Grabbed a quick lunch here and was very impressed. The interior is gorgeous, with a large bar as a focal point and several beautiful pieces of artwork. I ordered the grilled cheese with tomato soup which came out promptly with intentional plating. I was concerned that the portion would not be enough, but the sandwich was quite filling and I ended up taking the second half home as leftovers. The bread to sheep ratio was spot on, and the soup was a great amount of thickness. Granted there were only a few other diners, but the service was prompt and the server was very polite. Highly recommend it and I hope to be back soon! read more

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The Atrium here (not the bar area) is a great place for dinner after the Art Institute or before the theater. It's on the ground level of an historic building - The Railway Exchange, aka the Santa Fe Building, because it originally housed so many railroad offices. The space is absolutely beautiful, including a marble grand staircase. The glass dome 3 stories above you plus the ample space between tables meant that I could easily hear my wife even as it got more crowded. The menu is limited, but everything we ate was delicious. And Justin was an outstanding server! read more

The Exchange - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The atmosphere/ambiance is great with a choice of dining locations. We went at happy hour. The espresso martinis were good but it ended there. While the chicken was okay it was dry and the broccolini bland at best but well cooked. The fingerling potatoes lost their appeal in the sauce. My mom sent her cous cous salad back because it wasn't as listed in the menu and had zero cous cous in it but rather corn; yuck. The service was good but the food did not stand up to the atmosphere and feel. Equally the brussels spouts were not as good as I have had. They were steamed and then roasted???? Too mushy for roasted. Mom said her substitute chicken fingers exchanged for the salad was tasty. Would return. for cocktails read more

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Beautiful atmosphere. Our waiter was a kind, super helpful young man who answered my party's questions (we had a lot of good questions). One of my guest was pure vegan, and our waiter checked several times about the ingredients in several of the dishes and ensured it could be custom-made for her dietary needs. The Poke Bowl with crispy tofu was outstanding and the white hummus to start us off was gone in minutes. A very nice selection of drinks and our evening of four was reasonably priced. I will be bringing my husband here real soon. Thank you! read more

Stumbled in here randomly with coworkers when looking for a lunch spot and was pleasantly surprised! It is much bigger than it seems from the outside and the dark first room; we sat in a large beautiful space just past that. I will say it was a late lunch time on a weekday so they were not very busy at all, which probably helped. But service was good and so was our food. Large portions and a lot of options for everyone on the menu no matter what you're craving or dietary restrictions. I opted for the gnocchi with prosciutto on top which was super delicious. We had some of the hummus too which was good and had great sides. Overall really enjoyed our food and experience here. read more

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The food was good here my favorite was the dessert. I got to try their strawberry crème brûlée. That was like nothing I've ever tried before. It was delicious soft, flavorful and a beautiful color then I also enjoy the strawberry cheesecake. I had the Poke bowl that was flavorful, with fresh salmon. My coworker got the same thing and didn't leave a crumb. Another coworker of mine tried the tofu Shawarma and substituted for chicken and she her dish. That they was really busy and they were short staffed, but the service made up for it in the end. read more

I had the opportunity to try The Exchange as part of a work team lunch. The location is stunning, but the food left something to be desired, and the service missed the mark entirely. I'd ordered the Deluxe Burger, which, while it can be modified, comes cooked a standard way. Fair enough, let's go with standard. Giving credit where it is due, the meat was flavorful and well seasoned, though somewhere between juice and flip-flop. Now, while generally well assembled, thanks to the tomatoes and the pickle chips, the burger became slippery! Altogether, not great, but not terrible. The highlight was the fries; these were crisp, fresh, and well-seasoned with salt and herbs. While a mediocre burger is forgivable, the service working at a snail's pace while business was nearly dead is hard to excuse. I appreciate food takes time to cook, but sodas and check ins all came slowly, and I don't recall refills being offered at all. In terms of their vibe, the Atrium is stunning. It resembles that which one would expect in a restaurant five times as expensive. As a side note, some history on the building and space would be lovely. Speaking of prices, I felt that these were a little on the high side, though that is to be expected with the location. Final verdict: While there is potential, the Exchange delivers run-of-the-mill food, inattentive and lethargic service. They seemingly use the location as cover, so that patrons would be too busy being wowed they'd lose track of anything else. read more

