Love this beautiful, delicious spot. We had lunch here today. They brought a little cut of chicken broth, strawberry butter and big, warm, fresh popovers to our table. The server and her team were extremely well versed and efficient. The food was amazing. I got the blackened salmon tacos. And they ere tender, flavorful and great. My mom got the squash pasta and loved that too. We really wanted to try some dessert but were just too full. Coming back here for sure. We got lucky coming at 11:00. But looks like reservations are a must after that. read more

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This place is definitely reinvented itself over the last 20 almost 30 years. So glad it is still here despite the rest of Northbrook Court falling apart to complete nothing. Love the service all the time and it's great to see some consistent faces here, especially Lynn at the front desk Always great to have the same head chef, and and director of the restaurants as well. Well, I come here quite often. This last visit was incredible as ever. Oliver and team were nothing short of awesome. It was also great to see a little girl perhaps maybe 13 years old, celebrating her birthday here with 20 of her closest friends if not more. And quite honestly, I thought it was going to be a loud mess and it was the exact opposite. They were very well behaved. Always love the classic cookies here and it is an option for dessert and you can always get it with gelato. If you don't shop at Northbrook or even if you don't shop at the store, you should definitely eat here. read more

NM Cafe - New American Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

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For a dept store operation everything was beyond expected and has been since it opened. The excellent older attractive server started us with complementaty broth. and popovers. I ate two with no charge, a multi cheese grilled cheese with apple and a side of white bean chili made for a great lunch. This is a comfortable place that I enjoy visiting - it has been here for many years and has been consistent. read more

Prompt delivery. Food hot and delicious. Courteous delivery person. Very reasonable prices.

I've been to different Neiman's cafe before but felt the service lacked a bit. The finished plates weren't taken off our table to the point we actually started piling them up on top of each other so they could get noticed. When items were taken away, so did our not finished fries.. we did call the gentlemen back to bring us our fries :) He was very nice and apologized as he thought we were done. Onto the food Avocado toast with an egg: Nothing special. It's just sliced avocado on toast with an egg on top. I prefer Three Tarts Avocado toast with an egg over this one. Sandwich: Anything that has bacon in it would taste good. The chips had a sweet taste to it, which is not something for me. I like my chips savory. Fries: Delicious Cocktails seem watered down a bit with little or no alcohol. I'd definitely give it a try again out of convenience. read more

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This restaurant is top notch. Service is always great and food is consistently delicious. The wait staff is courteous and knowledgeable and they accommodate in any way they can. The atmosphere is great for lunch with friends or business lunches as well. Appreciate having them as an option in the area. read more

This place is a definite people watching place, that is if you like to watch train wrecks of bad plastic surgery. I've never seen so many puffy plastic looking women in a room. Service here is hot or miss depending on which wait staff you get. If you can endure this it's worth it as I just love the food here. They always start you with this broth and I don't know what's in it but it's just really good. The popovers with the strawberry butter is real winner too. You just can't go wrong with any of their salads here as they are just sooo delicious. So go here for the food but come back again for the circus. read more

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My friend and I met here for lunch on Saturday. I had never been and was looking forward to trying out the food. I had read the reviews from fellow Yelpers and had to say that the service I received was excellent. My friend and I were having a leisurely lunch and the server was very patient with us as we took our time ordering. Throughout the meal, we never felt rushed. The server was very discreet when coming to refill our drinks and I never felt that we were receiving poor service. The consommé and popover was the best part of the meal. Yum. I could eat several of those popovers. They did not even need the strawberry butter, although that was pretty darn good too. We ordered the crispy artichokes as an appetizer. They were okay. I can't say that they were necessarily crispy. I ordered the LOVE salad and my friend ordered the Crab Louie salad. My salad was fine--nothing special though. Avocado, chicken, croutons and hearts of palm over greens. We split a half bottle of Veuve. Our bill before tax and tip was $100 which I think it is pretty pricey for lunch. I am not sure that I would return any time soon but if I wanted to treat myself to something nice for lunch, I might go back. read more

I really enjoyed the blacken salmon tacos!! Make sure to get it well done. You get two tacos for the price of $22.00 dollars which is steep but it's not the average schmo spot! My husband did not like chicken pillard milanese he said that the crusted part around the flat chicken pattie has a odd butter taste. read more

