Still haven't been back there. Still haven't worn the scarf that was given to me. I don't foresee me going back ever again. Oh I got a call from a manager 3 months later because they hadn't seen my (Caucasian) hubby. I told him service recovery in 24-48 hours you're 3 month late... his reply " I didn't have your phone number" . Mind you I've made multiple reservations under my name/phone number. So how did you get it? I got it from your husband? After I finished deconstructing his piss poor apology he offered to have me and my friends come in for an evening at one of the other Gibson group locations. read more

Nothing special to rave about. It seems like the socialites come here to mingle in their fur coats. Felt a bit out of place. Food was meh, I can find better options. read more

Food is good, nothing to pay higher prices for. If you have children, beware...the host has given us attitude at least 4 Times when we went there with our baby, and made it clear it was an inconvenience to leave her sleeping in her small fold up stroller that can sneak under a table. Also made a reservation for 3 people one time, including my husband myself and our daughter, and a "high chair" is not considered a seat and it was a big deal. I thought I was being polite by including her as a seat at the table but apparently that gets you an eye roll and delayed seating time. read more

They know how to cook a steak to the exact specifications that give my palate goosebumps. The oysters are really fantastic, as is the escargot. traditional American dishes in a "clubby atmosphere" with "impressive artwork" and "horse-and-saddle" decor; expect Ralph Lauren prices and service, absolutely worth the money. It's not often I can take a date to dine among a who's who of Chicago (the jewelry is all real), the occasional celebrity, all in front of the fireplace. A seat, by the way, that is offered to a select few. I was tickled to be one of those, one of the best nights of my life. read more

Ralph Lauren's restaurant, believe it or not, is all about the food. Seems like a strange comment to make about a restaurant, but you must admit then when you hear the name Ralph Lauren the first thing you think of is not food. Of course it's clothes, but more than that it's money. Big, fat, luxurious, wallet-busting stacks of money. If you're anything like me you would expect this restaurant to be swanky, big and comfortable. And it is swanky (picture the den of some CEO's mansion), but by no means is it large and, somewhat depending on where you're sat, it's not too comfortable either. My g/f and I had dinner here one Saturday and drew the short straw of sitting next the the back-hall doorway. However, despite being packed in like a sardine and sharing a table the size of a checker-board we had an excellent meal- hence the 4 stars. So many problems can be fixed with good food. The baked cheese (triple cream in puff pastry) with poached pear appetizer was outstanding. And this comes from a Wisconsin native! My venison tenderloin was tasty and cooked properly and my g/f's Filet was superb, taken to another level by a generous slice of seared foie gras. One word of warning: DO NOT get the creamed spinach. Worst we have ever had. Other than that the food was excellent and the service, while a little stiff and cold for Milwaukee standards, was on point and efficient as one would expect in the Windy City. read more

This was a great place for a nice brunch. The meal started off with some complimentary danishes and muffins with the most amazing strawberry butter I have ever had. Next was the bloody mary, which definitely was on the spicier side, but I do enjoy a little kick in that drink. As for my meal, the lobster bisque was great and I did have a few bites from my dining partner's salmon plate. Overall, the ambiance was nice and I loved all the art and high wood walls. Although it is not an old restaurant, I did like the Classic Americana look it was going for. It also amuses me the staff all wears Polo. The only cons I can give this place is that the bathroom is complicated to get to. It involves an elvator and hallways, and way too much for nature's call. read more

Nice place for lunch. Drinks were pricey. Spent more on drinks than lunnch. Steak sandwich very good Reuben good as well. Great atmosphere! read more

RL burger was the bomb. Like the decor it's totally RL style. Not bad price wise. 2 clam chowder soups 2 RL Burgers 3 Beers 1 expresso double 1 Crème brûlée TIP All of the above for a Benjamin.. $20 alone was the tip!! And to a post I read below about someone complaining because there was no elevator. WRONG you must not have looked good enough!! read more

