This is a delightful restaurant located at a very scenic part of Lincoln Park and requires a bit of a stroll through nature. Food was delicious, however, the vegetarian tasting menu had so much less protein that one of us was left still hungry after their meal. (The meat tasting menu was wonderful though.) Very well priced and excellent service! Also, the space is very large for a tasting menu restaurant, so it's great for large groups or corporate functions. But also perfect for a date. read more

For the day after my 35th birthday, I apparently decided to turn into an older person. Despite hearing incredible things about the food at North Pond, I confess I had a hard time getting excited about it, because I feared the food and the atmosphere would be both dated and stuffy. But you know what? I had a really great time. The food ranged from very good to extraordinary. The most extraordinary item was the soup -- a green garlic veloute, served over a bit of fried chicken nuggets (!?), with many other garnishes, including delicious fresh cherries. While I am normally wary of any sweetness or fruits in my savory dishes, a hefty backbone of black pepper gave the soup a spiciness that made it balanced, delicious, addictive. Everything else was very good too, including a salmon dish with mushrooms and a sorrel puree and a so-called open-faced ravioli, which was really a bunch of beautiful vegetables on a large homemade wheat noodle. You get the idea. The other standout item was a little gift at the end -- a perfect little fruit gelee with the intense funkiness of passionfruit and a beautifully creamy texture. They take produce very very seriously here, and you should come and partake. But I will confess that part of my enthusiasm for North Pond came not from the food but from the setting. The service was friendly, attentive, helpful, and patient. (This is not something to be taken for granted in a world of places like The Girl and The Goat.) The building was a beautiful craftsman, with open but cozy spaces and nice little views. The views, of North Pond and the summer enthusiasm of Lincoln Park, were a perfect dash of nature on a city weekday. The word that keeps coming to mind is "civilized." There was a time -- in college, of course -- when I was known to loudly and annoyingly insist that the only thing that mattered about a restaurant was the food: not the location, not the service, and certainly not the decor or the atmosphere. People who cared about those frivolities were chumps, not to be taken seriously. I now smile indulgently at that past self. read more

One of the best gourmet breakfasts that I've had, they offer amazing options and in my opinion represents what a Michelin Star brunch should look and taste like. The location of the restaurant is in a park and provides a temporary escape from the big city even though you're still there. The brunch is $35 per person which is a steal for this caliber of restaurant. You can expect a delicious tasting menu that will leave you impressed. They do give you options on what you get, so there is some flexibility. The menu does changes around and they will have new stuff to try if you go back at different times. As I write this I wish I was eating there. The food here is awesome and really stands out, check them out you should have a very lovely experience here. read more

We celebrated my mom's 86th birthday and had made reservations for 12 people and knew we would not be seated in the same table as the restaurant had a table set up that seated 4 to a table. Prior to the brunch I communicated with the manager and reassured him that our party would not be congregating (which was what he feared in light of covid). I didn't expect that our parties of 4 would be seated so far apart (one party in a whole different section) that there was no sense of celebration. It was terribly disappointing. Whatever rules you may have, you should be more considerate and accommodating. What is the harm of putting parties closer by? You ruined our brunch and mood. These customers are not happy including an 86 year old mother/grandmother. We won't be coming back and everyone we repeated this to thought your decision was unacceptable. There is no excuse for this terrible call. read more

Cannot say enough about our wonderful dinner experience here! From the moment we were greeted the service was outstanding. The staff went out of the way to make us feel special, acknowledging our special occasion with unique touches including personalized menu & drinks. The ambience was lovely & romantic, & the tables were spaced appropriately, both very welcome changes from so many tasting menu restaurants nowadays. Every dish on the tasting menu was fantastic! Plus I'm a big fan of seasonal touches, & the amuses bouches which included cider & eggnog were delicious and festive. The cherry on top for me was in the ladies restroom there was a seat to place a baby if needed - this is something I've encountered in other countries but unfortunately not much in the US, and it almost made me clap. We will definitely be back & will be recommending to everyone! read more