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Very relaxed atmosphere for a Sunday. I hear it's the place for "north-shore-semi-professional-stay-at-home-shoppers" with the need to eat a nice lunch while still being able to assure themselves they can count the calories on the menu along with the grams of fat and carbohydrates. This way when they do hot yoga or Pilates after a hard day of shopping they don't have to work off lunch. In all seriousness - very good food. My steak frites was excellent as was the crab Louis. read more

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I've been going to Zodiac for more than 20 years and have held parties there as well. It has always been expensive, but recently they not only eliminated about half the menu, but raised their prices substantially. Today's lunch: 2 minestrone soups, 2 iced teas and 3 salads (two with shrimp added): $78 with tax. Really? $10 for fries? $23 for the orange mandarin soufflé? I knew I was spending a lot in the past, but I don't think we will be back with the cut-back menu and big price increases. Good luck with that. I'm in the Chicago area; don't know why it says Chatham, NJ. read more

Literally the worst service ever. When I arrived they saw me with a baby and were like well idk because you need space for "that." and it turns out that was the manager! Finally my mother and I along with my 3 month old were seated. Our server was absolutely rude!! No hello how are you. She took our drink order and I asked for a straw for my water. She brings out my drink which taste completely odd. (She forgot straw I asked again.) she said drink was fine to her. I had to ask a total of 4 times for a straw. She kept ignoring us and was very short with us. At one point she just disappeared. (Mind you the place was practically empty.) My mom ordered salmon tacos $25 and I ordered a burger (medium) $18. Food was terrible not worth the price but not as terrible as the service. read more

It's tradition that my aunt and I always come here once a year. The food is a bit overpriced for what it is, but the service is excellent. Plus, you can't beat the popovers with strawberry butter. I usually get the salmon tacos, which are amazing and not too heavy on the stomach. read more

Amazing I happened to ma e a reservation during lunch rush. Not only did the awesome hostess get me right in, she got me right by the window. Was as nice as nice can be. Within 1 minute, I had my soup, popover and water. Waitress was great. Asking me if I'd been here before and if I had any questions. Only did she know, I love his restaurant. I tried the salmon tacos. And my g-d, they were amazing. The hostess and waitress each asked me how everything was. Everything Was amazing. I'd come back just for the hostess and waitress. But man, the food is amazing!! read more

I've been here in the past and always thought their food is great. However, aside from that, the service is lacking. We waited for a server for a good ten minutes after sitting down. Also, they informed us that they ran out of broth but decided to serve the surrounding tables before us once the broth was prepared. Seriously?...Some highlights of our experience include the pop over. Holy delicious! and the butter they serve with it is pure bliss. For my lunch, I settled with the Love salad after hearing positive remarks on it. I must say, that is the best salad I had in a long time. You can't go wrong with natural chicken, avocado, artichokes, and hearts of palm. I highly highly recommend it! My other guest ordered the sautéed salmon and said it was phenomenal. Although I don't dine her often, I will return in the future. They just really need to work on the service issue! read more

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My bestie has been talking about this place for years but I've brushed it off as a weird department store cafe that I didn't need to have in my life. I can sometimes admit when I'm wrong, and this is one of those times. The popover with strawberry butter is the highlight and you get that for just sitting down. I also loved the little teacup of chicken broth. It definitely gives you the feeling of a fancy tea party, with the price tag to match. I went with the Love Salad ($18) and was a pretty big fan. Mom went with the Crab Louis ($25), which she thoroughly enjoyed. The clientele is a little stuffy [this is Northbrook after all] and the service is present, but not overly so. Bottom line: I'd definitely come back to fulfill that fancy tea party need. read more