I wasn't sure I would like this place due to the tight quarters, but it was absolutely 100% wonderful. The service was perfect, and the food was a sheer delight. I highly recommend the arugula starter salad and the halibut as an entree - it was a light choice that was satisfying without leaving me feeling too full to go out afterwards. My husband had the lamb chops and those were tasty, too. Expensive, but worth it! Oh, they have free wifi, too, if you care. Make sure you head to the restroom - it has a private elevator! Cool. read more

Whenever I'm in Chicago I usually stay nearby which makes RL not only a convenient choice but wise one as well. I've gone there for drinks only, patio only, meal only, and I'm intrigued by how each different section of the restaurant has a completely different feel. The bar area is somewhat cloistered and has a old school charm about it. The outside patio (and immediate inside dining) has a cafe appeal to it, and the dining room feels like you're in a well-to-do uncle's library with wood and framed pictures everywhere. For my most recent time there, we ordered a selection of appetizers and their crab cake. The Charcuterie & Cheese Plate, Citrus-Cured Sockeye Salmon, and Foie Gras were all fantastic and the Crab Cake was excellent. Their cocktails are can't miss! The service was attentive without being rushed. It's just a very relaxed place to unwind in a bustling area. read more

Great restaurant/bar in the city. Cocktails, food, service, atmosphere, location and overall quality are the best. Make a reservation or get there early. Sit outside when the patio is open. Kristin makes an excellent Manhattan. read more

The man isn't only a brilliant designer but also a restaurateur. I'd definitely recommend this place to anyone staying in the area. read more

Nothing special.. Food very overpriced for the quality. Saw a kitchen staff playing with their phone on the restaurant floor. Was not very impressed. read more

The name looked tempting so I walked in :) Food and prices Great. Tomato soup with grilled cheese - to die for. Hamburger was great too. Prices are surprisingly good. Drinks Had an ice tea, was like an ice tea :) It was too early. Staff The guy was good and professional, kinda invisible, exactly the way you want waiter to be. Atmosphere Relaxing and casually sophisticated. White table cloths at the patio is a plus. Summary Had a quick bite and enjoyed it - only positive experience. read more

This is a hidden gem, you could almost walk past it thinking it was part of the store. The food is impeccable as is the service. I love the burger but they have lots of excellent food and the desserts are to die for. Try the French martini if you like a sweet cocktail. And let them know if it is a special occasion and they will do their best to make it even for more special for you. It's not the cheapest restaurant but it's frequented by the well heeled and is worth the money for a nice meal in a lovely setting! read more

Over priced tourist trap. Crowded and cramped. I basically ate with our neighbors. Salads (we got the Caesar and the Spinach) were way over-dressed and had too many conflicting flavors. The Spinach salad had a too tart and heavy dressing with blue cheese, cooked mushrooms, and bacon. The Dover sole was rubbery and very expensive. The "pig in a blanket" was lukewarm, not a good temperature for puff pastry. The roasted cauliflower was the sole highlight of the meal. Deserts was fine, a ho hum $10 ice cream sundae. The sorbet was really heavy. You pay for the cache here not good food. read more

Upon arriving for my lunch reservation, I overheard a manger speak with a hostess, "we are so understaffed in the dining room and kitchen we'll be lucky to get through this day." I told this to my relatives when they arrived a few minutes later. Their reply was that they weren't in a rush, patience will make the day. It didn't. We expected the managers to be assisting in the kitchen or dining room. We observed no effort. The first distressful note we noticed was water and bread coming almost ten minutes after we are seated. Had to ask for butter not once or twice, but three times. Special burger ordered medium rare came out solid well-done. Fries were warm, not hot and tasted not freshly made. Like they had been sitting. Halibut was good; however, the sauce didn't make it special. Especially at the cost/portion ratio $'s from the menu. Coffee tasted burnt as in it sitting in the pot too long. One of the out-of-town visiting relatives said the waiter wasn't happy because we didn't order alcohol. I was told that the Gibson partners managed RL. If this is true, these guys should pay closer attention to the people who represent that name. read more