One of my very few gourmet experiences (I typically eat at $ to $$ places), and it was a wonderful experience. Server was this nice lady who seemed to always be there yet everywhere else at the same time (I dropped a utensil midway through dinner and she was there within seconds to give me a replacement). As their menu changes from time to time, I won't really comment on the dishes we had but mainly the flavor: overall I found the dishes to be all a little TOO salty for my taste (but that could be different person by person). The purees were all very flavorful and almost too strong, and their meats are cooked and presented to perfection. If you're coming here with one other person (and you're footing the bill), plan to spend $100-$200 which includes two appetizers, two entrees, two glasses of champaign/wine as well as complimentary bread and a small taste of something the chef made that night (usually in a spoon). If you're lucky and if your waitor/tress is nice, you might also get a small dish of complimentary truffles. read more

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I've been to North Pond several times but was left very disappointed by the meal last night. Between the 2 of us we tried 2/3 of the menu choices. The food was beautifully presented but every single dish was loaded with sugar. It was almost as if you were tasting dessert versions of all the dishes. Ironically, the best dishes were the actual desserts. For the price point we were left very disappointed as we were hoping for a real five star meal. read more

Love to make a reservation at an elegant restaurant when I visit a new city, and North Pond was my pick when visiting Chicago for the reviews of the food and the view of the pond. I'm not familiar with the weather, but from what I understand we had a rare good weathered day in april where we were able to enjoy our meal outside looking at the pond and passers by. We did the full prix fixe menu and added the foie gras option as well. The cocktails were interesting and delicious, and the food was divine. I especially enjoyed their sesame bread, wagyu, and the chocolate lavender cake. The server was kind and attentive and make the experience so wonderful. There is also a manager walking around who would check on us frequently. While we didn't eat inside, the inside was beautiful decorated as well. Overall, the food and atmosphere were wonderful. Would definitely recommend to someone visiting Chicago. read more

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Came here for our anniversary last night and the experience was wonderful. Service was above and beyond, ambiance was lovely, and the food was impeccable. read more

The beauty of the summer evening was surpassed by the service and delicious food. Amuse Bouche read more

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We had a lovely experience for a special birthday dinner. $110 for a 4 course meal, but they also added in some extra small plates to try out which I really enjoyed. I had mackeral, rabbit and duck for my courses. Everything was beautifully plated and delicious. The menu is changed seasonally and uses really fresh ingredients. We had the grilled peach for my dessert- it was not my favorite and was a little bland. There is an optional wine pairing, but we went for cocktails instead. The chautresicle was nicely tart and lime-y. However, the ultraviolet cocktail was not good- it was way too sweet and unbalanced. read more

Loved it on 2 previous pre-pandemic visits. Last recent visit disappointing. I have a wide-range palate though very light on red meat. That night I had a difficult time deciding what to order. Not worth going thru the details. Some service issues (long wait for pre-dinner cocktail) Other service issues. Some VERY NICE service moments. Chalk it up to new staff; an issue for many restaurant as they recover. Re: the menu - well, I'll keep an eye out. read more

Amazing! Best food I've had in Chicago. Every course was wonderful and they even gave out some French beans with the check to plant. Wonderful location by the pond and woods. Very relaxing way to escape the city. You are greeted by a Thoreau quote I cannot recall when you enter. Sets the tone for the meal! read more

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I, a White man, went to North Pond with my White wife and two Cambodian friends to celebrate one of them graduating law school and taking the bar exam. The food was good. However, our waiter seemed to only make eye contact with my wife and me. When I stopped making eye contact with the waiter in response, instead of starting to talk to our friends, she started speaking only to my wife, which all of us found quite strange. Also, although the restaurant confirmed the reason for our celebration and the spelling of the graduate's name, they didn't follow through on whatever special recognition they seemed to have planned. All of us noticed and commented on this weird behavior through the meal. This was really not the experience we hoped for when we splurged for a special celebration. I have not contacted the restaurant directly and perhaps I should. read more

Really delightful but just falls a tiny bit short of my expectations for a one michelin star. Only a couple of the dishes really blew me away, and the wine pairings were spot-on-paired with the food, but I didn't taste any especially interesting or extraordinary wine. Service is great, and the ambiance is warm and chill, perfect for a date. Will definitely come back to try their patio seating. read more

