I like this restaurant--not my first time as I am often at the McCormick Convention Center for…read moremeetings and am looking for something within walking distance but also a little bit removed. The staff are friendly and attentive; the space is appealing--bright and simple. At the time of my visit, which was at opening for lunch at 11:30, it was quiet, but was more lively by the time I wrapped up. I had the blue crab bucatini and loved it. My only complaint that I could have eaten twice as much as the portion (which was reasonable, though).

I was trying to decide on a final location to dine at for restaurant week and happened upon…read moreApolonia. Made a reservation and was seated right away on a Sunday for brunch. I loved the modern interior and child enjoyed the fuzzy, soft undersides of the tables. I ordered from the restaurant week menu and had the following: warm seafood salad (calamar, octopus, lemon vinaigrette), cacio e pepe' polenta (brisket ragù, sunny egg), and cinnamon roll. I didn't care for the warm seafood salad as it was overly oily and passed it off to hubby to finish. The cacio e pepe polenta was good but the portion size was so small I finished it in like 3 bites. I was excited for the cinnamon roll but it was a letdown. Our friend who dined with us described it as the "driest cinnamon roll he has ever eaten." I ordered the frittata Española (potatoes, fontina, piperade) for my child which was pretty standard. There was maybe a 30 minute delay between the time we finished each dish and when the next one would appear. The restaurant wasn't terribly busy but there seemed like there were only 2 chefs working at the time.

Being a California boy (born and raised) my only way to get a Fish & Chip meal was at a fast food…read morefranchise called H. Salts Fish & Chips; and it was fairly good. Several golf trips to the U.K. (Britain, Scotland, Wales) I got my fair share of excellent Fish & Chips; the best being in Ullapool, Scotland at The Seafood Shack I have never had better! But, leave it to Chicago to deliver some of the best fish and chips I've ever had in the USA, here at The Dearborn restaurant in the Chicago loop. Everything about The Dearborn's signature dish just worked in every way: The fish was fried perfectly The fish itself was moist and delicious The chips (fries) were excellent The coleslaw was the perfect side dish The tartar sauce was scrumptious My Krobacher Pilsner paired perfectly with my dinner The service was spot on And sitting at the bar watching the NBA playoffs didn't hurt either. I did have a scoop of delicious salted caramel gelato that finished this meal perfectly. Having such delicious fish & chips a few blocks away from where I live is certainly better than flying "over the pond" (a British term for the Atlantic Ocean).

This is an excellent spot for a special occasion! I visited recently with a large group for brunch…read moreand we had a great experience all around. Regardless of the time of day and especially during peak hours, I would definitely recommend making a reservation to air on the safe side. The staff prepared our table super quickly and was very attentive- they really went above and beyond throughout the meal. I do not recommend skipping the drinks! I ordered the seasonal Si Se Puede, Tia mezcal cocktail, which was quite spicy and perfectly sweet. For appetizers, we shared the parkerhouse rolls. The rolls were soft and buttery with a delicious whipped butter spread. For the main dish, I ordered the Dearborn Burger. It was solid overall and the portion size was very generous. I tried the fish and chips as well which were excellent. Would definitely order this next time! For dessert, we tried the sticky toffee date cake. I liked that it was not too heavy, and the Heath bar crumbles added a nice crunch. My only wishlist would be to have more of that delicious sauce to scoop up! We left with ample leftovers and in high spirits. Definitely looking forward to visiting again and trying more of the menu!

Exceptional service Great ambiance…read more Exquisite food The most delicious burger as well as tortilla soup and corn bread. Highly recommended

This wasn't our original plan but glad we came here for dinner…read more Service was great! Rory was our waitress and she was nice at recommending items, and checking on us every throughout the night without rushing us! The shrimp jambalaya pasta was so good and flavorful. The lemon drops were a fav of course too.. For apps we got the Texas Twinkie and the Popcorn shrimp. Let's say all of the food was good. Nice restaurant/ bar to go to with friends for good food and drinks and vibes.

Girl and the goat was a menu of delicious after delicious dish…read more The goat empanadas were the crowd favorite and truly the best on the menu. Skirt steak and the dessert were the other 2 faves to round out my top 3 dishes. Service was kind but on the slower side for a Tuesday night Inside is a well designed restaurant that you would expect in west loop

We went in already hearing the hype, and it still exceeded expectations. The standout for us was…read morethe pork shank--perfectly tender, rich, and packed with flavor. It's one of those dishes where every bite hits. The goat empanadas were just as impressive. Great balance, not too heavy, and really well executed. You can tell there's real thought behind the flavor combinations here--it's not just creative for the sake of it, it actually works. The whole experience felt dialed in--food, energy, and service all on point. It's a place you go to enjoy the meal, not just eat. Definitely coming back.