Who knew Neiman Marcus had a little café near the shoe department on the second floor? Apparently a lot of people including my parents and yet somehow I didn't. I've been here a handful of times now and it's always a treat. I always feel like a little kid at a fancy tea party whenever I lunch here since the tables are beautifully decorated with white linen and fresh flowers. I've always had great service when I come but that may be because the parentals know some of the staff. We usually like to be seated in Pepe's section; he is incredibly sweet, friendly, and always remembers everyone. When you are seated you are greeted with a complimentary fresh popover with whipped strawberry butter and a small cup of consommé (the broth everyone is raving about). I literally could just eat popovers and consommé for my lunch if I could because it's THAT good. Trust me. They're flaky on the outside, airy but not too airy, chewy yet soft, and oh so buttery. The sweet whipped butter adds a nice contrast to the more savory popover. As for my main entrée, I ordered the chicken melt sandwich which had slices of chicken, fresh mozzarella, tomato, and pesto on a ciabatta roll with small side of mixed greens and a fruit salad. I could only stomach half of the sandwich since I had partied a bit too hard the night before (it was Halloween, don't judge me!) but the sandwich is perfect sized to fill you up but not too large for you to overeat. My parent's favorite salad is the LOVE salad which someone else already described in another review. My mom's dish she ordered was really good! It was a light pasta with grilled shrimp, broccolini, and butternut squash. I never would have thought to add butternut squash to pasta but it worked so well. I didn't expect to like it since it sounded healthy and that usually deters me from wanting to try/order it since let's just say I prefer a nice ribeye or burger over a healthier option. At the end of the meal, you're given little envelopes with paper thin chocolate squares that have a mint filling along with your check. I forget what company makes these chocolates but these are yummy. Zodiac Room is a fun experience if you want to experience a Breakfast at Tiffany's-esque brunch/lunch with your girlfriends or family. read more

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Like the Zodiac Rooms at other Neimans, this one serves all the favorites like the delicious popovers with strawberry butter. The chicken broth they serve you to start is absolutely delicious. The entrees and sandwiches are decent, but the extras are more than enough to make this a yummy lunch experience. The tea selection is really good and the service is very attentive. You always have to wander to the back corner of one of the floors to find the Zodiac Room, and when you get there, you will see lots of ladies lunching. Sometimes it gets a little crowded because the space is small, but its usually not too bad. And now Im hungry just thinking of that strawberry butter. read more

While the food is excellent and the service inconsistent it's not really about either of those things. Lunching at the Zodiac Room is about how you feel when you're there. For me, it epitomizes a bygone era. A time when ladies in white gloves and hats meet for a bit a shopping and lunch. Gone are the white gloves and hats but the white table cloths, beautifully adorned salads, delicious sandwiches and decadent desserts remain. When I lunch there, I feel like I am pampering myself. From the moment you are seated and they bring you a lovely popover (where do find those anymore?) with strawberry butter and a demitasse of hot chicken broth to the offerings of luscious sweet desserts you believe that this is how lunch should be everywhere. I don't know how they get their chicken broth so rich and flavorful but it is my favorite part of the meal. Once when I was sick my friend took me here to help me feel better. That day the waiter was so nice, he noticed that I was sick and he kept bringing me cups of the broth - no charge! My favorite lunch is the "Love Salad" - Roasted all natural chicken, avocado, tomatoes, croutons, artichokes, hearts of palm, greens & balsamic vinaigrette. But the Kobe burger is a close second. As I said, service is inconsistent. It can be great like the time I was sick but on my most recent visit it was super slow. read more

Pretentious? Maybe. While one Yelper noted in a previous review that the service was snobby, I felt the exact opposite. I think our server, who was friendly enough, would have felt very at home working at an Applebee's. She seemed very rushed, even though I think she only had three tables (a total of seven guests). The way she was running around, one would think she was the only server working the entire dining room. We didn't get a refill on our waters until we were almost ready to leave. I had ordered the barbecue brisket sandwich and asked for the horseradish pickles that come with it on the side. When our food came, our server informed us that they were out of the pickles, and rushed off. No offer to substitute, no adjustment on the bill. I could have asked, but it seemed more trouble than it's worth. My sandwich was fine, but I don't think it was worth $16. The next table had a different server, but seemed to be experiencing similar service issues. I'm not convinced the young lady drinking a glass of red wine at another table near us was 21. Take that as you will! I suppose this restaurant is fine for what it is. I can understand why it would be popular with ladies who are able to eat lunch there mid-week (women outnumbered men by about 4 to 1). For someone like me, though, who only eats at a place like this on occasion, I felt like I could have done better. read more