*********************** 797 ************************* Visited North Pond when I was frequent Chicago monthly for business, but never got around to meet the chef. Many restaurants in Chicago, famous or not have been closed down over the year. For North Pond to earned this highly prestige award from James Beard Foundation 2012, it's an honor and that North Pond has to be open for more than 10 years. North Pond is located in the snobby Lincoln Park , water front, beautiful Chicago skyline, very tranquil setting, it's a good spot for date night. The place was jam packed on a SAT night with Lincoln Park crowd, older, dressier, and older money. We were greeted nicely and seated by the front room with the view to the water. The wine list is well crafted by their sommelier, smaller, and very reasonable, all the bottles are under $200. I got to chat up with somm Zack, a nice guy. The menu offers a seasonal tasting menu for $90, and a la carte, plenty of choices for you. WINES: - 2008 Andrew Rich Gewürztraminer - beautiful wine, elegance, tropical, aromatic, perfect with my Foie Gras. - Jean Manciat, 2011, Mâcon-Charnay, Burgundy - honeysucker, lemon, crisp, beautiful, i paired this with the bass. - 2009 Tokaji Mylitta - Intense, golden color, full-bodied with aromas of peaches, pears, oranges, and hints of vanilla, creamy, and long finish. I chose this for my desserts dishes. - Cheese, prosciutto, liquidity amuse bouche - our server warned us about the liquid would pop in my mouth, I still made a little mess :-) - Foie Gras, Cranberry - Seared Duck Foie Gras, Cranberry-Pistachio Tartelette, Maple-Kabocha Purée, Baby Turnip, Celery, Cranberry Gelée, Pistachio - for being in California, the stupid law that banned Foie Gras,( I'm a biggest advocate to reverse that law now. And you ignorant folks about this, don't get me started) - this was such a generous size, beautifully seared, nice texture, lovely. MUST TRY dish. - Beet, Salmon - Candied Baby Gold, Red, White and Chioggia Beets; Cured King Salmon, Albacore Tuna Pastrami, Flatbread, Pecans - The portion of salmon and albacore were evenly, both was quite good, beautifully plating, love it. - Farm Egg, Sweetbreads - Soft-Boiled Farm Egg, Prosciutto-Enrobed Sweetbread Wafer, Charred Cippollini, Candy Onion-Parsley Coulis, Pumpernickel - I love egg, running egg, 62-62.5-63 degree eggs, I love running egg yolks period! The sweetbread was so flavorful, the aroma of the prosciutto, together they are match made in heaven. DON'T MISS this dish. - Squid, Pepper - Squid a la Plancha, Red Bell Pepper Jam, Yellow Coulis, Handkerchief Pasta, Cavolo Nera, Charred Pimentos - it's perfectly charred, lighter dish that I thought, well-balancec. - Bass, Bacon - Grilled Wild Striped Filet, Brown Sugar-Braised Pork Belly, Celeriac, Baby Carrots, Purple Potatoes, Lemon-Chowder Emulsion - Can you imagine I would order this dish if it wasn't for the pork belly? This reminded me of Japanese Buta no Kakuni, a shimmered pork belly dish. The bass was moist, nice, and fresh. - Dessert - Pear, Fennel Roasted Pear, Green Apple-Fennel Sorbets; Chai Ice Cream; Salted Caramel Macarons, Sautéed Pear, Nuts - such a beautiful sweet and savory dessert. - Dessert bites from North Pond. If you are fan of me on Yelp or a personal friend, you know that this particular meal has some of the fattening food group that I adore. This is the reason why I WORK OUT 15 hours a week for. So I can eat the food I love to eat :-) Foie Gras, Sweetbread, Bacon, Prosciutto, Egg, Pork Belly... It's all about a balance lifestyle. Things that you do for the food that you love. Our server was very nice and attentive. The manager was sweet and pretty too. Got to meet chef Sherman at the end, he was kind, a bit shy and handsome. It's definitely not easy to run a business of this size for this long. Chef Bruce Sherman definitely has a great team under his wing. North Pond is just a solid restaurant, congratulations to them. A MUST VISIT resto in Chicago. P.S. If you visit North Pond for the first time, prepare to get lost for a little. So give yourself some extra time before you head it here. read more

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Ummm...let me start by saying we had the most hoity-toity, pretentious, horrible server. We spent most of the night trying to figure out if she was this terrible with everyone else, or if it was just us!? (I'm still trying to figure out if she was just rude or Racist...or Both?) The 8-course meal started out wonderful through the first 3 courses, but then we had to leave early, and they agreed to pack up the remaining courses and send them home with us. Once we got back we noticed we'd gone home with 2 courses (somewhere we lost 3 courses in the shuffle). Between those 2 carry out courses, dessert was OK, but the meat dishes (wild boar and duck) were horrible; borderline inedible. For the price tag and expectations, we won't return. read more

