I love RL for several reasons. First, the decor is at once familiar/nostalgic but totally original in Chicago. Second, the food is also familiar/nostalgic and an ironically refreshing departure from all the hot new foodie establishments. You go to RL to feel like you're going to dinner in the 50s or 60s, like you're going to dinner with Don and Betty Draper.
I'd give it 4 stars because the second to last time I went, I had the steak salad and it was mediocre, at best. Wilted lettuce, way too much bleu cheese dressing. Too sad a salad to pay over $20 for.
Last night, however, we had a 5-star experience with our boys (11 & 7). It was our 11-year old's birthday. He could choose any restaurant for dinner. He chose RL, having been once before after seeing a play. Our younger son had never been, and I worried the menu would deflate him. I figured he'd order the RL burger and that would be that.
The service:
I'd made reservations online and had written in the comments that it was my 11-year old's bday and could they treat him like the one who was in charge. I gave my own name when we came in, and the hostess looked at the reservation and said, "Table for four for John O_____?" Yay! He was tickled that it was under his name. When they seated us, they gave him the menu first. Yay again. Overall, that level of service continued throughout the meal. I'm always grateful when staff other than your server participates in service. If anyone at RL (manager, hostess/host, busperson) walks by your table, they will assist in your service.
The food:
My older son started with the heirloom tomato and mozzerella tart. He was in heaven and now wants to learn how to make one. I was lucky enough to get a small bite, and I have to say it's a solid appetizer. The tomatoes sort of made it, though. They were bright and tasty. Otherwise, it might have been a little mozzerella pie without them.
My younger son had the shrimp by the piece. He wanted 10 (at $4.75 apiece), but we talked him into two. He was sucking on the tail and trying to get every last bit of shrimp out. He was in love with the spicy cocktail sauce. I didn't taste his shrimp, but I dipped my fork into his cocktail sauce, and it's a really good traditional horseradishy sauce.
My husband had the lobster bisque for his appetizer and my younger son had it for his meal. To quote my son: "This is just ... oh, my God." He was speechless about how delicious it was. (This was my younger son's first truly "fancy" meal out, and his conclusion was "It's more expensive, but it's worth it.")
I ordered the Steak Diane, figuring I'd order something they're famous for. It's prepared tableside, which my kids thought was amazing. This is an old-school dish. It's a steak smothered in a sauce. But, oh what a sauce! And the steak was cooked to perfection. Tender. Delicious. I ate the entire thing, which is embarrassing.
My older son ordered the salmon. I didn't taste the fish, but he devoured the whole thing. I did, however, taste the corn it was resting on, and I had to stop myself from eating all of it. I asked how it was prepared and the waitress said something about chipotle (which I'm normally not a huge fan of). If there was one thing I could see myself eating every day, it was that corn. Oddly, my son didn't like it. Lucky for me, though, because I could eat as much as I wanted.
My husband had the lake perch, prepared with panko breading. I had a bite with a little of the tartar sauce. Again, old fashioned preparation. My husband liked but didn't love it. I thought it was delicious. The tartar sauce looked very old school but tasted lighter and fresher. The dill was the strongest taste, which went beautifully with the fish.
For dessert we shared the chocolate ganache cake and (of course) the bananas foster. The bananas foster is phenomenal. It's another specialty, so anyone who goes to RL (no matter how full you are) should order it. They did not prepare it tableside, which was a little disappointing, but the dining room was busier by the time we ordered dessert, so it's understandable. The cake was solid. They brought it over with a candle and 'Happy Birthday' written in chocolate sauce. Again, my son was over-the-moon about how special they made him feel. The cake itself was a little dry, but the ganache (again, something I'm normally not a huge fan of) was amazing. Not overly sweet but super flavorful.
The boys had kiddie cocktails, which they loved. I had the best French martini I'd ever had, having asked them not to make it too sweet. It was huge, too. I was feeling it about 1/3 in.
Food's expensive but, in the old-fashioned tradition, the portions are big. (That includes the martini.)
Long review. Sorry. But last night was a night my family really enjoyed. We left RL happy, satisfied, and sure to return. My 7-yr old has already decided it's where he'd like his birthday. He also mentioned he would like to have an RL attached to our house. read more