Three Stars for the Sprouts, One Star for the Vibes I want to like this place--I really do. But my first visit felt like accidentally crashing a vampire book club. We walked in hoping for a lovely time in the atrium, but alas, it was closed for a private party. Fine. I get it. People like exclusivity. So we were ushered indoors to what I can only describe as the "Gothic Mustiness Lounge." It was dark. It was damp. It felt like the setting of a moody indie film where someone gets emotionally betrayed over a charcuterie board. Undeterred (okay, mildly deterred), we ordered light: roasted Brussels sprouts, a salad, and some tea. The sprouts came in hot, metaphorically and literally--crispy little flavor bombs. The salad? It was fine. It existed. The tea? It was... there. Let's just say, no one in our party was inspired to start a cocktail-fueled Yelp poetry slam. We ate fast and fled faster, possibly to escape a ghost. But hey--sprouts were good. So I might go back... with garlic, just in case. Okay I exaggerate a little!! read more

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I ordered the turkey club sandwich and it was really good -- classic, well-made, and the bread was excellent. But the star of the meal was easily the fries. They tasted like McDonald's fries if every single fry in the box was the perfect one -- crispy, golden, salty perfection. The only downside was the atmosphere. We came for lunch and were literally the only people in the entire restaurant. It felt a bit like eating in a fishbowl -- quiet, empty, and kind of awkward. That said, the food itself was great, and I'd definitely come back if the vibe picks up a little more during busier hours. read more

Great food but even better staff. We stopped in for lunch and drinks during OASIS weekend. Brie (Briensa?) was our server. She was funny, accommodating and a great representative of the Exchange. This place is gorgeous inside -- former railroad executive building -- and the cocktails are amazing Highly recommend! read more

The Exchange - Brie serving up Drinks in humor and style! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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When I first saw The Exchange, I was not sure how to receive it. I saw some pictures and read some of the reviews. I decided to try it out during restaurant week. Here is my review: Ambiance This place is beautiful. The venue itself is definitely a place you would see for fancy get together and weddings. The area where I was sat at was close to the front. That would be the area before the main dinning area. The place was slightly dark, which had a nice ambiance. I would say the issue would be that whenever someone would open the door, you do get a cold breeze that hits you for a little bit. Service The service was good. The hostess was courteous and the waitress was friendly. The staff also cleared the plates at a good pace where we did not have a bunch of empty plates around. One thing I would say was a little disappointing was that the waitress did stop by but did not ask us if we would like more water. The water carafe that was left was empty for about 1/2 of the meal and nothing was really mentioned. Food These were the items I got from restaurant week. Oysters The oysters were fresh and came with lemons and a minuet sauce. The sauce paired nicely with the oyster. The plating was whimsical as well. Pigs in a blanket This seemed like an odd item to serve as an appetizer. Instead of a pancake, they used a puff pastry and it was accompanied by a mustard sauce. The dish was flavorful and the mustard sauce worked well with the pigs in a blanket. The crispy puff pastry is a nice twist making the dish feel lighter. Roasted chicken You get a roasted chicken thigh and leg laying on some potatoes and covered with an au jus. There was a side of tzatziki sauce. This was a flavorful dish. The chicken had a nice crispy skin and potatoes and sauce. I liked the tzatziki sauce but it seemed more like an optional sauce but not really necessary. Pasta w/ bolognese sauce The pata was similar to a gemelo pasta and worked well with holding the sauce. The pasta was cooked perfectly for me with a nice toothsome feel. The sauce was a good bolognese and was topped with some cheese. Horchata tiramisu This dessert was a nice end to the meal. It was light and had a nice mild flavor. Comparing it to its original counterpart, the horchata has a more subtle taste compared to the espresso which can be appealing to those who would like a lighter flavor than being overwhelmed. Overall The food was good. I would say the ambience would out shine the service and the food. The service was good and I thought the food was prepared very well. read more