A bit hard to find but perfect once you do. North Pond is one of those restaurants that you hear about but that usually takes a special occasion to get you there. Just a hint- if you drive- North Pond sits between Cannon Drive and Lakeview Drive (the address is deceiving). The valet is actually located on Lakeview at Deming (look for the small sign). We went on a Thursday night. When making the reservation, we requested a table by the window but alas, they could not guarantee that unless we got there early. So early it was and we got the perfect table overlooking the pond with the city shining in the distance. The arts and crafts styling the the interior was warm and welcoming. The fireplace in the corner cheerily welcomed us and the attention to detail was lovely. Hard to believe that this was once the warming house for ice skaters on the pond! As for the food- American in style- it is all sourced locally and most of it is organic. And such interesting taste combinations. I started with the scallop and sunchoke appetizer. Very tasty. Moving on to the prosciutto and pear salad I could have stopped there but the entree of pork done three ways was calling to me. Oh- and don't expect to have your favorite libation by name here. The beer is all craft style, and even the liquor names eluded me. But your servers will do their best to find something similar to what you like from their list of smaller distilleries. Service was impeccable. We even got a complimentary glass of Muscato to go along with our dessert choice (maybe this was because I was "outed", as one of the servers is a Yelper who actually recognized me!) Whatever the reason, North Pond is one of those places that is perfect for a special occasion. But my advice? Don't wait for a special occasion to go. North Pond could make any occasion, special. read more

Dining at North Pond should be on everyone's list, whether they are a Chicago native or a visitor to the area. The setting is about as unique as it gets, and the food is both elegant and down-to-earth with a focus on local ingredients and quality. I had been dying to try it for years, ever since my dear friend Kirsten F. recommended it to me as her favorite special-occasion spot. Finding it can be difficult - follow the map on the website, or take a cab to Lincoln Park at Lakeview and Deming, then walk down the path to the Arts & Crafts building indicated by the sign. The building, once a warming hut for ice skaters, is located on a small pond, as the name suggests, and offers a tranquil view of the city. Once inside, you can appreciate the design details which make it feel like you have gone back in time to some more simple era. It's a place that you want to dress up for a little, but not so much that you feel like you will be on display in the social pages of a magazine. It's a place to be gracious and respectable. The service is low-key and informed, and not obtrusive, which is good because this is a place to linger. In fact, we were wishing that our meal didn't come out quite as quickly as it did, because we could have stayed there all afternoon! The menu items are listed by a simple title, followed a more elaborate description underneath. I started with the "Sweet Corn, Bacon" (Early Season Corn-On-The-Cob Soup, with Crisp Guanciale, Pickled Garlic Scapes, and Uplands Cheese Crisp). Beautiful, light soup with little flavor surprises. My lunch date had the "Tuna, Beets" (Yellowfin Tuna Crudo-style, Beets, Avocado, Mango; Tatsoi Greens, Sesame Tuile). This was an absolutely gorgeous dish with little cubed gems of tuna, beets, and mango. For my entree, I had the "Sole, Capers" (Sautéed Petrale Sole Filet, House Cured Bacon, Rémoulade Mayonnaise, Caper Lemon Brown Butter) and my lunch date had the "Trout, Zucchini" (Grilled, Herbed Rainbow Trout, Ratatouille Vegetables, Pine Nuts, Raisins, Black Olives). Again, the main flavors were pure and prevalent, with lovely surprise tastes to compliment and accompany the fish. For dessert, we shared the "Doughnuts, Ricotta" (Cinnamon- Dusted Ricotta Doughnuts, Bourbon Ice Cream), which was the perfect ending of custardy warm doughnut holes and rich, creamy ice cream. Everything was presented beautifully (see photos), and we enjoyed every bite. Our server was great in helping us find just the right wines by the glass to accompany our meals, and we were very happy with her suggestions. After dinner, we received a small packet of seeds for French Beans, as a reminder to give back to the earth - a nice touch. Shortly after leaving, I got a call from the staff letting me know that I had forgotten my pashmina on my chair, which meant that I could simply walk back an retrieve it, rather than having to make a special trip later. That's great service. It's a excellent choice for a date, lunch or dinner with an old friend, or special-occasion family night out. I will make it a destination every time I am in Chicago, and can't wait to go back. read more