Love this place... food and cocktails are always good. I was surprised this time to see orange juice on the bill for a diabetic member of our party who was in need of some juice. Rather gaudy if you ask me. read more

The RL Restaurant,located right on Michigan Avenue in Chicago and next door to the Ralph Lauren Polo clothing store is a place I went to many years ago and somewhere I remembered with fondness. It wasn't just that the food was spectacular; it was so much more than that. It was the impeccable service, the smile on everyone's face, the stunning old world Chicagodark wood charm and the waiter who I remembered flambaying Bananas Foster right at the patron's table. I so badly wanted it to be the same experience. as this was my little treat for my friend who decided to go back to school to do her Masters in Photography and was also turning the fabulous age of 40! We walked in and took a look around the gorgeous tiny bar completely swaddled in dark wood with walls adorned with random paintings of rock stars, horses, lions and old black and white 1960s photographs. Nothing made sense but it all worked. We were seated at the back of the restaurant at a table where we could both view the packed restaurant. Surprisingly busy for a Sunday evening with diners of every persuasion from the elegant and mature, to the girl with long green hair, to the casual jeaned diner and of course the regular like me and My friend. Well, perhaps a little more than regular but nevertheless, an intriguing people watching crowd. Crispy bread sprinkled with Parmesan cheese and cracked pepper as well as a wonderful bread basket was quietly put in front of us to work on while we decided on our dinner. To start I picked the Citrus-Cured Sockeye Salmon. A beautiful plate of thinly sliced salmon strewn with crunchy cuts of asparagus and razor thin radish. A little overly oily, however, incredibly flavorful. I think the salmon, being an oil fish would suffice on its own without the additional oil. I would absolutely order again though. The combination of the smooth oily fish and crunchy vegetables worked really well. My friend had looked at the menu earlier that day and knew immediately she wanted the Foie Gras. I tried multiple times to ask her how it was but I believe she was having a religious moment and could not speak. She did say the foie was incredibly rich and worked in harmony with the biscuit and sweet cherries. It would have been a little too much without something to offset the richness. There are a couple of RL classics that have become popular over the years and are highlighted on the menu. We both decided to pick one of them each. My choice was the Crab Cake. A large flaky crab cake filled with chunks of fresh lump sweet crab meat and very little bread crumbs. I totally got the "classic." It was truly fantastic. I substituted the coleslaw for the Baked Mushrooms. Juicy and succulent little caps filled with Parmesan. I could have had a plate of them and nothing else and be happy. Marcela picked the "famous" Steak Diane Prime Sirloin, Veal Reduction, Shallots, Dijon, Cream, Brandy also with a side of the Baked Mushrooms. To quote My friend... "A thinner cut which made me think it would be tougher, but it was still a perfect cut of meat and not tough at all. I love sauces and I love meat. I may have found a new favorite dish." This dinner was truly a treat night of overindulgence we just could not find any room for dessert so decided to not order any. Instead we watched the waiter wheel his trolley over to tables to make Bananas Foster. I had completely forgotten I had told them earlier it was My friend's birthday so we were delivered a plate full of gorgeous sweet treats, which of course we made every effort to finish. We had apparently lasted so much longer than everyone else that when we finally looked up the restaurant was completely empty. The evening was worth every second and dime. What a treat. RL is absolutely a place I would recommend for an elegant evening of fine dining or you could just sit in the bar and enjoy a delicious glass of wine. They also have a patio of pretty blue tables and chairs where you can sit and watch the shoppers stroll by while sharing some wine and dessert. I am so glad all of fond memories remained intact and true of my experience and now I have double the good memories. read more

This is a wonderful lunch spot, just know it's always slammed. So if you can make a reservation, do. Everything I've had here has been really excellent. The service is wonderful. Shout out to Christopher, who is exceptional at his job. It's a really fun and sassy spot. read more