The Exchange - Roasted chicken with potatoes - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Beautiful space with many different options to enjoy the space. Service was great and the food was even better! We were genuinely surprised at how tasty the food was because the menu looks so basic but don't judge a restaurant by its menu lol We will definitely go back to try the other items. Great experience. read more

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It's great to see that the exchange is getting the love from social media. I just hope it just doesn't ruin it. It's such a great lunch spot.(I've never been for dinner.) located just south on Michigan Avenue a few minutes walk from all the local tourist spots and Chicago Symphony. I popped in and was seated in the atrium which is the preferred spot although I do like the front room also. I opted to have the Cobb salad with chicken added, and tossed. I also had a Coke, which was nice and cold and crispy. The server with dark brown hair and a ponytail about 5'4" was very friendly and helpful. This was on a Saturday afternoon and it got busy towards the end of the meal. Great soundtrack whoever's playing the music does a fantastic job. I would definitely come back for drinks or other meal options. I thought the salad tasted delicious. I thought the chicken was just OK overall. It wasn't served hot or anything more like room temperature to warm. Make sure to get it tossed. read more

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I had tomato bisque for lunch with a grilled cheese, and it was a little greasy but really really good! The service often takes a little bit, so don't come here if you're in a rush. Come here to enjoy the great architecture and take your time in a nice place. Their drinks are really good. read more

The service and atmosphere are great! My Asian Chopped Salad (v) was top notch! Fresh, flavorful, and filling - it was way too much food for me but I managed to eat most of it. So good. read more

The Exchange - Asian Chopped Salad (v) - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Dined here before a Friday show at the Auditorium Theater. We had reservations for 5:45pm and were seated promptly in the cafe area adjacent to the atrium. It was a warm cozy space. My friend arrived in time for the happy hour menu and ordered us Old Fashioned cocktails, crab cakes and Brussel sprouts--all were delicious. Our entrees were okay. The curry was less flavorful than expected. The truffle fries were perfect. The petite filet was cooked perfectly however the 5 spice or whatever it was in the sauce was a bit overpowering and I would have preferred it just with the herbed butter and more salt. It needed more salt and pepper imo. The yellow curry was barely spicy at all. The crispy tofu was flavorless. My friend tried mixing it up and adding salt but the curry was overall lacking in flavor. We were truly surprised as it came highly recommended by our server. We would have ordered dessert but time did not allow. Portions were generous. Overall this is an excellent place for drinks and apps, I would come back to try different entrees. You cannot beat the downtown location. Now the space is stunning and even more so decorated for Christmas. You can easily see how well suited it is for private events and weddings. I'm so glad we settled on this for drinks and dinner. It's really amazing to be able to dine in this architectural gem. Note: The Jackson street entrance is closed off after a certain time. I entered that way before 6pm and you'll see The Railway Exchange above the doors as you enter. After that the Michigan Avenue entrance and exit is your only option. read more

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Ehhhh! I wanted to like them so bad but I have to say they missed the mark. Let me be clear: The ambience is absolutely lovely! It's the peak of Chicago interior design and architecture. They have 3 areas. A cafe style, the main restaurant area, and smaller private bar. Pro-Tip 1: The main restaurant area carries a nice echo. Pro-Tip 2: The private bar is often rented out for bridal parties, etc. I spotted my server sitting multiple times. We had to find him at least once. He was the only one for the entire restaurant (we came for lunch). I ordered the turkey club + avocado. And it SO SALTY that I couldn't even finish the first half of it. I had to send it back. My wife pulled half the meat off hers and stuffed it down. I wasn't doing that. I asked for a regular bacon cheeseburger. It took the kitchen TWENTY MINUTES to bring out my new order. It took so long that I had to leave. After telling them I was leaving, it still took another 5-ish minutes. Apparently the manager told us that the chef was in a meeting. They apologized and gave us two drink cards for our next visit. read more

