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    Maxwells Trading

    4.5 (196 reviews)
    Open 4:30 pm - 9:00 PM

    Maxwells Trading Photos

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    MAXWELLS TRADING ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Romantic
    Classy
    Upscale
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - Maxwells Trading

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    Prosciutto
    Tray

    Chicago restaurants really keep impressing me and this one is incredible. Opened by James Beard finalists Erling Wu-Bower and Chris Jung, the menu blends Asian influence with American flavors and you can taste that creativity in the dishes. The prosciutto & gnocco frito was so good!! Everything worked together so well, it felt like elevated charcuterie 9.5/10. The griddle bread with French onion dip was even better!! That truffle flavor in the dip was insane and the bread had the perfect texture 9.7/10. The tortellini soup dumplings were a little overhyped for me, 7/10. We got the bone-in strip medium and the texture was perfect. Loved the potato pavé that came with it, 7.5/10. The Basque butter cake was overhyped in my opinion and just tasted like a standard butter cake, and I'm not the biggest butter cake fan, 6/10. Cocktails were AMAZING. Sweet, strong, elevated, and reasonably priced 9.5/10. Service was perfect. Friendly but not overbearing. The vibe is dim and intimate, and even though the place filled up fast, it didn't feel too loud since the space is huge. We had window seats and it felt like the perfect date night or celebration spot.

    Basque butter cake
    Kayla P.

    We came in during Restaurant Week but didn't end up ordering the Restaurant Week menu. The space was cute and very busy! I'd heard so many great things about this place, and while I definitely thought it was good, it didn't totally live up to the hype for me. That said, I do think restaurant quality can dip a bit during Restaurant Week. We tried a lot of dishes since it's more of a share-plates style restaurant. My favorite dishes were the Suzuki Tartare, Ravioli Doppio, Pork Chop au Poivre, and the whipped ricotta. I'd happily order everything again, all the dishes were great, just nothing that felt truly over-the-top amazing. We also felt like the service was a bit cold; not rude, but not quite what you'd expect from a restaurant at this level

    Monica N.

    What a fantastic meal!! It's a perfect place for anyone who is vegetarian. The whole space is huge! It still somehow has such a homey and cosy feel to it. Everyone that worked there was very nice and out waitress was helpful with suggestions. Beginnings: we got the silken tofu and chicory cesar. The silken tofu was interesting mix of flavors and very unique! The chicory cesar was a good hearty salad that felt so fresh. The prosciutto and gnocco fritto was our favorite! The gnocco fritto with the mix of caprino/prosciutto/black currant was so so good. Griddle Bread & Dunks: we got the whipped ricotta, japanese eggplant, and french onion dip. The french onion dip was my favorite! Such a good mix of flavors, esp if you love truffle. The whipped ricotta was light and airy. The japanese eggplant was a bit more "hearty" and the flavors were great. The bread that came with the dips was so good. Starch: the soup dumpling tortellini and ravioli doppio both were made very well and were both very good. Substance: we got the mapo cabbage, turbot, and pork katsu. The mapo wasn't too spicy but perfectly balanced! The turbot was my personal favorite - the cook on the fish was perfection and the butter sauce was amazing. The pork katsu was cooked perfectly with a nice crunchy outside and well cooked meat on the inside. I do wish there was more sauce for the katsu though. Dessert: Basque butter cake was our personal favorite! The red bean brownie was such a different take on the brownie and it was very good! We opted to get more of the whiskey forward cocktails and you cannot go wrong. The "after dinner drinks" included their take on espresso martini and it was definitely spirit forward but very good. I love that their menu features a lot of what they are able to grow on their roof garden!

    Suzuki tartare
    Radhika B.

    Loved everything that we ate here! The ambience is nice too. It's on a quieter street and gives you a feeling like you're not in Chicago when you're inside. The service was great! Everything that we ate was flavorful. The French onion dip with griddled bread was the highlight of our meal. Will definitely go back and try more dishes.

    Linda Y.

