As others have noted, the deck atmosphere was terrific. Food was very good and fairly-priced (not cheap, but you're paying for the view over the river). My only complaints were the 3% "surcharge" that they continue to tack onto the bill as part of the COVID response (it's now just another way to nickel-and-dime you and makes me think less of the restaurant) as well as the fact that the service--which was pleasant enough--was too focused on turning over tables even though the place was not full. The couple next to us was finishing and got the bill as we arrived. The waitress probably passed by every 3-5 minutes to ask if they'd like anything else. We thought it was a bit unseemly as they were just trying to enjoy and evening out. We got a similar treatment--my wife was still finishing her entree when the waitress asked if we were thinking about dessert (we said "not at the moment"). We actually would have had dessert but that turned us off and when my wife finished we were quickly brought the bill we paid and promptly left. Another quick (and minor point) was that when we made the reservation they asked if it was a special occasion. I said it was my wife's birthday. When the confirmation of reservation came earlier that day it asked you to check if it was a special occasion--I checked "birthday." There was no acknowledgement of her birthday--not even the waitress saying "happy birthday" (I'm sure she would have had she known). That's fine, but why do they ask? read more

This place was decent. The food was good and tasty, nothing ground breaking. We had some appetizers and drinks on the first floor. We did have to ask for our server a few times. She forgot one of our appetizers. Had to grab a busser for more water, another server for a another glass of wine. So the downstairs service was ok. We go upstairs for an after dinner drink. The space is gorgeous!! Beautiful scene etc... the sercice NOT SO MUCH. We asked if there was someone who comes to the table to serve and bartender says no that she was the only one serving, mind you apparently she doesn't see the man who is standing on other side of bar pouring a drink. ‍ I ask if they have Effen Vodka she gave me two choices but I could only have the regular Effen because she doesn't have a button on her register for it???? There was an open bottle that had obviously been used. Short version: Food good, drinks good, patio good, bar and restaurant scene beautiful, service not so good read more

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What a classic water spot for Chicago! They are reasonably priced and really offer a great menu. Happy hour is strong and highly recommend. The location is killer and get ready to wave to all the boats passing by. Love this spot great work guys. read more

First time attending here and definitely would be coming back. Dirty martini was great. Had a delicious steak frites medium and it was soft, with a the right flavors. The BLT with wheat bread taste fresh. Our server Amber did a great job. Really appreciate the service. read more

Came here for a group dinner. My colleague needed last minute reservations and they were able to fit the 12 of us, so good for that. We ordered a bunch of appetizers to share, including vegetable tacos, hummus, brussels sprouts, and charred squid. All these were devoured. Entrée wise, we did a mix of lobster roll, chicken, cheeseburger, and steak. The food was fine. No one was raving as sometimes is the case with us. I personally got the lobster roll and enjoyed the good portions of meat. The fries were thin and fine. At least four of us got the lobster roll and I got the least amount of fries. It was odd. Not fret, don't need to overboard it. The drink menu is average. They have several rotating drafts. Our waitress could have told us all what they were than having to repeat 8 times. This made ordering a bit longer. Tips: 1) Avoid a table by the deck door. It was humid when we went and the door by the deck wouldn't close when some opened it. It let out a strong layer of humidity. 2) Restrooms are in the lobby outside the restaurant entrance. read more

My family and I came here because I saw they had both things I wanted at the moment, a view of the lake and lobster rolls! And the view was great! Great river breeze. I got the lobster roll and it was my first ever lobster roll so I'm not sure if all lobster rolls serve it with cold lobster, but I think I would have preferred it warm. I also found that it had too much mayo for my liking. However he butter and other toppings made it taste really good and I ate the whole thing. They are also very generous with the amount of lobster you get, the pieces are pretty big. Someone else i was with had the fried chicken sandwich and said the batter was really good and better than chick fil-a and Popeyes chicken sandwiches! The fries were really good too, nicely seasoned. The burger was also very juicy. Service was very good and the food came out very quick. read more

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Loved Porter Kitchen & Deck! Celebrated a friend's birthday last night here and received great service. Very fast and attentive. We even got a free dessert to celebrate our friend's birthday! Porter Cheeseburger was amazing. The burger had tasty aioli on top and also come on the side to dip your fries. Next time, I would make sure to specify what temperature you would like your burger at because mine was very pink inside (I prefer well done). My friend got the Fried Chicken, which was so big and came with 2 chickens on the bun! Great experience! I recommend and will be back! read more

Porter Kitchen & Deck - Porter Cheeseburger* - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great food and view. The Smoked Pork Chop and the Mac & Cheese were the best.