Came here for restaurant week with my friend and it was a great experience! I've been here before…read moreand have always enjoyed the food here. We both did the $30 brunch and we started with the buttermilk biscuit with duck fat butter and house jam. The biscuits were quite small but they were moist, and it paired really well with the duck fat butter. For our second course, we had the duck wings and cheese curds. The duck wings were dressed in Japanese bbq sauce which had amazing flavor. I was pleasantly surprised by the cheese curds, they tasted very light and I loved the aioli it came with. For our main dishes, we shared the Duck Hash and Egg McDuckInn. The portions for both dishes were very generous. The duck skin on the duck hash was perfectly crispy and the duck was very tender and moist. Paired with sweet potato hash and scrambled eggs, it made the perfect dish. The Egg McDuckInn was also a very flavorful sandwich, especially paired with the black pepper maple aioli and griddled onions. We were both very satisfied with these dishes. Since we were celebrating my friend's birthday, our server was so nice and gave us a complimentary dessert! It was very generous of him and it tasted delicious, it was some sort of apple pastry with ice cream. We definitely enjoyed our experience and we will be coming back!

I came for Chicago's Restaurant Week 2026 and enjoyed everything we tried. Overall, great food for…read morethe restaurant week brunch price. Our server was very friendly, parking was easy on the street, and the ambiance was perfect for brunch. Biscuits: 5/10 - dry and flat biscuits, but the butter and jam are great Duck wings: 9/10 Cheese curds: 10/10 - the best cheese curds I've had Spam: 9/10 - thick slices of spam with kimchi mayo sauce Bridgeport Breakfast: 10/10 - large portion with crispy duck leg

I love Hoyt's! The food, the service - wonderful! As a guest of the Royal Sonesta, it's so nice to…read morejust walk downstairs and have a delicious meal with friendly service.

Such a beautiful, well designed space. Plenty of seating--choose between served seating or self…read moreseating in a separate room with real books on shelves. The service was ok for the most part. One day I ordered a breakfast sandwich and it was prepared incorrectly twice. I only sent it back once and it was quickly fixed. I didn't bother correcting them again. The potatoes had no flavor and were advertised as hash browns, but they were surely closer to smothered potato with peppers (no onions). If they were drained of oil better and/or seasoned at all, I could've given a better rating. Drinks were good. I don't know if I'll return for the food, but the restaurant is a nice touch to the hotel.

I have tried a lot of burgers but nothing has topped Au Cheval. I can never quite finish one but…read moreevery single bite is packed with flavor. It seriously hits every taste bud. Adding the pork belly and egg takes it to another level. The space is cozy and intimate but be prepared to wait. It can be anywhere from 30 minutes to a couple of hours. Your best bet is to put your name in and wait for the text alert. Thankfully Small Cheval spots are around when I need a quicker fix. As for parking it is a bit tight with valet street parking and nearby lots as your options.

We were heavily recommended this place by a friend and boy it was worth it…read more We showed up on a Sunday around noon, only had a 45min wait, which was not bad at all compared to our original attempt on Friday night! We were seated near where I could watch the line work, which I appreciated as someone in the food industry. Our server was extremely friendly and helpful, explaining the quirks of the menu as well as his own suggestions for us to try. The burgers themselves were amazing. Easily in my top 5 favorite restaurant style burgers of all time. The tender peppered bacon is the perfect touch for these burgers. If you can withstand the wait, it's truly a wonderful time at Au Cheval.

The Gage has been a staple on Michigan Ave since 2007 and there's good reason for that. Consistency…read moreis the key to success in this part of town. The clientele is a balance of tourists visiting Millennium Park, businessmen grabbing lunch or taking a client out to dinner and/or weekenders hanging downtown looking for a nice meal out in a contemporary setting. Folks visiting The Gage will not settle for okay food and average service. And they're willing to pay for quality because it's either an "occasion" or the tab is being picked up with a company card. We visited on a Saturday morning for brunch, and everything about the visit was on point. The service was friendly and prompt. She knew the menu and made fantastic recommendations. The space itself is clean and inviting - nice enough for a business dinner, but casual enough for jeans and a hoodie. The food and drinks were all delicious, and the price point was exactly where it should be for a sit-down, table service restaurant in the heart of the city. It gets crowded here, so reservations are a good idea. Usually there's a reason if a restaurant has been around for a while and you constantly need to make a reservation. The Gage checks all the boxes.