My friend and I come here for one thing... the incredible melt-in-your-mouth popovers with whipped strawberry butter. And we never stop at just one! That's what I like best about the Zodiac Room... the server with the basket of popovers keeps coming back again and again to fill your empty plate. Since "the ladies who lunch" can't survive on just popovers, we both ordered the excellent grilled salmon salad. Cooked perfectly. No room for desert, as we'd both had three popovers. The tab was on the high side for lunch, $70 for two including coffee and tip (without booze). But we lingered for almost two hours and they never rushed us. Our server was friendly and attentive. Just signed up for Open Table and used it to make the reservation. Got one of the prime tables by the window. Have no idea if that had anything to do with it, but will see if I get similar results next time I use it. read more

Okay, so I heart Neiman Marcus and for as long as I've been shopping, window shopping, strolling, whatever you want to call it, I've never had a chance to try out the Zodiac Room. I've heard the one on Michigan Avenue is better, but I figured, why not give this one a shot since it's conveniently located at my fave Northbrook Court. So I invited my mom out for lunch on a Saturday afternoon and the place was packed. We were seated in a nice location right by a window, so that was kinda ideal. Now onto the food that was immediately brought out, the popovers and the strawberry butter were absolutely delicious, served warm and fresh as can be, probably our favorite part of the experience. Then they brought out complimentary chicken noodle "shots"? so we definitely enjoyed those as well, and you can tell everything is homemade and not out of a box, or not that I could have figured out. We ordered the special chicken salad sandwich, but our server, who was honestly quite horrible, brought out the regular chicken salad. By the time we realized after a few bites, we didn't feel like making a big deal over it and just ate the regular one since it wasn't bad. We also got fries and small fruit salad served with it. It wasn't bad, but nothing I couldn't get at corner bakery. Then for dessert, we got the sampler platter, (see attached photo) with a few cookies, creme brulee, a chocolate mouse and an espresso shot (that was all mommy). It was cute and I suppose worth it for the $10. Overall, the place is fancy shmancy, a tad pretentious and just not my cup of tea. I love being elegant and classy and all, but I'd rather take my money for afternoon tea at the peninsula where the service will be MUCH better. However, the popovers were the best part of the whole experience, so maybe I would just come and buy those to go? hmm, but would I be back at this location, most likely not. read more

NM Cafe - Dessert sampler with espresso :) - New American Near Me - Northbrook, Illinois

Came here last week with clients and really enjoyed our lunch! I had a salad with salmon and we split the crab cakes. The complimentary bread and butter was amazing- it was like a hollow bread ball and had a super flakey crust. The only thing I thought was odd is that for a place that lists all the calories on the menu, they only had whole milk (no soy, almond, skim or 2%) which seemed very odd. The coffee was good I just normally don't take whole milk. read more

A great secret inside a department store. I would have never known it was there if my friend hadn't suggested it. It was a bit pricey but service was great. We didn't have a reservation but were seated within minutes of arrival. The popovers were good as well as the chicken soup. I had a turkey wrap and butternut squash soup. My friend had a fancy looking salad and soup. Total: $48 and we left a $12 tip=$60 read more

I am beyond disappointed in the hostess at the Zodiac Room. She was rude and unprofessional and this is why. My 4 besties made a reservation for 11:45. Little did we know the restaurant opens at 12. When we inquired she, Tammy said oh yes people keep telling me this but everyone should know when we open. Then, she asked my name and pointed to our table, saying your table is over there. She did not seat us as she did for everyone else who walked in. Then, we ordered spinach dip and none was available. For what was supposed to be a nice holiday lunch with no kids/husbands turned into a sour taste due to the lack of concern by the hostess. It saddens me bc the servers were fine and the food is delicious. read more

I am giving the Zodiac Room five stars because it represents, to me, the only place left which is truly a ladies lunch spot. Reminds of going 'back to school' shopping and lunch with my mom in the 70's. The chicken soup broth and popover are tasty traditions and the Love Salad is my go to. I don't dine here often, but it's a terrific mom/daughter/grandma/bff spot. read more