    My partner and I celebrated our anniversary here and we had a good time. We started with the Suzuki Tartare and I loved how citrusy this was. It reminds me Southeast Asian laab. We also did the Japanese Eggplant and had a side of Griddle Bread with it. The touch of the herbs added a bright flavor to the savory-ness of the eggplant and the griddle bread reminds me of a thick scallion pancake. The Soup Dumpling Tortellini is actually one of my favorites! It just worked so well. We tried the Mushroom Claypot which seemed like a popular item. It was pretty good and had great umami from the mushrooms, but this one didn't stand out to me as much! The Pork Katsu was cooked perfectly but I wish it was crispier. Nothing stood out on the dessert menu so we went elsewhere. I liked the ambiance of the restaurant and enjoyed how spacious it is so you aren't sitting so close to others. The modern rustic design is also very nice. There is plenty of free street parking available. Overall, it was definitely something new for us and we enjoyed it. I'd be open to possibly returning when the menu potentially updates to a new season!

    Sweet potato curry
    Emily W.

    We came here for a date night at the recommendation of a friend and so glad we did. The appetizers were really stellar -- French onion dip (unfortunately my husband couldn't have it bc was not gluten free) was mind blowing and Japanese eggplant was quite delicious as well. The main fish dish we got was just okay but everything else more than made up for it. I was pregnant so got a mocktail and my husband got a cocktail and we both enjoyed it. They were really accommodating to my husbands gluten allergy -- marked ip the menu with what was gluten free and what could be made gf with modifications. We sat outside but I went inside to go to the restroom and the vibes were HOPPIN. Would be nice to try inside next time. The bill was a little pricy but definitely aligned to the quality of the food and experience.

    Gabriel H.

    Very interesting and unique place. The cooking style is focused on meeting sweet and savory components to complement one another. I do love that they have climate controlled greenhouses on the rooftop growing their own produces. The service was knowledgeable and prompt, and the setting is dimly lit and open style. I had a great experience thank you!

    Redfish
    Lan T.

    Loved this place! My son took me here for dinner when I visited him and gf. Loved the interior design of the place. Now onto the food...the French onion dip was excellent with the hot bread (the Best!!!)...the chicory Caesar salad was great w/ fennel...Suzuki tartar was different from other tartar, great with peanuts...Soup dumplings tortellini with maitake mushrooms were good too. We shared the pork katsu and redfish. They're both delicious. The waitress was friendly and professional. She forgot one appetizer and we figured it might just took longer to prepare. She apologized, brought it to the table quickly, and took it off the bill; that was unexpected. I can see why this is one of my son's favorite restaurants!

    Menu
    Kaitlyn C.

    I had heard of good things about this restaurant and my friend said she'd come with me again as they change their menu's for each season. I like that as it makes you want to come back. Our waiter was very welcoming as I told him it was my first time there and he explained everything to me. I also love how long the bar is and it's very spacious. Most times, the bar is crowded and people have to squeeze by each other, but there's plenty of space between seats. For starters, my friend and I ordered the prosciutto & Gnocco Fritto ($18) and the Japanese Eggplant ($17). These were great starters as you have some savory mixed with a sweet jam sauce and some vegetables to start. For the entrees, we ordered the Turbot ($49) and Black Sea Bass ($37). My friend had mentioned that Maxwell's is known for their fish so I decided let's order two fish dishes. They did not disappoint. I normally get nervous with fish entrees as it can be dry at times or not very flavorful, but they did a great job. I really enjoyed both dishes as they had different flavors and sauce. The only thing was we wished that we could have a side of rice to go with the extra sauce. Our waiter said we could order the clay pot mushroom rice but we didn't need another entree when we just wanted a small bowl of rice. For dessert, we ordered the basque butter cake which seemed very popular at other tables. The mix of the fruits with the pastry that had a crunch on the outside but soft inside was perfect. We thoroughly enjoyed our meal overall and I would highly recommend!

    Butter basque cake
    Laurina Y.

    Finally got a seat at this restaurant! Even though we got to the reservation on time we still had to wait 15 or so minutes to sit down. We ended up ordering the onion dip, the white fish, the mushroom clay pot rice and the butter basque cake for dessert. All were pretty good but the clay pot rice was soooo addicting, especially with all the sauces mixed in. Overall quite pricey though

    The grasshopper cocktail
    Priyanka C.