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NO NO AND NO!!!! I dont know who this restaurant owner or manager think they are but they are extremely rigid and inconsiderate. They dont care about their customers and if you go and read reviews on open table, trip advisor and elsewhere, the theme is that the service is terrible and the servers are un-necessary rude. Why are they even running a restaurant where you have to deal with people is beyond me. We had reservations, we drove an hour and on the way there was an accident on the road which slowed us down. We called the restaurant to let them know we were running late, while we were in the parking lot they called us and told us they couldnt seat us anymore because we were 2 minutes away from the cut-off time. Are you kidding me??? Who does that? I think the people who work there are treated very badly from bad management and ownership consistently and that's why they are the way they are. I have no desire to go to this place anymore. So sad for people there because it just means the place is on the verge on closing down. I travel a lot and seems like every time you come across a place which treats paying customers like that are on the verge of a shutdown. When this place does take over another ownership perhaps then I'll try it. In the meantime, there are way too many amazing places to go to in the city of Chicago who do want my business and are courteous enough rather than to put up with some bs from a place thats not even one of the best. read more

It's been years since I"ve dined at this quaint restaurant in Lincoln Park, but I"ve been looking for the perfect excuse. And what better excuse than celebrating my bday! My husband and I booked a reservation weeks ahead of time, got dressed to impress (gotta abide by their dress code), and we were ready for a romantic dinner. While this lovely restaurant nestled in the park just screams romance, it would have been more romantic if our table wasn't smudged between 2 other couples. However, they turned out to be lovely couples with their own celebrations...so we didn't mind sharing the special occasion. Our waiter kinda sucked. He seemed annoyed when I asked him for help picking out a bottle sauvignon blanc and the eye rolling really started when I asked him to choose between 2 entrees. My meal: Sweet Corn, Sardine Soup: OMG. I could eat this for every meal for the rest of my life and be quite happy Wild Salmon: Loved the spring herb puree it was swimming in and the aromatic wehani rice made for a nice side. The fish itself was a bit fishy for me, but I'm just not that into salmon these days. I probably should have gone with the bass my husband ordered, but more about that later. Chocolate, Hazelnut: Served on a plate that said "Happy Birthday Andrea" in chocolate...I was in chocoholic heaven! It was too rich for my husband, but that just meant more for me! Nothing better than the combo of chocolate, hazelnut, and salted caramel! Hubby's Meal: Lettuce, Radishes: So fresh, the veggies taste like they came right from the Green City Market (and they probably did). Bass, Potatoes: I should have ordered this delicious fish for myself Plum Pistachio: My husband kept repeating "this tastes so powerful" and it really did. I had a few bites and wasn't sure if I love it or hated it, but it sure was interesting and "powerful." Overall, it turned out to be a lovely evening and now I just need an excuse for another celebration there! read more

I came here during Sunday brunch to surprise my fiancé for our engagement anniversary on February 24th. He thought we were going for our cake tasting. All though this place is known to be very popular during the summer with the most beautiful scenic views of the skyline if you get window seating and it's near a children's park with a pond nearby, it was beautiful in winter too. I made reservations well ahead of time and requested window seating however that goes by first come first serve so we got lucky. I told them about how it was a special occasion so as a surprise they had menu's typed up saying 'Happy Anniversary Saba and Faraz' inside the menu covers! They also gave us two copies to take home in a manilla envelope with a pamphlet detailing what the North Pond restaurant is all about. The area is beautiful. I would suggest if not valeting, finding free parking in the area. It's a pretty walk around as well. For 33 dollars per person for brunch, I felt like I ate a 100 dollar meal for the quality of the presentation of food, excellent service, and the unique ingredients that were put together to create a delicate meal out of quality ingredients served in the most appropriate sizes. The ambiance is impeccable and the environment is mostly older. I saw older couples and large size group families. My fiancé and I ordered different things for the appetizer, entree, and dessert and taste tested everything off each others plates. We did not like one thing better than the other, everything was very delicious. I have posted a picture of our menu on this site, but I would also suggest going on the North Pond website and looking at the menus. I would definitely take that someone special here. I did not want to do something cliche like the Trump Hotel or Signature Room, all though those are nice rooftops, I wanted something different. Both growing up in Chicago, we have seen it all. It was very nice to have tried something new and away from the hustle and bustle. I see myself coming back here again! One thing that was very expensive was the liquor! 13 bucks for a Mimosa. It was refreshing but I probably would have been fine with water or even a cheaper glass of wine. read more