We are fans of Neiman Marcus for shopping, but we've come many times just to go to the Zodiac Room for lunch. Their hours are rather short...I believe just 11am - 3pm Mon-Sat at this location. The popovers with the strawberry butter are wonderful! They have a quality wine list. I recall once having Veuve Clicquot Rose in a commemorative pink label bottle and matching purse. The last couple times at this location (Northbrook Court in IL) I had the Roast Beef Melt sandwich...quite good, with swiss cheese, carmelized onions, and mushrooms on Ciabatta. This location gets quite crowded. The staff is extremely friendly, as well as the manager who has been just wonderful. We probably frequent this location the most, but have also been to the downtown Chicago (Michigan Ave) location many times. Each one has a slightly different menu. Worth trying, with or without the shopping. read more

I love the butter with the bread and the broth dink but everyone is correct that the people who work here are incredibly snobby. They don't care about you as customers, they spend most of their time talking to the regulars who come their frequently. It doesn't even matter is you have $2k in your bag of purchases. read more

Never again! Waitress was rude and argued the salads for our table were already dressed. We all ( a large group of 8) were so disappointed with the food quality. Chicken was tough and shrimp was so so. This was a fabulous lunch spot for shopping and outings, will find something else next time, read more

Everything about Zodiac was OK. The food had highs and lows. The popovers with strawberry butter were excellent; the turkey club wasn't. Although Zodiac uses real turkey (a high point), there was so little of it (a low point) that the sandwich could barely be called a sandwich. Service was also spotty. Our server was friendly and accommodating. However, every table but ours received popover refills. When we tried to signal that person, we were ignored. The dining room was lovely but no restrooms currently due to a remodeling. Although Zodiac wasn't a bad experience, we probably won't return. We ladies will lunch elsewhere. read more

I have been eating with friends in this Zodiac Room for years, it has been going down, both in service and food. Not so much in the quality of the food , but the taste.THERE IS NO TASTE.... it is like they are making it for little old ladies... I think they go on existing.......because there are very few other quality few places to eat in this mall. Sorry guys ...we are moving on. read more

Been here only once, but I thought their food was pretty good. Especially the bread that comes out before our meal. The last time I tried this place I had a roast beef sandwich which was pretty good. read more

Food and service was wonderful. I've had their chicken paillard, warm roast beef dip and love salad. All very good.

Had lunch there today to celebrate my mother's birthday. I haven't been there since I was a kid. Lunch was lovely. There were so many nice touches from the popovers to the demitasse of soup to the presentation. Our server was very nice and we lingered long after we were done chatting and there was no push to get us to leave (the restaurant was not full so no one was waiting). I will return for sure! (And for popovers!) read more

We love this place. So calming. Delicious. And the calorie counts are on the menu. Love that! Love the burger and fries also. Fantastic salads. read more

I took my Aunt there for Mother's Day and was quite disappointed. Popovers were delicious. My $20.00 Grilled Shrimp salad was un appetizing.. The ones I make at home are more attractive..not the quality you would expect for a Neiman Marcus quality. It looks like they just threw it together...don't they know presentation is everything.. The veggie wrap was delicious. The waiter did not offer us the chicken broth or the dessert.. Both I had to ask for. People come to Neiman Marcus for the experience, which we did not get and the Popovers. The $60 lunch with no alcohol was not. Worth it. Luckily, my aunt is!!! read more

What in the H has gone wrong with this restaurant? Does the chef even taste what's coming out of her kitchen? Food either under spiced or over spiced. Soups are consistently off the mark. How to ruin chicken pot pie - add tons of tarragon, mince the vegetables and put it all in a tasteless, gluey gravy. Last time I went for lunch they were out of the orange souffles for their signature chicken salad plate which by the way, has diminished in size over the last few years. Ordered a chicken/beet/goat cheese salad which came to the table sans the beets. When asked, the server said: oh, we're all out of beets. Chef is too thin for the room. Apparently she doesn't like the food much either! Come on, Neiman, step up your game. read more

I love this place, whether it's in Northbrook or downtown. It's homey, tasty, and has free pre-meal treats (broth + popovers/creamy jam). The crabby appleton who complained here about "rude waitress" sounds like a routine grump, because the staff is aways cheery--even when they're crowded. read more

Great shiek food at Neiman Marcus. Love the consume' (chicken soup) and pop overs with stawberry butter. Both are complimentary. They are open 7 days a week. read more

I love this restaurant and everything on the menu, but whenever I come here without my parents/grandparents, I am not taken as seriously and the service is much slower than usual. read more