    Beautiful restaurant with amazing food and service! If you let them know you are vegetarian, they will bring out a separate menu for you. All the dishes were incredibly flavorful and unique. Some of my favorites were the French onion dip, whipped ricotta dip, cucumber tofu app, mushroom clay pot rice, and the pea ravioli. The griddle bread that comes with the dips is also delicious and served hot! The cocktails and desserts were also excellent!

    Melody L.

    Overrated. We had the French onion dip, mushroom rice, salad, and stuffed pasta. French onion dip - they charged us $5 for extra cakes even though other tables received extra cakes for free. They also didn't let us know it would cost extra. The dip is mid and the cakes were good. Salad - generous portion, but I hate raw mushrooms Pasta - I don't love the shape. I prefer regular ravioli. Also just too greasy. Mushroom rice - I could make this at home for a quarter of the price. I think this place gets a lot of hype bc overall Chicago food is really mid unless you're just eating hot dogs and Italian beef everyday.

    Menu
    Joan N.

    A little off the beaten path but that allowed us to find on the street free parking. Service was elite but food was good not outstanding. The ricotta app was absolutely delicious and a fav for me

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    4 months ago

    A new favorite restaurant. Tons of vegetarian options. Amazing service. The very best atmosphere. Will definitely be back

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    1 month ago

    So good. The French onion dip with griddle bread was so tasty, along with the soup dumpling tortellini. Interior is very cute and cozy.

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    Chalet - Crab Cakes

    Chalet

    (191 reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    Stumbled upon this gem on Valentine's Day and I lovedddddd every bit of my experience!…read more For starters, they had cute valentines themed drinks and they were so tasty! They also decorated for Valentine's Day and it was soooooo aesthetically pleasing, great picture props! The music was also a viiiiibe -- whoever was DJing understood the assignment that day! Our server's name was Alon, and she was amazing! Very attentive, sweet, and informative. I told her I needed her name so that people would know who to look for when they visited next lol. She maintained great service, even when it got busy and she had to help others! Now, let's get to the part that matters most: the food! My best friend and I both had their burgers -- so fillingggggggggg and the house made aioli chefs kiss! We already decided we'll be back to try the tacos bc Alon said they're fye and I trust her judgement! The drinkssssssss -- honey listen, the champagne drink was a cute starter bc that margarita definitely didn't come to play! Also -- we didn't have reservations and still were seated in a timely manner with timely service! I'll be revisiting them for sure!

    Server/Bartender Scotti is the GOAT! My friend's truffle fries were missing truffle and parm but…read moreMiss Scotti got 'em together in the kitchen. Fun positive energy and a poppin playlist make this happy hour venue a true delight! My friend and I enjoyed 4 cocktails, chicken wings with fries, and fried chicken tacos. Then green tea shots with the birthday girls (someone and I). The porn star cocktail was thee best! The caramel apple french 75 was good too, and the peaches & cream cocktail was also yummy. My friend needed caffeine so she started with an espresso martini which she says was also good. Yummy foods, good prices! Thank youu!!

    Arbella - Whipped feta was sooooo good!

    Arbella

    (695 reviews)

    $$

    River North, Near North Side

    We love Arbella!! Atmosphere inside was great, really large space! We sat at the bar, the…read morebartenders were super friendly and attentive easy to talk to and order from. LOVE the $6 cocktail of the day happy hour (M-F 4-6pm) . Our cocktail of the day was a watermelon lemon drop which was delicious!! Will be coming back next time in Chicago! My local friends new favorite staple bar.

    Months after visiting, Arbella still ranks among the best cocktail bars in the city for me!…read more One thing that really makes Arbella unique is their globally inspired old fashioned menu- whether you're an old-fashioned fan or not, these are a must! They've upped their happy hour game by including a rotating global cocktail with previous menu drinks and a daily kitchen special. This time, I ordered the oldest old fashioned and the Oaxaca old fashioned to drink. I thought the first was the best old fashioned I had ever had, but the second was even better! I loved the subtle yet not overpowering smokiness of the mezcal in the Oaxaca. Neither were too sweet and you could really taste the high quality bourbon. We ordered the Korean fried chicken and coconut shrimp to eat from the happy hour menu. The shrimp was super crispy with a delicious ginger-orange compote and rice vinegar pickled onions. Highly recommend! I did think the chicken was a bit tough, but the flavor was good. Another great experience of many to come! If you haven't stopped by Arbella yet, add this to your bucket list asap!