Phenomenal service, our waitress Jocelyn was so kind and knowledgeable. We were seated on the deck immediately (8pm on a Friday in the summer - this isn't easy!) Because it's a bit of a walk from Michigan Ave, a lot of tourists miss this spot - so you will likely get a good seat with a reservation! The cocktails were fantastic - highly recommend the palenque if you like something spicy, and the Paloma if something citrusy and sweet. The food was tasty and perfect for a summer evening. Watching the boats go by was so lovely. Will return! Super fun and vibrant. read more

Porter Kitchen & Deck - The view thoooo - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place cancelled my reservation less than 48 hours before the reservation time. We were supposed to be going out here for my partner's birthday and I had already pre paid for parking. Other reservations at similar restaurants in the area were no longer available. They said the cancellation was due to a party buying out the restaurant but I highly doubt that party was booked within 48 hours of buying out the entire restaurant. Poor management clearly. read more

Hey, Porter Hey, Porter Would you tell me the time? How much longer will it be 'Til we cross that Mason Dixon Line? Johnny Cash died about 14 years before Porter Kitchen & Deck opened, but I have it on good authority that "Hey, Porter" is about the restaurant and the singer's waiting to indulge in the Crispy Brick Chicken entree. Porter is a relatively new addition to the downtown dining scene, but it quickly made its impression on me as an establishment that takes great care in its guests and their dining needs. Take the elevator down to the ground floor of a downtown 56 story building (I don't know what it's called, but it's 56 stories so how could you miss it?) and you'll embark on a gorgeous dining area filled with business folk maxing out their company credit cards and closing their next big deal. I think I even saw a few lighting their cigars with $100 bills. For this outing, my dining partner and I were being hosted by her brother so I wore my fanciest Ed Hardy shirt and she her snazziest Hot Topic romper. We began with the Grilled Pita and Hummus appetizer. This Yelp review is probably as good a forum as any to announce I'm now engaged to both Grilled Pita and Hummus. We'll need to find a place where polygamy and the marrying of food is recognized, but Hummus knows a hotshot attorney in Lincoln Park. It'll be the Supreme Court's problem soon enough. The heart wants what the heart wants, Ginsburg! Back to the appetizer--in my almost 40 years on this planet (and 27 on Klingon planet Q'onoS), I've never tasted better pita bread. The hummus was tasty too, but the bread with it's warm, not-too-soft-not-too-stiff texture and glorious saltiness gave me a big enough carb load to run three Chicago Marathons. For my entree, dear reader, the Lobster Roll and Fries fit the bill. It's on the Porter sign heading into the building so it has to be good, right? It's served on a New England style bun with lemon, chives, butter and dijonnaise (insert picture of Homer Simpson drooling here). The bun could have used a bit more salt and butter (like the pita bread, perhaps?), but I still wolfed it down. The texture on the lobster was a little chewier than I'd hoped, but full disclosure, I probably haven't had enough lobster to give an accurate opinion. My family used to watch "The Little Mermaid" every night and the thought of eating one of Sebastian's kinfolk would often make us weep. Wait...Wikipedia says Sebastian was a crab. MY ENTIRE LIFE HAS BEEN A LIE!!! The accompanying fries were plump and well-seasoned. My dining partners ordered the Cheeseburger and the Chicken Cobb Salad, I would assume because they only eat food beginning with 'C'. The salad was high on lettuce and low on chicken, but was still enjoyed. The Cheeseburger was enormous causing my dining partner to lapse into a food coma rousing only to question the existence of Michigan cider mills. The bacon, which served as a canopy for the burger patty and cheese looked amazing. It took every fiber of self-control to keep from snatching it off his plate. Note to self, ask Pita Break and Hummus how they feel about an open relationship. Aside from the elegant venue and mouthwatering cuisine, the staff was also top-notch. You can always tell it's a good place when you're walking to your table and a waitress carrying a plate of food will scurry out of your way as if you're carry a severed head. Yes, I'm in your way and you're just doing your job, but I guess...thank you? I also like that they're sure to refill your drinks without asking. Just make the call and fill up the Coke. I'll decide if I want it. The stealth creep up from behind to top off my dining partner's iced tea and the tip toe away served as enjoyable lunchtime entertainment. My my after lunch plans HAD been to enjoy a tasty confection at a nearby doughnut shop, but my full belly at Porter Kitchen & Deck dashed that idea. I just went home and listened to the Man in Black instead. Food: **** Atmosphere: ****1/2 Service: ****1/2 Overall: **** read more

