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    RL Restaurant

    4.2 (1.1k reviews)
    Closed • 11:00 am - 11:00 pm
    Updated 2 months ago

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    Business Info

    RL RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Classy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - RL Restaurant

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    Inside
    Munsanje M.

    Had a girls night out here and it did not disappoint at all! Even with our reservation, we still had to wait 20 mins to be seated so that was a bit annoying but the service and food made up for it. We split a Cesar salad, calamari, and a burger. The burger was HUGE and so flavor as were all the appetizers!! I actually wasn't expecting everything to be delicious since it's right downtown but completely worth the hype. Our server was the sweetest and those blue cheese olives in our martini were delish! Not to mention, the actually restaurant itself had the best cozy, old money vibes that I just loved.

    Prime Filet Mignon (10 oz.) sliced
    Clare D.

    This is an amazing restaurant with a great filet mignon and escargots. Your steak comes with onion rings and a choice of three sauces. Go with the horseradish one and you will not be disappointed. A surprise plus is the roasted garlic. It is an amazing accompaniment to the steak. The escargot came with toast points. You can use these for dipping into the incredible oil and spices the escargots are bathing in. Total decadence. Our server catered to our special needs that day. We asked for our steak to be sliced and he accommodated us. Excellent service! The restaurant's ambiance is first rate. It's decorated nicely and feels very warm and inviting. A five star restaurant experience all the way.

    Dining area
    Samuel S.

    Definitely one of my favorites in this great city of Chicago. The staff is always pleasant and happy to serve you. From the valet person to your waiter everyone is excellent. My favorites from the menu are the calamari, the walleye, the perch, and the RL burger. The sides are family style and the sautéed garlic spinach and of the course the fries are my go to. I love this place. Perfect for drinks and conversation.

    The menu
    Leung Y.

    We got seated almost immediately since we have our reservation. It took another 6 minutes from seating before the waiter come and about our drink preference (bottled or tap). The seating was extremely crowded and noisy. Another few minutes before we get our bread baskets. The menu choice is extremely limited. 15 minutes later and still no one taking our order. The specials of the day was only directed to my spouse. Mind you that this was a 2 person reservation only (it's not a big party). I tried the bread basket. I took one bite and decided it is not even worth my effort of chewing, let alone the calories. That cheese crisp is not even crispy with one bite. The bread is not warm and is very dry. The butter is hard chunk cut out. The appetizer is decent. It is under seasoned but at least it is hot and coated correctly. The sauces with it was below average. 30 minutes later, our main is still not in sight. Another 10 minutes, our main came. We got the fried fish and salad with chicken. The dish is much better than the salad. The salad is crispy. The chicken is overly salty and dried. We also got the chocolate brownie, not a fan. As someone has a sweet tooth to put down the fork, you can imagine. Among all the restaurants we tried in Chicago, in terms of ambience, food, and service, Cindy's rooftop and the Shanghai Terrace are so much better. Seriously why can't there be any more good food and service at restaurants like Fred's at Barney's in the old days, or Eleven Madison Park anymore? The only reason I would think I would recommend this place is if someone is a big RL fan. This is almost like one of those restaurants in a theme park, all appearance and not taste.

    This is probably my favorite restaurant in the world. Everything about it is perfect--from the food and the décor to the exceptional service. What I love most about the food is how they take dishes that feel familiar and comforting and turn them into something elegant, special, and completely unique. Everything we've tried has been incredible. The atmosphere is just as special. The décor transports you to another era and makes the entire experience feel like so much more than just going out to dinner. My husband and I have been here four times now, and we make a point of coming back every time we visit Chicago. The service has always been exceptional, but if you're lucky enough to have Alberto or Jose taking care of you at the bar, they are THE BEST! They are incredibly attentive, warm, and genuinely kind--and they even remember you when you come back, which makes the experience feel even more special. I cannot recommend this place enough. 100% a must when you're in Chicago. Don't miss it!