The Exchange - Turkey Club - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I came here with two friends for Chicago Restaurant Week for the $59/dinners!! The surroundings are so beautiful! It would've been more refreshing to see it in daylight too. I thought the courses were just alright! I appreciated the complimentary Prosecco. The shrimp was too salty and the restaurant weeks dessert items were out, so we had to settle on a basic chocolate spread and bread. :/ Our server was friendly though! read more

The Exchange - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is a lovely place to have a bite before going to the Symphony Center. Friendly staff. The food was fantastic. We had delicious tea. I saw they had a Smokey old fashion that look amazing, at least the presentation was cool. I cannot comment on the flavor. I didn't taste it. We had most of the appetizers and had to take some with us because the portions are quite large. We had lamb meatballs, the burrata, the shrimp, and one of the salads. Everything was amazing. read more

My boyfriend and I stopped by The Exchange before going to the Chicago Institute of Art. To drink (not pictured), we got a glass of wine. We struck up conversation with ur AWESOME bartender who made us lemon drop shots and welcomed us to Chicago with a warm shot of malort (IYKYK). Our bartender, whose name is escaping me, was kind enough to give us recommendations on where to grab dinner and go out on a Thursday night lol. For appetizers, we split the Buffalo cauliflower and Brussels sprouts. The cauliflower was tasty and paired well with the dip. The Brussels sprouts ware a hefty portion so be prepared! I hope we make our way back to Chicago soon! read more

The Exchange - Menu - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Was pleasantly surprised by this place and how expansive the restaurant is--it opens up into the center ballroom area that has a ceiling similar to the 3 Arts Club Cafe. It was very pretty and calming inside and maybe a good place for a wedding banquet? The menu didn't have a ton of dinner options (mostly sandwiches and some pastas). The bolognese was very filling, ask for a slice of lemon to squeeze over top. The BUNS were really good and you can't go wrong with tiramisu! Also happy to see a few good non-alc options :) read more

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Really great food! A bit pricey, but this is a higher end restaurant. Service was very nice. Even though the food is great I feel like this is more of a place that you go to for the atmosphere. read more

The Exchange - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Highly recommend this spot. We had dinner here prior to seeing the symphony. The staff were all very kind and attentive. They had a great happy hour going and our drinks were great, I had a red wine and my husband enjoyed the old fashioned. The ambiance was very welcoming and pretty. My husband had the special which was steak and frites and I had a chicken Cesar salad and the bread rolls were wonderful. Highly recommend! read more

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I chose this restaurant to have Valentine's Day dinner with my girlfriend, and it did not disappoint. I primarily chose this place because of the outstanding interior which was impressive. I honestly was not expecting the food to be all that because places like this usually have mediocre food, but I was proven wrong. We enjoyed every dish of the Valentine's Day pre fixed menu and were presently surprised by how good everything was. Also, the service was excellent as our waiter was attentive and served us with such care. read more

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Yes! Yes! Yes! Very welcoming! A gem! Great menu! Great vibes! Gorgeous building! Great drinks! Great food! Beyond amazing service! Felt like old friends gathering...The chef brings out the dish himself (that's amore!) - Did I mention awesome vibes?! In the center dining area there's indoor trees and a piano man! Very classy chill vibes there...the entrance room is where the community vibes were high with great record selection playing...really, four great atmospheres for various enjoyable moods..all beau! Awesome crew! S/O to Erin & Jake! Even the guest rocked! Will definitely be back! read more

The Exchange - Came here after work at the art institute, reading homework...having lunch, captured some cool shots. Great vibes! - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Such a gorgeous space! I went for cocktails and the cocktails were also gorgeous, and delicious! This place is such a retreat that I felt like I had no idea what was happening outside and frankly didn't care. The setting and the cocktails were all I needed! read more

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Lovely space with great food and service. I usually sit in the first area which feels like a smaller restaurant and has a warm and cozy feeling. This time I was seated in the atrium area which was big and open and airy. And they had a piano player! Nice vibe. Great food and drink choices. Highly recommend. read more

Location was flame. The middle section is a beautiful area with high ceilings and lovely seating. It is a public area, likely used by an office building so it doesnt receive high foot traffic but it will have people walking around. Food wasnt bad, I wasnt blown away by it but it was like the taste of an average expensive restaurant. Service was good and burrata was good, but burrata is usually good :) read more