Great spot to eat and people watch. Suggest outdoor seating if available. We were there for lunch. The bread was warm and very good. The salads and gazpacho were excellent. The entrees were also very good especially the salmon, which says a lot being from Portland. Service was spot on, waiters and bus boys all very attentive. 4.5 stars. Why not a 5? It just lacked the WOW factor, but we do highly recommend RL. read more

I cannot gush enough about this place! My boyfriend made a reservation for 6 pm on a Saturday, which was the weekend of my birthday. We arrived about 15 minutes early and were promptly seated, and the hostess graciously offered to check my shopping bags in the coat check. The very friendly waiter came by promptly to take our drink and appetizer orders. We had the baked cheese appetizer, which was delicious. I had the lamb chops, and my boyfriend had the organic farmhouse chicken. Both dishes were very flavorful and juicy; we also ordered some veggie sides (get the baked mushroom caps, they are awesome!!!). They also surprised me with an on the house dessert for my birthday, even though it was 2 days prior. All in all, it was a very pleasant experience. Very pleasant staff, divine food, and a very nice atmosphere. My wallet may not be fat enough to go more than once a year, but it's definitely worth waiting for. read more

All time favorite in Chicago. A true old world, classic American brasserie experience. From the classic RL burger to the best-ever Dover sole, RL is perfection. The staff is professional and the decor and comfortable luxury of the restaurant makes it a must-try. Even the bread is beautifully curated. Nothing is left to chance, and there's even a charming private elevator down to the bathroom read more

Just had the worst experience I've ever had at RL. We frequent often and always have great food and a great experience. This afternoon I asked for an espresso with baileys and received just an espresso. I then mentioned to the waitress that they forget to put baileys in my espresso. When I got my bill it was $20. $15 for a glass of baileys. On the menu baileys is $11.25. A manager then approached me and said that is the price for it neat. That is fine but I didn't ask for it neat. She didn't make it right for her guest. I left half the glass of baileys on the table that I didn't want and ended up paying $20 for an espresso. RL gets a big fat F for this one and loses my business. Hope the $4 extra you charged me was worth it! read more

Had a very poor experience when I came to eat dinner at the bar. I ordered Calf's Liver and the order didn't come. I waited for about 45 min before a server noticed my main course hadn't arrived. I left without eating the main course, hungry and disappointed. At least the Caesar's salad and the glass of Cabernet were good. Given the excellent gourmet choices in Chicago, I shan't ever have any second thoughts about writings off this restaurant from my list. read more

wow cuisine is top notch ! I have eaten here several times and the quality is always on point read more

I tried to click 5 stars twice! I know there are many great restaurants in the area, many more that claim to be great... RL sets the standard for classy dining and exceptional service - simply like no other! They made our special occasion a life long memory! read more

RL Restaurant - What a birthday celebration! - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The interior of the restaurant is very cool! I was looking forward to finally doing brunch here, but wasn't as great as I'd hoped. The food was nothing that great. The server was very friendly and nice but made way too many and dumb mistakes. I asked for a mimosa and got a pineapple drink not once but three times!! Friend also asked for a screwdriver and received pineapple and vodka instead. A pretty big mistake especially if the person is allergic to pineapple! Took way to long to even get these messed up drinks! The second time I ordered a mimosa he told me he had to wait for some flute to be cleaned.... It's brunch! How the hell do you not have clean glasses, and why would you tell a customer that! The server also got all of our orders mixed up and there weren't too many of us so shouldn't be that difficult. I completely understand everyone has a bad day and people make mistakes but when your paying $500 for brunch you should at lease get a correct mimosa read more

"Great Hair" aka Gray was our server. Very on point and attentive. We would recommend him for a wonderful time. read more

RL Restaurant - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Never disappointed with the food. It has a cozy and traditional vibe that completely embodies the Ralph Lauren brand. Great dishes that are diverse enough not to restrict them to any one genre of food. It's always packed and is a great place for families or friend get-togethers. read more

Good food and service, but I can't justify the price. I had the crab avocado salad and the burger.