    Espresso martini
    Abbey P.

    The food was top tier. The ambiance is so cute inside too it felt like we were sitting in someone's living room and the waiter made us feel right at home. It is so cozy you won't want to get up from your booth to leave. The burger was one of the best I've ever had in the city and the filet was cooked to perfection.

    Dinner
    Heather M.

    RL is a really fun experience. The food is fabulous, and the service was good. It's upscale, so you definitely get the feeling of being pampered there. We had a large group, and our server made sure we had fresh cocktails and wine often. We had a great time and would go again. Reservations are a must.

    Inside
    Kailey M.

    Perfect cozy winter spot. We were seated in the main dining room in the beautiful booths. We ordered the RL burger, mini Reuben's and lobster roll. Everything was good - the Reuben's were a fun touch on the menu and perfect for sharing. I did order a glass of wine and I swear it was champagne, but I was able to send it back. Overall it was quite pricey for what we ordered. But we came more for the vibes anyways.

    Pigs in a Blanket
    J E.

    I had heard good things about RL, so when given the chance to have a business lunch here, I was happy to attend. Checking in we were given a table in the main dining room and seated way before this place got completely packed, about 20 minutes later. The dining room reminded me of an upscale RL store, with wood walls, bookcases, and similar upscale library style décor. Service was great... helpful, very professional, and friendly. The menu was filled with many great options and just when I thought I selected what I wanted, our server told us about their specials, which included a sea bass sandwich, so I went for that instead! We started with their pigs in a blanket - They were GOOD!! The mustard that accompanied them really added a nice touch to the flavor and the dough they were wrapped in was flaky and tasty. Next up was a bowl of their tomato bisque, again - RALLY GOOD!! The goat cheese in it added a nice, sharp flavor for each bite. The sea bass sandwich was excellent too! The jalapeño on it added a nice spice and the fish was so very soft, flaky, and flavorful! The bun was incredible too... Overall, a great sandwich! I look forward to returning... Highly recommend making a reservation and joining them!

    Can you imagine a better Shrimp Cocktail?
    Lawrence M.

    How can this place still deliver tremendous fare, perfectly crafted drinks and wonderfully personal service after all these years??? Really not sure how, but they manage! The shrimp cocktail was plump and fresh, the BLT salad was huge and the bacon (really more like pork belly) was tasty and juicy. Love this place........never tire of it. Carly was the most amazing server....her first day and she killed it! Cheers!

    Fish
    Lisa L.

    We love the RL restaurant it's always a good experience and the food is delicious We tried the pasta for the first time It was very good and I had the fish which was good as well the ambience always adds to this restaurant experience which we love and will continue to return for

    Anne S.

    If you are lucky enough to grab a spot un the bar, definitely do! The wait staff is amazing, the drinks are divine and the food is delicious. I highly recommend getting a martini and the RL burger and enjoy the dimly lit atmosphere of the bar. If you happen to get the corner seat, you can do some fun people watching of shoppers in the retail store.

    Maria-Elena T.

    Review is for the bar. Came here for a pre-dinner cocktail with my cousins visiting from Italy. Can you get more American than Ralph Lauren?! Had not been here in years. And I mean many years! Never just sat at the bar so I did not remember the bar being so small but three of us got a seat right away. The turnover was fast. The bartenders were amazingly attentive and one even spoke Italian. Highly recommend!

    RL Burger

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    10 months ago

    A beautiful and warm environment! The food was outstanding. The staff was amazing and very welcoming and friendly.

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    Page 3 of 27

    RL Restaurant Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - RL Restaurant

    Possible to make any of the steak dishes without dairy/ butter due to allergies?

    How dressy do you have to be for lunch?

    Casual- everyone is dressed how you are up to evening, dressy date attire!

    Does the salad fill you up or is it just another appetizer/starter?

    The salad is a good size portion. You can have it as a meal.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    RL Restaurant - newamerican - Updated October 2026

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