The Exchange - Rigatoni - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Exchange is where you bring guests to impress! In the heart of the Loop, you'll find a STUNNING space (good for events) and a spectacularly flavorful menu! Simple, but packed with taste! Of course, the staff are kind, friendly, and just the right amount of attentive-ness. Pictured: American Grilled Cheese, Brussels Sprouts (with grapefruit, star anise, and cilantro), Butternut Squash Soup with Prosciutto (an amazing level of spice) read more

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Met up with a couple of friends for a Sunday brunch. I didn't know The Exchange existed. it's a beautiful bright space. Loved the decor. Our server, Kathleen was great! Brunch is a prix fixe menu tapas/dim sum style. For 3 people, most of the items came out in 2s. We weren't sure if there would be enough food, but like most multi-course meals, you definitely are full toward the end! :) The bread items were delicious. I'm more of a savory breakfast person so I enjoyed the savory items more. But the sweet items were great, too. I don't think there was a dud in the bunch. Everything was nicely cooked and seasoned. I forgot to take photos of most of the courses. With my rose, tax, and tip, it was about $80/person so it's not cheap. But if you're looking to a nice brunch, I don't think you'll be disappointed read more

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The Exchange is located in a unique building with an interesting story. It's convenient to a variety of arts and culture destinations on Michigan Ave. It's got good atmosphere. Our lunch selections were relatively simple, Grilled Chicken Sandwich, Caesar Salad, and some shared fries. The food quality was good and the prices reasonable. Our server was just the right amount of attentive. And, this might be a bit weird to call out, the disposable hand towels in the bathroom felt luxurious, like cloth; a nice touch. I wanted to make this a 5-star review but the walk to and from the bathroom went through an unused bar area with an excess of stacked chairs that detracted a bit from the rest of the experience. Overall, if the opportunity presents itself to return, I'll come back to The Exchange without hesitation. read more

This review is solely for the brunch section of the restaurant I've been hearing good things about this newly opened brunch place that sets inside the old architecture foundation of Chicago. It happens that one of my good friend Who is always alert of new restaurant and bar openings recommended that we check out this establishment for brunch. And it happens that one of my other really good friend sent me a bucket list on brunch places to go in Chicago this summer. So you could imagine my excitement and eagerness to try out this new spot! My friend had made a 1pm rsvp for brunch ( brunch is ayce butler style-- which means that your waitress or other servers brings food from the kitchen. ) you can order the food with your waitress of course, but it appeared to me that they did not come to our table often? The brunch time limit is 90 mins and it runs from 10-2. We both got there a little late and everything was extremely rushed. The food was definitely enough to fill the belly with one item each from the brunch menu. However, the fact that we opted for the bottomless mimosa ($20 pp) and that we only had one glass each into our meal, the waitress refused to bring us a carafe ....I understand it's closing time but by the time we waited for her to come back( waited for 10 min or more) the time was obviously cut short. The most dissatisfying fact that I didn't realize when my friend booked the rsvp that with our reservation there was clearly not enough time for a 90 min seating ! And even worse if you are stuck behind a Memorial Day parade( has anyone ever heard of one? ) that runs across wacker ---which cuts off my friends Lyft that was coming from across the river..... The atmosphere was nice. I loved the atrium feel and there was live jazz playing. ( maybe we got there too late but there was only one guy playing a string instrument. What happened to the person on the piano?) There was approximately 5 tables occupied out of roughly 13. Me and my friend both thought that some of the food items tasted like it was out of the microwave or we would have had better luck getting a bite from Trader Joe's? The reason I give it 3 stars is because it's still a nice spot to take your out of town friends for brunch and enjoy the Chicago interior architecture. Nor is it bad to take your mom or mother In laws for a fancy weekend brunch:). I would knock off one star for the service( from the less than thoughtfulness of the reservation time to the servers attitude ） another star was knocked off for the quality of the food read more

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We just celebrated our niece's XVnera here. The entire staff was so amazing to work with. They made our vision come true, food was absolutely delicious, and drinks to celebrate were on point! Thank you to the amazing Exchange staff- Alyssa, Christan you guys were amazing! read more