Came here on a Wednesday night with a date. It felt like the clock had been rewound 25 years... I don't typically see glad-handing in restaurants anymore but apparently there is an "RL Elite", something Yelpers can definitely relate to. I think these patrons were regulars who the staff knew well and that was why they were treating them so well. They were also, on average, in their late 90's and 100's which I thought was interesting. The decor was super old school, not like 80's or 90's modern which ends up as the ugliest design of all time, but like you're warped to Connecticut in the 2nd dining room of some rich old money white family complete with armoire, China cabinet, and pictures of what seemed to be retired presidents that most people forgot about (James Buchanan, Zachary Taylor, Benjamin Harrison, etc.). Hence, old clientele. The food was solid, menu was nothing out of the box but you wouldn't expect anything different from a place like this. Not having worn Ralph Lauren clothing since high school I definitely could see the connection in style between restaurant and clothing. Conservative. Not to say it was bad food, just not that exciting. I started with a lobster bisque and it was really good. It's like french fries though; hard to screw up. My main was the salmon and while not the best I've ever had, still good enough that I ate every bite. My date had the chicken and was very impressed by it. One note I did have was the service. It's great that you treat some patrons well, just don't let it be at the expense of the others. Host staff was great, but our waiter was very absent minded. He took our white napkins to replace them with black ones but it took him about 30 minutes to bring back the black ones. It wasn't until we got our main courses that I just asked him about it and then brought them over. Small gripe I know, but I like my meal to go seamlessly so I can focus on my company but it seemed at RL I was more focused on the wait staff which is never a good thing. I liked it, seemed like a good place for tourists. I saw lots of families there, not a great place to bring a date though. I may be back with my great great grandmother though. read more

Food is good and service The design is inviting and alive. Busy but you will be taken care of .. read more

It struck me a wee bit strange when I told fellow foodies that I had dined at RL for a solo Saturday night dinner. Not for the fact this place has awesome initials, (its true!), or that I was dining alone, but rather it was for dinner. Oodles of fans gushed over their love for the brunch and lunch here. Mentioning about this martini, or this mimosa or how their eyes lit up and then rolled back in to ecstasy over the amazingness of the service and food they had here. Um.. yeah. I had dinner here, not brunch, but it was wonderful none the less. Arriving sans reservation, I arrived early. Sitting in the dining room I was escorted quickly to a small two top off to the side, yet it gave me a really great view of the place. Let's talk about the place. At first, it was a little romanticized. Good lighting, sparkling silverware, shimmering glasses, candles adding softness, white and brass swimming in a slight haze of lusciousness. Paintings and photos every where, so much to see so much to watch. Servers whizzing by with bright smiles, making even the newly initiated at ease with friendly banter. Captains, (these would be the folks in tuxes), saying hello to all the tables, making them feel warm and welcomed, like old friends returning from a long voyage. So easy to get swept up in the hustle and bustle, the vibe is pure money, (as in "You are so money.." as well as there is some serious money sitting around in here), it gave me a small wry smile to sit and witness such exchanges. Really though, let's move on from the atmosphere and high end service, we need to discuss some vittles. Did I imbibe in my usual champagne? Nope. (Stop gasping! It happens..) I sat back with a starter of Crab Louis. Luxurious crab, avocado, placed gently on bib lettuce and tomatoes with a heaping pour of tangy thousand island dressing. The first thing that jumps out to me in a word, freshness. The simple ingredient, sometimes the missing one, that takes the mundane to the sublime. Here, there will be no mundaneness to be had. I wondered where was the garden where they had picked these wonderful veggies because simply these had to have been picked mere minutes before being served to me. Next up, the stuffed pork loin, filled with mushrooms, cherries, spinach cooked to your specifications, (mine was medium), and served with ample portion of heaven. Oh... what is heaven? Oh just a porcini cream sauce, with subtle complex flavors created by angels, with a sheen so sheeny that it screams enough calories to send you to heaven. Or hell. Depends who you are. The sauce was a tantalizing treat for my taste buds, several sinful moments on my lips that will leave me repenting with hours on the stair master. But dang yo.. it was worth it. I choose to do a side of brussel sprouts, simply done with butter and shallots. Who knew they could taste so crisp? So warm? So devilishly wonderful? Apparently RL knows.. For dessert I was in for a special treat. Key Lime pie was the choice to finish me off. Decadent, creamy, rich with just the right balance of sugar and tartness. However as I enjoyed that, I savored the flavor of another treat, Moroccan Tea. This rare treat, enjoyed by some of the elites, made by the one, the only Abdel. (I hope I got his name right!) He is the only one who makes it. A perfected blend of mint, green tea, sugar and a skill crafted over years of practice created the most balanced, delicious and amazing cups of tea I have ever had. Pulled at table side, I couldn't help but enjoy the smell and then take the flavor all in. I am not a tea fan. Ever. This tea I loved. That should speak volumes for this man and his skills. A pretty penny is spent, but for a restaurant with such distinguished initials, I can not but help but sit back and enjoy this meal, the experience and yet a too brief of a time. I guess this means I need to stop on by again. Oh. Gosh. Darn. It. read more