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Always great food, drinks and service! Perfect place for happy hour or a workday lunch. They have an incredible view of the river during all seasons b/c of floor to ceiling glass windows. In the summer you can dine al fresco too! The steak sliders are my fav! Followed by the shrimp b/c it's so flavorful. I've also had the buratta, hummus and truffle fries...all of which were delicious! Side note, they have a great points system. Don't forget to sign up and gain credit toward freedom food :). read more

Everything was sooo amazing! The restaurant was located right off the riverwalk so the views and decor is very nice. The food was delicious!! The music was so diverse and the staff were very friendly. Super fast service too. I would definitely recommend checking this place out. You won't be disappointed! read more

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This place is swank. SWANK. Go here with someone with an expense account, 'cos you will pay BIG. That said, the drinks are very well made, and served in BEAUTIFUL glassware. We had many appetizers - the Jamon plate (my fave) and several cheeses and hummus. Everything was delicious. Great location on the river, and the staff is great as well. Nothing all that distinctive stands out, this is just one of those typical expensive downtown places, where everything is delicious and well done, and sleek - but nothing really stands out as having a lot or character or interest. Still, if you got that expense account GO HERE. read more

Visited this restaurant for lunch on a slow Friday afternoon. I ordered the pomegranate margarita, which was fine, the Brussels sprouts, which were oily but decent, and medium steak frites, which was overdone (both the steak and the fries). Although the server offered to have my entree remade, I'm not trusting enough for that. The kitchen had one chance and they blew it. The service was fine and the atmosphere was pleasant but I wouldn't come back here. read more

We arrived for a late lunch on a rainy day and got a table by the river. We started with an unconventional appetizer of fries with garlic aioli, dry martinis...and bacon. Which turned out to be an awesome combo. I followed that with cacio e pepe (and another martini), both went down well as we watched the rain fall. Well-designed space with a decent amount of room between tables and a luxe vibe. Menu of upscale comfort food standards...and about seven variations on the classic martini, for those who like to be picky about the amount of vermouth in the glass. read more

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I brought a large group (20 guests from an event I organized) here in April for a private room dinner. So this is mostly a review for that experience, but in short, I would return here in a heartbeat as a single patron or with groups of any size. Reserving Porter Kitchen & Deck for private dining was a superb choice--delicious food, wonderful view of the river & buildings, and extremely smooth and quick responses from Laura Tracy, the Event Sales Director. We had a prix fixe menu: 2 shared starters, 1 salad, 3 main course choices, and 1 dessert. We chose in advance the starters and salad: the ham & cheese board and roasted carrots as starters, and gem salad. They were all excellent (bread and butter for the table are also included). For the main course, we had selected the chicken, salmon, and veggie pasta. Unfortunately nobody picked the pasta but I had the brick chicken, and tried a bite of the salmon someone else ordered, and liked both a lot. The chicken especially is phenomenal--crispy and juicy--and seems to be a bigger portion than the salmon (that's not to say the fish was small though). The dessert was the chocolate torte, which was very tasty and not too sweet. Our guests were blown away by the views and food. Some of them remarked "How did you even find this place?!" Service was also quick and efficient. Additionally, we felt safer being in a private room, which is quite separated from the main dining room; this was a big plus since some of us were still quite wary of indoor dining due to COVID reasons. The per person price was reasonable, for the restaurant of this quality, location, and ambiance, but perhaps more importantly, the food & beverage minimum was much lower than that of other similar restaurants in the Loop. We paid for drinks based on consumption, but Porter has a bar package as well. Ultimately, because of the drinks, our party ended up spending more than twice the minimum, and about $500 more than the estimated amount. However, if the set minimum had been higher from the beginning, we may have hesitated to book since we cannot know ahead of time how much alcohol will be consumed. I cannot be happier that my event co-organizer and I reserved Porter Kitchen & Deck for the group dinner. Much of the satisfaction owes to our communication with Laura. She was wonderful to work with, and with all the moving parts of event-organizing, fast and easy vendor communication is sincerely appreciated. Thank you so much, Laura! I highly, highly recommend Porter Kitchen & Deck for large group dining: conference dinners (they have AV equipment as well, but we did not use it); rehearsal dinners; birthdays; receptions; any kinds of celebrations. I had simultaneously reached out to maybe 20-30 restaurants in the Loop. I wanted to take our guests somewhere with a nice Chicago vista, as all of them were from out of state, in a convenient location and great food, while not exceeding our budget. I doubt there is anywhere else in the area that will not only impress your guests but also do not have an exorbitant F&B minimum. My only and big regret is not taking photos, and would love to be on their outdoor patio next time. read more