North Pond - Engagement Anniversary brunch date! Menu. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have been enjoying the Pond for many years. Everything was so outstanding but most of all the service. The last two times i went,however, we were given no other choice but to order from a fixed price menu of $98 per dinner not including beverages. I really didnt want to order the dessert but since it was part of the fixed meal, i was trapped. The restaurant really should have warned us when we made the reservation both times. The portions and entree choices were so much more pleasing on the a la carte menu when i was there in the past.. Also, our fixed price courses were not as topnotch as the a la carte courses. The parsnip vichysoisse did not taste parsnippy at all. The cod was bland and forgettable. The standouts were the incredible fennel roll & the single scallop appetizer. The dessert was yummy. I doubt i will return ever again due to my aversion to being forced to buy the fixed price meal. read more

My 500th Review! And to celebrate my birthday and my 500th review, we went to North Pond. I've had North Pond in my bookmarks since 12/25/2009, so it took me a long time to get here, but I finally made it! What a beautiful setting for a restaurant, nestled in the middle of the lush beauty of Lincoln Park, this Prairie-inspired building blends seamlessly into its surroundings and offers beautiful pond and city views. Valet parking is off of Stockton and follow the winding road to the restaurant. Do be sure to ask for a table by the windows as the interior room is a bit dark and gloomy. Service is professional and prompt. The menu is seasonal and offers a variety of fish, duck and other meats. Not a large selection of plates, but a few thoughtfully prepared ones. I had the grilled wild striped bass with green and gold zucchini and grilled nectarine. The piece of fish was rather small for the price of the plate. The fish was cooked and flavored perfectly, the squash went well with the fish and the nectarine added a delightful sweetness to the dish, but I didn't like the overwhelming flavor of curry in the sauce, it just overpowered the dish and made everything taste bitter. Too many competing elements in the dish, I would've preferred a simpler but more harmonious pairing of flavors. Same with the beet salad, probably the worst beet salad I've had I'm sad to say, I don't know what was going on with that dish--white, red and chioggia beets (none of which tasted sweet), kampachi, smoked char, pickle slices, rye crumble, fennel foam, mizuna--just too many weird competing ingredients on that dish and none of it went well together, very disappointed with the salad. My companion had the duck with candied carrots, which was good, I'm just not a fan of things cooked rare, it just grosses me out, and the duck came medium rare. The complimentary amuse bouche (rabbit) was good. We opted out of dessert, but since it was my birthday, the waitress brought us two bites of unsweetened dark chocolate and sugar coated candy, with a birthday candle and happy birthday written on the plate in chocolate, which was really nice and thoughtful! Another thoughtful touch was the special printed menus we received that had "Happy Birthday Mahsa" printed on them! So cute and what a nice personal touch. We got to take the page home, our waitress put it in an envelope and gave to me as a keepsake. The ambiance here is warm, inviting and romantic. A lovely little escape. I would recommend North Pond for special occasions as it is definitely pricey, coffee is $8 a piece! I would just come here with lowered expectations for the food, it's not amazing, but decent. read more

North Pond - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had brunch for my third time this morning at North Pond. The food was as outstanding as the first two occasions, but service unfortunately was off. We had to wait for half an hour for our table (we did arrive early, but the place was far from full at the time), no recognition for a special occasion that had been noted in the reservation, no recognition for being repeat customers, and while our primary server was attentive she was not very warm. Congratulations to Chef Sherman on the recent James Beard accolades, but I do think service needs some tweaking to become Michelin star worthy (the food and ambiance are definitely already there and in fact are better than most of the one star venues I have frequented). I am retaining my five stars for now based on food quality, ambiance, and past experience but expect service to be improved. In most of my favorite upscale Chicago restaurants there is a visible general manager that makes rounds, takes great care of the customers, gets to know repeat guests and ensures that service runs smoothly. Perhaps there is such a person at dinner at North Pond (I have yet to experience NP for dinner), but this type of presence is sorely lacking at brunch. Despite some negatives this time, I still love North Pond and recommend it to locals seeking top notch seasonal cuisine and to out-of-towners to experience an upscale Chicago dining experience in a beautiful location. The brunch is one of the best values in town for fine dining. I will likely be back sometime this summer, but just was a bit disappointed today. read more