We booked on Father's Day, June 16, 2019, party of 4, 12:45pm. We ended up waiting for 30 minutes, despite the appointment. The receptionist was not receptive at all! I know she's been very busy with the long line of people waiting, but she didn't manage a smile and not apologetic. She didn't give us an accurate answer why we were not seated on our table at 12:45. For 40 minutes, all she said was the table is being cleaned up. The waitress, Araceli, and the guy who served us, I forgot his name, turned my experience with RL Restaurant to a good one. All smiling and always coming to us to know if we're good or need anything. The tables are actually next to each other, we were squeezed up, I could here stories of the people from other tables. My chair is being bumped by people walking by. It was annoying as I expected a great dining experience in this restaurant. I gave 3 stars but the servers and the food were good, that deserve 5 stars. read more

"What do I wear to RL?" "Fwantz. It's Ralph Lauren!" RL is just the type of restaurant you want to visit with your girlfriends. Their martinis are basically huge glasses filled with vodka. The bread basket is a meal in itself. The service is attentive. The decor is classy. The menu is old-school American cuisine and you can feel free to dress up in your highest of heels to do a little of the "see and be seen" thing. I can get on board. For the newbies - For heaven's sake, get a martini. I mean... they're awesome. I recently had the lobster and scallop pasta. Are we breaking all the rules or reinventing the wheel? Nah. But you know what? Sometimes it's OK to enjoy the the classics without doing much to them. Service? Perfect. Prices? Well... it's not a cheap dinner. But I don't mind dropping a bit of $$ every now and then. read more

This is one of my favorite restaurants in town However today the service was poor. It took forever to order food and it took a long time for food to be served. We had to ask where our food was? I had to send my entree back 3x's and they finally got it right. read more

This is a review for lunch. The interior is very traditional and exudes attitude. The food was....a big disappointment. For all the attitude and price the food was not better than a neighborhood diner. Maybe their dinner menus are better but I have no desire to go back. Plus, the waiter charged us a lot more than he should have, which he fixed with an apology. read more

I came here for brunch with my parents and some family friends. I had the Quiche Lorraine but it was awfully dry. The thing that really turned me off about this place was the atmosphere. It was so overtly pompous and the clientele seemed quite impressed with themselves. The decor was something like New England Country Club meets Applebee's: there was stuff everywhere, meaningless junk on the walls, a fireplace that couldn't possibly be useful. There was nothing genuine about the place and I'd rather spend my time (and money) in a more welcoming establishment. read more

Shravi Ambati, Chicago Ralph Lauren Restaurant , classiest brunch ever.Loved the atmosphere,service & authentic old fashioned cocktails !! Much Respect to Mr Lauren from starting a fashion line to making entree into restaurant business. read more