Service was extremely slow and felt a little like an after thought. Most of the food was average, but the hummus was pretty good.

Waited for this to open at 4 for about 20 minutes. They saw us waiting and didn't tell us. We go in at 4 and they said it's closed for a private event. We weren't the only ones waiting either. Terrible. read more

They were accommodating my gluten free needs with making me a burger without a bun and a salad without croutons. It was excellent read more

Porter Kitchen & Deck - Burger with no bun (gluten free) and Caesar salad - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We made a reservation for lunch and we were sat about 20 minutes late, but they brought out plenty of appetizers for the table as an apology! The service, food and atmosphere is very good! Once we were seated, it was a pretty quick meal if you are looking for a nicer sit down lunch location. Its definitely on a nicer dining location, but I would definitely recommend checking it out on the river. read more

Loved it! View next to the river even from inside was great. Food, ambiance, everything was great. Recommend!!!

We had our rehearsal dinner in the private room, and it was such a great experience. Makenzie, our waitress, was always on top of everything and made the rehearsal dinner awesome. The private room gives you a great view of the river and you get to see all the boats passing by. The food is delicious and the menu we had was awesome. Heads up, if you get the chocolate mousse dessert it's huge, so come hungry! read more

Only come here if you are on the brink of death. For some reason everyone is over the age of 50 or going golfing. Ambiance and music was weird and the food was disappointing. read more

This place is so pretty. Came for lunch on a Friday with a co-worker and we had a really lovely time. We were a little confused about how to get there at first - but just go into the building and take the elevator down to the Lower Level, and it puts you right at the host stand. They have a really spacious, clean and nice looking interior with lots of different booth, table and bar options. But the best part for me was the gorgeous deck outside. We got lucky with a pretty perfect day, and sat outside right on the river. Stunning views of downtown, the buildings, and you can watch the boats go by. The food was tasty - a pretty standard "American" menu, salads, sandwiches, some starters and sides. We got the shaved brussel sprouts salad with salmon, and it was pretty yummy! Honestly, the atmosphere here outweighs the food for me, but I'd love to try more of the food options, and maybe their dinner menu. Really nice place for a work meal or happy hour if you're in the loop. read more

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I'm really excited to write this review, because Porter was the first indoor dining experience I've had since pre-Covid, and I'm so glad I chose to go there. Before getting to the food/experience, Porter takes a lot of precautionary measures which made me feel very comfortable. Tables are very distanced, the restaurant is huge which makes it easy to spread out, and there is ample outdoor seating on the deck with heat lamps for those who would like to sit outside. The staff wear their masks consistently and you scan a QR code for the menu. Porter is in an amazing location, right on the Chicago river. The view is beautiful and I can only imagine how amazing it would be to sit outside on a summer night for dinner and drinks. Speaking of drinks, I requested a drink that wasn't on their drink menu and they happily made it for me. The food itself was delicious and made the night even better. I started off with a cup of tomato soup, which came with a side of soup crackers. The soup was hearty, savory, and made for a really comforting appetizer. I also appreciated that the portion wasn't gigantic and there was still room for more. I ordered the brick chicken entree and loved it. The chicken had a delicious lemon-garlic flavor to it, as well as chicken jus as well. I loved the way they made the chicken -- the skin had a really nice crisp to it, yet the inside of the chicken was soft, juicy, and tender. It came with a side of roasted potatoes. Similarly, the skin had a nice crisp to it but I was really impressed that the inside of the potatoes were so soft -- they basically melted as I ate. They tasted delicious in the chicken jus as well. On top of the chicken was an arugula/Parmesan salad, which added a really nice garnish. The presentation was really nice, looked great on the plate, and tasted even better. Loved every bite. Would thoroughly recommend both dishes. Lastly, our waitress couldn't have been nicer and was so good about checking in to see how things were going, spacing out the timing of the dishes well, etc. I couldn't have asked for a better first dining-in in the COVID-era experience. Thank you! Can't wait to come back! read more