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Pro: they sure know how to make an occasion special! Staff was not obnoxious at all and very helpful in helping pull off a surprise. Once seated, not only did we have menus that said "congratulations," but were also treated to a complimentary glass of champagne. The service was really good. Of course, the venue and location are unique and special too. It was a chilly Fall night, but the view of the Chicago skyline and the ducks in the pond still made it gorgeous. The only part of the experience I was unimpressed by was the actual food. As a vegetarian, there was nothing on the menu for me (yes, even in 2012 when being vegetarian is a lot more trendy and commonplace) . The chef did prepare a plate of veggies, but it was just okay. My friends didn't think their food was impressive either (fish and seafood) but ill add, food becomes such a small part of the North Pond experience that you don think too much about the taste. The only one other comment I'd like to add is that on a busy-ish night, this place gets a little cramped. For celebrating an intimate occasion, the restaurant layout ain't so private even though the location sure is. All in all, recommended if you're planning to celebrate a special occasion as they sure will make it that! read more

Fantastic fixed price meal with friends. Outstanding service, Michelin level Restaraunt. Located on Nort Pind in center of Lincoln Park.

I just had a very unpleasant phone call with North Pond. I reserved weeks ago for my husband's birthday. Today, I call back to confirm the reservation. When I call back, John tells me that my 6:45 PM table, which I had requested for the patio, is not guaranteed because they refuse to reserve tables for the patio and I should show up at either 5:30 or 7:45 PM because other diners will "scoop up" all the tables and/or they will have finished their two-hour tasting menus. (Lucky them!) When I expressed disappointment and frustration about the refusal to hold a patio table, John said, "it's on the website." Thanks, dude. He then cancelled the reservation and wished me "good luck." The birthday is in three days--on Saturday night. My issue is not that they refuse to book patio tables (though many Chicago restaurants do, e.g. Elske and Giant). My issue is that they did not bother to tell me when I demonstrated in my reservation request that I did not know that . John leaves a marathon message, literally the longest I have ever received from a restaurant, about whether I have "severe food allergies" and "whose birthday is it, exactly," but does not bother to tell me that in fact I don't have a table?! I will add for the record that I have dined at North Pond before and it is okay but not superb, and very expensive. I was booking it for the patio! PLEASE, when future guests who reserve for the patio and say it's a birthday--just shoot them a text and tell them the patio is not guaranteed. Then they can look elsewhere. Nobody wants to have a birthday celebration at a fancy restaurant without a reservation--isn't that obvious??? read more

Exquisite, sublime, delectable, hidden gem in Lincoln Park facing a beautiful city scape. Shot walk to the Nature Museum. This place respects everything about the locally sorced ingredients they use. The service was informative and friendly. read more

North Pond - View from our table - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Pretty good! 110 dollars per person. Love it! Accept all people with different flavors. read more

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Excellent service. It really is such a nice setting...beautiful walkway. I love Lincoln Park! The service was very good and the wine selection was great paired with the meals. I got a cocktail to start...the rye, ginger. We did the seasonal tasting with wine pairing. To start, lobster and later, interesting flavors including foie gras. Their summer seasonal tasting was very interesting and the timing was good too. We didn't feel rushed and the food was presented beautifully. There was probably one dish I didn't care for, but overall, the experience was really nice. Some flavors I didn't think would mesh so well (lobster/almond) but it actually worked. A nice dining experience. read more

Ok, the great, the good and they meh... First the great. The nicest people and best service one could hope for on a crappy weather Saturday night. We had a traffic incident and they held out table while we delt with the business. When we sat down, they gave us glasses of sparkling wine to sooth the nerves. All through dinner, the service was great, and much better than my mood. Second, the food. It was good. Not great, but good. We each had first courses, a foie gras, very good, a pork belly, pretty good, and scallops I think, which was interesting. One salad to share and that was a fresh plate of nothingness. On to the entrees. Two beef tenderloin with a beef cheek. Totally nothing special. My snapper was good, but I needed to peel the skin off, too tough a texture. So food was pretty, good, but not living up to the hype. Lastly, the meh. I personally thing the dessert offering is too contrived and too lacking in bliss. It is art on the plate, yes, but it was not delicious and made no sense. I think they need to deal better with the parking, directions, and posting off of Cannon. Thank you to the staff again. read more

