated. The staff were super friendly and provided excellent service! Almost everyone at our table ordered the Wolf Burger after hearing my sister and her husband rave about it. When our orders came to the table, we were all PLEASANTLY surprised at how beautifully stacked and dressed our burgers were. A triple stack of patties, topped with cheese, bacon, a fried egg, crispy onions, and housemade pickles?! That's a recipe for delicious success right there! The Wolf Burger was indeed SCRUMPTIOUS! My goodness, I am still thinking about it two whole days later and how I can't wait to revisit this restaurant and try some more of their menu items. An honorable mention goes out to the delicious fries on the side!! They were the perfect cut, well-seasoned, and out-of-this-world. I HIGHLY recommend Little Bad Wolf to all folks looking for a delicious experience! The burger is sensational, the environment is impeccable, and this is a great spot if you're going on a date or out with friends.

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    Trivoli Tavern - Corn bread

    Trivoli Tavern

    4.5(1.1k reviews)
    0.9 mi•West Loop, Near West Side
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    I've been wanting to try Tivoli Tavern for SO long! As everyone knows, getting a reservation here…read morecan be a struggle since people are seriously on their A-game the second reservations go live. We happened to already be in the city that day and somehow got lucky finding a reservation close to the time we were already nearby, so we knew we had to take our chance! The whole place is beautiful and has such a cozy, classic Chicago feel. I would absolutely come back, but next time I really want to sit outside because their outdoor patio is gorgeous. The staff was also super friendly and really helpful with recommendations throughout the night. We started with the warm Parker House rolls, which were so soft, fluffy, buttery, and delicious. Then we shared the vodka rigatoni, and the portion was definitely big enough for two people to split. So creamy, comforting, and really good. Of course we had to end with one of their classics, the sticky date cake, and OMG. Soooo good. Warm, rich, sweet, and the perfect way to finish dinner. Definitely worth finally checking off my list, and I'd happily come back again, especially for a patio night!

    This is an intimate and fun Italian style restaurant. Their outdoor seating is fun, on cobblestone…read morestreets, with umbrellas and perfect in the summer. The inside is extremely intimate and beautiful. The food was good. I wouldn't say it's fantastic compared to all the other places Chicago has to offer.. their sticky date cake speaks to the 4 star review. This cake tasted like a delicious butter cake and oh my gosh I want it again. Our server was very kind and attentive. They served us extremely quick and our food was out in no time. The bread, on the other hand was seriously to die for. Try the truffle bread with butter!

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    The Smith

    The Smith

    4.2(830 reviews)
    0.7 mi•River North, Near North Side
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    Our visit to The Smith was really delicious! We found this place on Resy and it was close to our…read morehotel/ within walking distance. Super welcoming staff and I loved the vibe, super bright and open with really cool lighting and shelving behind the bar. The floor tile was really cool too, modern and comfortable. They had a great special going on for World Cup, a burger and glass of prosecco for $18! My kind of girl dinner :) burger came with fries and was super delicious. Cooked perfectly. We also had some burrata which wad delicious as well. We had a great time- check them out!

    I had one of the best salads in recent memory during a business lunch at The Smith…read more I went to The Smith for the first time with a small group of colleagues on a beautiful summer day. We were seated near the open windows in a pleasant and airy space. While I don't normally order salads, the sugar snap chicken salad caught my eye. It had a terrific balance of flavors: a base of arugula nicely dressed with a lemon vinaigrette and tossed with sliced snap peas and fennel, well-seasoned grilled chicken, farro, and pistachios. The ingredients were all very fresh and complemented each other well. Colleagues ordered the chicken sandwich and were very happy with it. Portions all around were generous. This is a place for a pretty hearty lunch rather than light bites. Service was friendly, though a little slow, and one of my colleagues had to remind them of her drink order. Prices were on the high side but not unusual for the neighborhood, and the high quality and size of my salad made me feel like the price point wasn't completely outrageous.

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    The Smith - Bar area

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    The Purple Pig - 36 Day Aged Pork Chop

    The Purple Pig

    4.3(9.1k reviews)
    0.9 mi•Near North Side
    •$$$

    Wow, oh wow... the food was AMAZING! I was especially impressed with the pork AND seafood…read more The pork belly was so good, the two of us devoured it in less than a minute. If you're hungry, try the potato gnocchi. The pork ragu was so rich and delicious. The pork is tender, and the gnocchi was creamy and filling. I also recommend the Spanish Octopus and the Roasted Bone Marrow. Service was excellent. They had 2 dedicated food runners so that everyone receives their food as soon as humanly possible. Everything is served tapas style, so food goes out as soon as each plate is ready vs waiting for the entire table's meals to go out at the same time. Ambiance is modern and casual even though the food tasted like I should have dressed nicer.