    The Franklin Room - Branzino (special)

    The Franklin Room

    (630 reviews)

    $$$

    River North, Near North Side

    food: steak was good, wish there was more portions but the flavors are there, mango cheesecake was…read moreperfect balance of sweetness and tartness with the sherbert service: super nice staff, gave my friend a free dessert for birthday ambiance: good atmosphere, definitely gets busy so can be hard to hear at times

    Instagram sent me, not via an influencer, but a very alluring ad. If I were to book a reservation…read morethen and there, I could get an Old Fashioned made with Colonel E.H. Taylor for a lower price. Sold! I made a reservation and stopped in that week (if not that very day). The Old Fashioned was fantastic! It had strong whiskey notes without hitting you with a wall of spirit the way a Manhattan, for example, does. The other additions of bitters and syrup did a perfect job rounding the cocktail out, adding sweet and savory notes. As much as I love variety, I loved it so much, I ordered two! I can't lie and say this wasn't at least in part due to the reduced price, that notwithstanding, me ordering two of the same is some of the highest, non-verbal praise one could get from me. For a main, I had the opportunity to try the burger, a special only available 5:00 - 6:30, and mind you I eked in by the skin of my teeth. Before I attempt to break this down, though, I need to take a slight tangent: Do any of you remember the quote from The Menu where Anya Taylor-Joy says: "A real cheeseburger. Not some fancy, deconstructed, affluent b***s***, a *real* cheeseburger."? I am pleased to report the burger here was somewhere between Chef Slowik's "very traditional cheeseburger" and the one Taylor Joy describes! In other words, just fancy enough to feel like I am getting a unique, creative, well thought out dish, but without all the pomp and circumstance! There's just one little problem: as soon as I bit into it, the juices erupting from within soaked the bottom bun, and turned it into a fork and knife affair with an unseen level of precision and speed. Very regrettably, this was the burger's undoing. That first, heavenly bite that had angels singing showed what the burger was really made of (and I mean this figuratively and literally). The beef was of the highest quality, well-seasoned, cooked medium and juicy, with a perfect sear that would have Louis Camille Maillard crying tears of joy. Two types of cheese (one being crisp and airy, the other thoroughly gooey and savory), the perfect amount of bacon, moisture and flavor from a tempura tomato, and divine sauces! One of them was a little sweet, which elevated the flavor like no one's business. Together, all these flavors were a symphony that could give Beethoven a run for his money. However, that unfortunate fact that the thing fell apart so quickly meant that symphony was limited to one bite, the rest being encountered piecemeal. I would rather skip fries than skip dessert (which I did), and ordered the Mango cheesecake. Such velvety perfection! Neither the sweetness nor the mango notes were overpowering, and while it didn't have the crust of a traditional cheesecake, the more gentle variant here absolutely works. I also appreciated the tart sorbet to offer some contrast in flavor, temperature, and texture. Now, let me talk about the service. Given that the restaurant was at capacity, the bar service and speed to get my items was reasonable. Could it hypothetically have been just a touch faster/more attentive? Yes, but in practice, when you have a full house, this is as good as it can get before robots take over. Finally, there is the matter of prices. There is no doubt in my mind that the quality is up there, at the same time, the reason I skipped the side of fries was it would have set me back $11. I suppose the real question is whether or not the quality equals the price, and after some reflection, I think the answer is yes, but one must be prepared for the sticker shock ahead of time. That said, the final verdict: The Franklin Room absolutely delivers on an all-around fantastic meal. I think whatever you order will be in the 90th percentile, at worst! However, this comes at a cost. Therefore, I would love to return to the Franklin Room, but it would likely be more a very occasional treat than a place where I'd be a regular.

    The Dearborn

    The Dearborn

    (2.7k reviews)

    $$

    The Loop

    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!

    Ema - Salmon bab.

    Ema

    (1.9k reviews)

    $$

    Near North Side

    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?!

    Maxwells Trading - newamerican - Updated May 2026

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