North Pond is as outstanding as ever. A true forward thinking restaurant that stays true to its green, locavore, showcasing-flavors-of-what's-in-season roots. It's a gorgeous, upscale but casual, unpretentious place for a delicious meal. I recently went for a celebratory birthday Sunday brunch. Not only will they print custom menus for the birthday person ("Happy Birthday Nick!"), but at brunch we were able to try THE ENTIRE MENU. Four people, three courses, four options for each course -- we got one of each. My favorites from the meal: -- Poached Egg, truffle-glazed baby leek, mushroom ragout, parmesan, toasted english muffin -- Grilled pork loin, chorizo sausage, brioche corn pudding, sweet and pickled cherries, knob onion -- Pistachio pot de creme, whipped cream, bing cherry salad, citrus biscotti, toasted nuts And EXCELLENT cocktails and wine list. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED! read more

North Pond - Sunday brunch pre fixe menu, July 2011 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very odd experience last night. Sat right away but then it took 12 min for anyone to talk to us at the table and ask for drink order. Food was good, but slow. To be fair, we had a long day and were already tired when we arrived at 8, but the lackluster mood by the wait staff in the restaurant didn't help. read more

North Pond has been on my list for ages, and I'm happy to report a great experience there while celebrating our anniversary. The setting is, without a doubt, one of the best in the city... We felt secluded from the hustle and bustle of Lincoln Park thanks to a serene view of the park and the pond -- with the twinkling lights of the Hancock building and greater skyline visible from above the treetops in the distance. Be sure to request a table by the window in the smaller front room (as the the back room misses out on the full view). The interior is done in an interesting and charming Arts and Crafts style - very natural and complementary of the surroundings. To top off the experience, our server, Lyne, was fantastic. The only reason this doesn't quite get 5 stars is the food. We ordered the carrot and crab bisque, egg and bacon, mustard spaetzel, and duck (all to share). And while the presentation was beautiful and the ingredients were indeed seasonal and at peak ripeness... We just weren't blown away by the flavors in any particular dish. Certainly they were good, but nothing truly memorable. That said, it was a beautiful place to spend a romantic evening, and I'd still recommend this for a special occasion. read more

North Pond - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I have lived in Chicago for 8years, and after dining here I am so sad It has taken me so long to make it to this fantastic enclave of a culinary experience! My husband and I went here on Fathers Day and really enjoyed our meals. The food, service, atmosphere was all excellent. If you need somewhere special to take someone who would appreciate something a bit unique in Chicago, look no further. read more

North Pond - Beet and pastrami salad. Fantastic! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Another amazing meal! We always love North Pond Cafe, and even more now with the "new" chef (new from a few years ago). The food is a mix of locavore and updated Continental. On this menu, the duck with kimchi and gochujang was especially delicious. The wine pairings are always thoughtful and interesting. I was amused by a previous reviewer who did not recognize the iconic Prairie School/Arts and Crafts interior and thought it was a decorating faux pas. Do not be alarmed - the building was designed for the site and fits in beautifully. You're eating in a park next to a pond. The building could not be better for its location. read more

The two of us went for a birthday celebration. One of the staff called two days before our visit and noted down this is a special occasion. So when we got there, the menu printed "Happy Birthday XXX" on top, and at the final sweet treat, the plate was decorated by chocolate saying happy birthday and our waitress was singing birthday song to us - hubby was so touched by this surprise! So food was good - no doubt. But what impressed me most was that the staff really tried to involve the diners more deeply into the experience. Our waitress was extremely knowledgeable about the menu and she'd explain some of the cooking techniques and stories behind the wines to us. We were also shown how they prepared the poussin - they used dough to seal the pot so that the juice won't come out - old style but interesting! read more

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5 stars for serving very high quality ingredients, interesting wine pairing along with a breathtaking view. Food: Had the tasting menu and the quality of the ingredients was excellent. Loved the prawns over 3 types of melons. They could have served any beef but chose filet mignon. Fig jelly roll that's tasty and not too sweet. Wine/Service: Husband had the wine pairing that was so interesting they gave us the wine pairing list to take home as well. Menu had my name printed on it and provided to us without asking. Little things like they get your acknowledgment before taking your empty plates away. Was a bit chilly sitting by the window and they turned the AC down for us. Tip: Definitely ask for a table with a view. read more

One of the best experiences I've ever had. Excellent and unique food that was all prepared flawlessly. Service was exceptional. We did the wine pairing which featured small boutique wines. My only complaint is that since we live in Jersey we can't visit this place on a regular basis. read more