Pros: the ambience and interior design was super regal. Taking place at a fancy lobby with marble stairs made the experience feel very special. Lots of people were celebrating graduation and birthday. The food options were delicious and each dish had a unique flavor profile. The brunch is unlimited and food kept coming. My favorite were the desserts and creamy scrambled eggs Cons: the service can be a bit slow and the staff somewhat unenthusiastic. This may be due to the younger, more "gen Z" attitude of the staff. I would have expected such a beautiful restaurant to have more friendly, engaging staff. read more

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Friday night dinner reservation with a friend before watching a show. We came in through a side door and felt like we were crashing a party (there was a private event happening) but quickly got guided to the right spot and were seated right away. My friend had the trickster and I had the petal pusher for cocktails. My drink was super refreshing and tasty. Shared the burrata which came with a deliciously huge piece of bread. For dinner, I had the gnocchi and my friend had the carbonara. Over all, we had a lovely time. read more

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Not at all an "audiophile experience"... even if you aren't coming in expecting a proper Japanese HiFi listening room, it's a struggle to hear any music over the din of diners. I don't think they should bill themselves as a listening room. It's just a bar. With cocktails that are priced higher than they should be. They have the classics, but unless done to perfection, not worth the $15 each since there aren't specialty ingredients or bartender innovations. It was too noisy for me to feel like staying for dinner. I ordered the cauliflower for some veggies (hard to come by on a vacation diet). It would have been a well-composed plate but the cauliflower was unfortunately overcooked and it was both slightly too sweet and too salty. Service was very kind though: although she was primarily behind the bar, she came to check on where I was seated at a table by the window an appropriate amount of times. read more

The Exchange - Bars Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Enjoyable meal in the atrium part of the restaurant. Sandwiches were solid, the cobb salad had the good stuff under the lettuce.

food was very good. service was good except when I was leaving a server was rude to me while I was ordering a uber. he insisted I move and the whole area was empty. I have a disability and I needed to sit to order. it is a beautiful space. read more

Came here for the ambiance and it was closed off for an event unfortunately. We sat in the main room, we had a larger group, and it was soooooooo loud. We could barely hear one another. Staff was pretty quick with everything though! To drink I ordered an aperol spritz, solid start! We had the lamb meatballs which were very yummy as well! For the main I ordered the tofu dish. This was the most average dish ever. I could make this better at home. I would not come back here. Food is below average. Vibes were not good due to it being closed and too loud. read more

We tried this place yesterday- a Friday afternoon before and then again after a matinee at Symphony Center. It's location is excellent- next door to Symphony Center on Michigan Avenue and it's across the street from the Art Institute. The service was very slow, but very friendly. If you need something, ask for it early and be patient. If you need something fast, go up to the bar and get it. As for the food, we got a couple of different salads. Rave reviews for the cobb salad with grilled chicken. As for the farro salad with crispy tofu, it was only so-so. The tofu was completely tasteless, and the farro salad had none of the black rice that I was excited to order (there were black sesame seeds though- did they think we wouldn't know the difference, maybe?). We didn't try it, but the grilled cheese looked and smelled divine. Drinks: we got the classic and the special house old fashioned. They can smoke either one. They were fine, but didn't feel special enough for a $17 price tag. The real reason to go here is the atmosphere. The space is gorgeous. They seated us in the front restaurant area and we didn't ask to be moved, which is a shame. It was rather loud next to the speaker, and it's a pretty space, but doesn't hold a candle to the rest of their spaces. The large atrium is gorgeous- a work of art in a building that is already a stunning work of art. The look of the skylights and the leaded glass doors were gorgeous. Very light and airy with great design in the tables and chairs and lounge seating. It's not a private space, though, so if you object to your groups coming through, be warned. The second bar was prettier and had a better atmosphere, but we didn't spend time there. All in all, we concluded that it's a gorgeous space and in a perfect location. We hope that they're able to iron out the kinks, because if they can, this will be a place we revisit time and again for years. read more

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