    I'll say up front that I'm not a Wagyu guy. I don't send things back to the kitchen, and I think…read morethe Costco tenderloins are fine. So sure, it's called the Purple Pig, I ordered beef. Maybe I was expecting too much. I was in Chicago for a conference. It was Friday, 5:30 PM, and I sat by myself at the bar, in shorts. It took about ten minutes to get a menu, though the bar was only half full. Maybe I looked like I was waiting for someone. Half Acre IPA: excellent. Ordered the filet mignon, medium rare. The runner who brought it asked me to cut into it and check the temperature. I'd never had that request before, and it made me think he must know something I don't. It turns out he did -- rare in the middle with an overcooked crust. I asked the chef if they use thermometers. He said no, they go by touch. That explains the pattern. Touch tells you how firm the outside is, and the outside was cooked every time -- it was the inside that never got there. A filet is thick and lean, which is exactly the cut that fools your thumb. I'm not a professional cook, but I make steak at home with a $25 instant-read thermometer and it comes out right, so I don't think the tool is the obstacle. The second one that came out wasn't a new steak; it was the same one I'd cut open, put back on the heat. More char outside, and the rare middle was still there, just smaller. A manager took it away, took my silverware, and said it would come off the bill. She asked if I still wanted food. I said yes, I just wanted it cooked correctly. I didn't think this was beyond what they were capable of. She said she was sorry it wasn't to my liking, which felt like what you say when you think the customer is the problem. Round three is the photo. New steak, same result. I showed the chef the picture and asked if it looked medium rare to him. He said he'd cooked the second one himself and it was fine. I asked the server who'd brought the third one and he allowed that it looked a little undercooked in the middle. Then the chef came back to the bar and told me, politely, that I wasn't going to like any steak he cooked -- he "wasn't saying you're wrong, we're not a steakhouse." I respect that. I'd just suggest that the menu should say so too. The best steaks I've ever had were in Dallas and Oklahoma, and the next best have all been in Chicago. The bar here is high, and it's set by the neighbors. They took the third one away. I left with two beers on the house, which was generous, and went back to the Loews and ordered Steak Frites, medium rare, just to do a sanity check. Maybe I was grumpy from jet lag. I took a picture of it cut open, so you can be the judge. The beers were very good. The sweet potato and crispy onions under the steak looked very good. I'd come back for the beer list and the small plates, and I'd leave the filet to the neighbors. For what it's worth, I had a filet at Michael Jordan's the night before, cooked right the first time. I didn't bother to leave a review because, well, cooking a filet right seems like table steaks on Michigan Avenue. Same guy, same shorts. So I don't think it's me, but I've been wrong before.

    Photos
    The Purple Pig - The kitchen

    The kitchen

    The Purple Pig - Chicago style hot dog

    Chicago style hot dog

    The Purple Pig - Squid Ink Chitarra

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    Squid Ink Chitarra

    Cindy's Rooftop - Prawns Nayarit

    Cindy's Rooftop

    4.1(2.9k reviews)
    0.4 mi•The Loop
    •$$$

    Since we were visiting Chicago to celebrate my girlfriend's birthday, I wanted to make sure that…read morethere was a wow factor wherever we went on her special day. In browsing through the pictures of Cindy's Rooftop, it looked like it hit that criteria spot-on. The pictures did not lie. When entering the restaurant, the views of Lake Michigan through floor to ceiling windows were amazing and it was nice to enjoy the bright natural light from the glass roof. Once seated, I told our server, Gerardo that it was her birthday and he immediately got her a glass of bubbly on him! He was positive and easy to talk to. This was quite the contrast with the service at Bar Mar for dinner the night before where the server made no attempt to make the night special. We ordered the Blueberry French Toast and the Chilaquiles. The french toast was superb, being thick, fluffy and sweet. The Chilaquiles were pretty average...what I'd expect at a cheap Mexican joint so at $25, it was quite pricey but I will say the over-medium eggs were cooked perfectly. Throughout brunch, Gerardo checked on us frequently and when I asked for the check, he came back with a dessert and a candle as a final gesture to making my girlfriend's day special. I am so glad we came here because it truly was an experience, thanks to the great service, beautiful rooftop, and good food.

    Cindy's Rooftop has beautiful views of the city. It's overlooking Millennium Park and The Bean…read more Perfect place to bring out of town visitors or if you just want to enjoy rooftop views. We definitely picked a beautiful fall day to come by. Came around 3pm on a Tuesday and they had a limited menu until 5pm. Ordered the cheese curds and arancini as appetizers. Both were tasty and the sauces were great. The smashburger and fries were really good too, and filling. Overall food was good but pricey. Guess you're paying for the downtown rooftop views with your food Our server was nice and attentive and my water glass was never empty.

    Photos
    Cindy's Rooftop - Inside the rooftop bar and restaurant

    Inside the rooftop bar and restaurant

    Cindy's Rooftop - Pink Moon Oysters* (Half Dozen)

    Pink Moon Oysters* (Half Dozen)

    Cindy's Rooftop - Jeppson's Malört

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    Jeppson's Malört

    Grill on 21 - steak - Updated October 2026

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