I know this restaurant is often full of tourists, but hear me out. It's really decent food and the…read moreprices could be higher. I've been coming here after visiting the art institute or before the symphony for the last 14 yrs. I've had brunch, lunch, and dinner and I've never had a meal to complain about. My kids love the fish n chips and I love the curry poutine. After not finding a single poutine I liked in Quebec, I just figured I disliked poutine. Turns out, the only one I like is at the Gage. The last time I was here, my daughter asked for her egg on the side of her avocado toast. It mistakenly arrived on the toast. She said it was fine and didn't want to make a fuss, but our waiter still offered free dessert for the mixup. Great service. Great fried pickles. Nice ambiance. And price points I don't complain too loudly about. It's not exactly cheap, but it's not outrageous

I've come here with my boyfriend a handful of times and we love it. We like to try different…read morecocktails every time. The mimosa on a nice summer day on the patio is my happy place. The entrees are amazing too. The rice with the chicken skewer is my favorite so far and my boyfriend loves the beef and lamb skewer. The service has always been great as well. We've had the same server a couple times now and she's friendly and gets the job done. (Wish I could remember her name!) The ambience is great. With natural light coming in and the soft lamps, it's calming. Truly a beautiful restaurant.

So disappointed. I…read morecame about 5 years ago and loved my meal, especially the sticky date cake, which lingered in my memory as my favorite all time dessert. This year I was so excited to bring my family and Ema was the only restaurant in Chicago I couldn't wait for them to try. I booked it as our final meal in Chicago and lay awake at 4am being so disappointed in my choice. Our server's greeting was monotone and emotionless, which I realize now, would be foreshadowing the meal to come. Ordered the following 1) Smoky eggplant- arrived appearing as an unappetizing curdled purple grey mush. This was the worst tasting baba ghanouj I have ever eaten. It was acidic and had the texture of cottage cheese. The only redeeming thing about this appetizer was the warm naan. 2) house made stratciatella with side of green falafels- The stratciatella was bland and stringy. I would not order this dish expecting the creamy interior of typical burrata. However, if you like string cheese mixed with heavy cream- you may enjoy this dish. The tomatoes and basil were good. 3) chicken kefta- kefta was bland, rice even blander . 4) short rib with polenta- bland and the meat and polenta had the same texture, which seems impossible but somehow the plating was over complicated by the addition of mushy dates and grapes. 5) buttered noodles- my 8 year old ordered this. It was decent with a good amount of Parmesan and cooked perfectly al dente. By the end of the meal, I was so shocked by how terrible the food was I didn't even want to order the sticky date cake that was my main purpose for returning to this restaurant. Ema, what happened to you?!

I made a reservation to celebrate my partner's birthday. When we got there they said they'd text us…read morewhen our table was ready but to feel free to have a drink at the bar and check out the views, which are beautiful. We got a drink then the text came through and we sat at our table. For appetizers, we had a dozen oysters. They were so fresh and flavorful. For dinner, I had the mushroom risotto with chicken and he had the duck pot pie. Risotto is something I have been looking for since I tried many years ago at the now closed Pompeii Orland Park location. They had an amazing risotto. Well, Cindy's I have to say is even better. The risotto was so creamy and rich in flavor. The mushrooms were delicious and the chicken was the perfect addition. The pot pie was full of duck meat and veggies. It was very delicious and would definitely recommend it! We also had the broccolini as a side to share, it is a very big order and very very flavorful. The char gave it such a unique, great test. I was surprised to have finished our food completely it was that good . The server brought out a small slice of cake to celebrate the birthday. The perfect dessert. I would definitely come back to try out their brunch menu.

My friend and I were in Chicago recently and stayed at the Chicago Athletic Association. Our…read morereservation was made using The Hotel Collection, and it came with a credit, which we used in part for a late night snack and drinks at Cindy's Rooftop. While I wasn't a big fan of the taste of my drink and dessert, my friend enjoyed both of theirs. Rather, the service was excellent and the views were amazing. My friend ordered The Rocher for dessert, which includes hazelnut cake, mascarpone chantilly, and smoked maldon salt. I ordered a Baked Alaska, consisting of citrus cake, lemon cream, toasted meringue, and salted white chocolate crunch. We both also ordered cocktails. I cannot recall the name of the drinks. I asked for my drink to be fruity and sweet, but it wasn't enough of either for me. The Baked Alaska was fine but too much of various flavors. I wouldn't fault the restaurant for the drink or dessert taste as I know others really enjoyed theirs. Our server was most attentive and very helpful. We found that making a reservation on Open Table only offered a certain number of time slots, and all of them involved having dinner and not just drinks or a dessert. Reservations can also be made on their website though we chose to speak to the front desk about a reservation. Going up to the bar is first come, first serve though. We ended up making an Open Table reservation and were told it was okay to only order drinks and desserts. Cindy's is named in honor of Marian "Cindy" Pritzker, a beloved Chicago philanthropist. It sits on top of the 13th floor of the hotel under a glass atrium and offers views of Millennium Park, Lake Michigan, and beyond. Cindy's Rooftop is open Monday through Thursday from 11 AM to 11 PM, Friday from 11 AM to 12 Midnight, Saturday from 10 AM to 12 Midnight, and Sunday from 10 AM to 11 PM. Go to https://cindysrooftop.com to see a live terrace view, menus, private dining information, and more. If you're staying at or in the area of the Chicago Athletic Association, definitely go up to Cindy's Rooftop for the experience.