We recently hosted a private event here and it was EXCEPTIONAL. They accommodated a number of last-minute requests graciously, and exceeded our expectations in terms of set-up, planning and service. The food was delicious, and the setting was beautiful. Thank you for making our night a success! read more

Friendly staff, nice views, and most importantly delicious food! Suggest you make a reservation if you're visiting during lunch hours. My friend and I waited 10 minutes for a table as a result. Look forward to returning because I'd like to check out their outdoor patio next time. read more

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We were a small family group having a reunion of sorts - teens to octogenarian. There were menu items to please everyone. We particularly enjoyed the appetizers we shared: sweet potato wedges, a shrimp dish, and THE BREAD. Selected entrees were steak frites, lobster rolls, mac n cheese. What wasn't eaten was packed to finish later. The young ordered a couple of desserts for sharing; they were beautiful. And we were able to sit, visit, and catch up for quite a long time. So glad to have a restaurant of this caliber in my neighborhood. read more

We stopped in for drinks and apps. They were all fine but the young server was a little odd. We all have different personalities, but she didn't have that warm fuzzy Chicagoan feeling. She was a little too formal for drinks and appetizers. That's my only area of improvement. I would like to try it during the summer. View is beautiful. read more

Porter Kitchen & Deck - Good view - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

amazing service, great food, outdoor seating is really nice. definitely recommend. the burger is soooo good and the fries especially with their ranch. read more

DO NOT BOOK AN EVENT OR HAPPY HOUR HERE. After speaking to two different hostesses on the phone on multiple days, having both tell me the seating area I asked for was arranged, we show up and they failed to deliver. Management was rude to multiple people in our party and had sat people in the reserved area. Furthermore, being promised appropriate tables for the seating area to place food upon they failed to deliver. We had to go in and get our silverware from servers inside and had to get the server multiple times to order. Food was delicious, just disappointing they didn't have the service to back it up. read more

My family had a birthday dinner at Porter last Monday evening. It was great. The waitress gave us plenty of time for chit chat, the food was very tasty, and the Birthday Sundae was huge enough for everyone to share. Highly recommend. read more

Great spot for early dinner with a view! When the weather is nice an outside table would be perfect. Nice river views to compliment excellent service. My party of four enjoyed all our apps including oysters, buratta, scallops and sliders. Happy hour Moscow Mule for $7 was good but mostly ice :( Nice wine selections by the glass. Very convenient from Metra. read more

So disappointing, we came here to have lunch for my sons Birthday, he and his girlfriend ordered watermelon and strawberry smash mojitos and they were possibly the worst drink we have ever been served. Neither one tasted anything like watermelon or strawberry and the attitude the waitress gave when we sent them back was ridiculous. Not to mention the fact that i was still charged for both returned drinks. The food was delicious but the fact that in the end we had to pay for drinks that we did not drink because they were not drinkable makes me very angry. read more

We had a great lunch here. The food was excellent. One of the best Cobb salads we had which we shared plus the crispy shrimp. Generous portions. We enjoyed being on the river watching the boats go by. Service was professional and attentive. read more

great food! great service! food came out fast and great views. overall a good price for steak/fries. 100% would go there again

very cute place on the river that isn't stupid expensive like others. I ordered the steak and wasn't that impressed, it was very bland. My boyfriend ordered the crab roll after we saw numerous reviews about it, and it was just okay too, the meat was cold. But I do recommend this place for their truffle fries and drinks!!! I had the Paloma and it was pretty strong so it's worth it! read more

Food and atmosphere was AMAZING!! Hidden gem, perfect spot for a date night. The brussel sprouts are delicious. Best I've had!

We came here our first night in ChicGo. Wanted something nice but not too nice. The view is great and the restaurant is lovely. But it took 20 minutes to get a waiter and another 15 to see our cocktails. Food was good (not great), but we were shocked when we were told we couldn't have dessert because the kitchen closed at 8:30. On a Thursday. Not a good visit overall. read more