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    The Lakefront Restaurant

    3.7 (178 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Lakefront Restaurant Photos

    THE LAKEFRONT RESTAURANT ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Trendy
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - The Lakefront Restaurant

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    Chocolate and vanilla bread pudding
    Melani S.

    We just happened upon this place, but I honestly can't say enough good things about it. The location, gorgeous. Only downside, all the outdoor tables were full, but we got to sit inside next to a giant window and see the beautiful views. The service is what I really want to boast about! I have yet to experience better service anywhere to be honest. The recommendations were all incredible, our server was kind, friendly, knowledgeable and even gave us great local recommendations for the remainder of our time in Chicago. He took time to actually connect with us, and honestly, his spirit, laugh, and humor were such a pleasant treat after some not great interactions in other areas. The food! Wow. The brisket dip was amazing, the chicken fried chicken, delicious and the lobster roll was great as well. The appetizers were delicious, and the chocolate and vanilla bread pudding, the best we have had. The prices were fair for the generous portions for sure and overall this has been our best meal and dining experience in the last 5 days. If you are in the area, definitely a must try, and even if you aren't, head on over! You won't be disappointed. They also have a huge drink selection, and valet parking to make life easier. Overall a 10/10. We loved it.

    Garden Salad  red onion, cucumber, tomato - very fresh !!
    Kristy D.

    I wish I would have been coming here more often! It's not too pricey, but the food is really good! Tasty and great service every time so far. I finally dined outside recently and I loved the vibe and the service. Drinks were strong and I did enjoy a cheeseburger with fries and shared a few other items. Located in the Lakefront- I think everyone should visit here at least once

    karina k.

    The place is beautiful! I can't wait to come here when it's warm bc it's right on Lake Michigan so the views are amazing. Today it's 2/5/2025 and it's cold in Chicago but the night view is pretty also w the lights on the restaurant and the outdoor seating area. Inside it's cozy and warm. Even the bathroom has a heater that was on so it was nice and warm while washing hands. It's a huge space and great for weddings and parties. And the reason they have 5 stars?! They have a great chef who doesn't over salt the food! And the flavors are very good. We had Poblano beef stew $19 and the flavors were popping! The tomato sauce was cooked for a good while bc you can taste how much love and variety went into just the base of the stew. The rice was done just right and the carrots were stewed well where they didn't smell or taste like carrots which I hate. And the addition of fresh cabbage and sprouts and the soft cooked butternut squash was a perfect add in. The beef was tender and cooked well ... just wished there was more beef in this dish. The elote (corn) was good also with cheese on top ... just a bit too much lemon maybe? But either way the corn was tasty. The Cobb salad $16 had high quality chicken that did not taste like plastic petrified stressed out chicken but it was tender and tasted real. I usually ask for dressing on the side but forgot but it was ok bc they didn't drench it in dressing thank you. And it was tasty. The chicken Tinga tacos $14 were very filling with a ton of good chicken (again) and a tiny dab of cheese and dab of cilantro but it needed a little more veges in there like onions and more cheese would have been nice. The cheesecake was very unique and good! Toasted grapes with rose petals and fresh cream and graham cracker like base for the cake. I wished a little less graham cracker crust and a little more cheesecake. I wasn't sure about the taste of the rose petals with the cheesecake but it was interesting but the grapes were very good and brought a nice juicy flavor to the gooey cheesecake. But it was very good on the whole.?Overall a romantic and nice experience w good food and ambience and lovely staff who were attentive. Thankful to be able to dine out.

    Amazing service, great food, and outstanding cocktails! Best view in the city! Love Lakefront Restaurant!

    Corn & Cauliflower Arancini (Front)   Pesto Chicken Sandwich
    Robert B.

    As you can see from the pictures the view is amazing! Our server was great, but really it felt like everyone was asking if we needed anything, clearing our table or refilling our water. The Lakefront Aperol Spritz and Corn & Cauliflower Arancini are a must order!

    Fish and chips
    Sarah M.

    I love coming here for brunch or dinner. The service is always great and the views are just spectacular. I came here on Mother's Day and had a great meal. We started with bread service, which was better than I expected. It was fantastic. I even took some home and had it the next day with some eggs . For my meal, I got the steak dish which was a special and maybe not always be on the menu and it was delicious. My husband got the fish and chips and really liked it. Can't wait to come back. It's always such a great time .

    brunch nachos & donut holes
    Joseph S.

    Everything we ordered here was pretty good. I got the brunch nachos and an entree that I do not remember the name of but I will say that these nachos made it for me. Although they are listed as an appetizer I would recommend getting those brunch nachos as the main entree because it was seasoned correctly and had everything you could ever want and more. There was just enough sauce and ingredients that no chip was left behind. The donut holes were a bit doughy and not enough cinnamon or sugar. The entree was not really memorable. This place is cute for a brunch with the besties or a date. The service was great. The server gave us the perfect amount of attention and moved quickly whenever we needed anything.

    Generous wine pours
    Susan W.

    This place is actually 3-star for food, but ambiance and service make up for it. I didn't take photos of the food because we were in a rush. The servings are exceptionally large and tastes generally fine, but I wouldn't waste my calories in the future. Our server was excellent and very attentive and I will say our drinks were delicious. Wine is a generous pour. The weather wasn't great, but the giant windows would make for spectacular views under better conditions. Parking is $10 for valet or you have to walk a short distance to find street options. We probably won't make our way back unless we happen to be walking by and decide to stop for a drink.

    Hugo Spritz & patio
    Emily T.

    I can't wait to return! This was a recommendation for us to check out & we came for an early happy hour. We got Hugo Spritz & sat on the patio. I'd imagine this place gets jammed when it's warm out (it was a chilly June evening) I didn't try the food yet, but I want to come back! The service was great & you literally can't beat the view. Great drinks & a great place!

    Pineapple Mojito - Highly Recommended
    Ernie H.

    You come here for the view, you come here for the ambiance, you come here because it's right at the lake with the panoramic skyline. The food is almost secondary because it's was just OK. We had brisket dip and the fish and chips. The drinks however were excellent namely the Pineapple mojito and the freshly made Sangria. Wednesday nights as a bonus you get the Navy Pier fireworks at 9:30 at least during summer. Table time maxes out at 90 mins so book an 8pm reservation to finish your meal with the fireworks. My apologizes I don't have good pics of the food

    Bread and butter
    Laurynn B.

    My girlfriend and I were walking along the Lake shore enjoying the weather and we decided to come in for a few quick bites. Instantly, we loved the atmosphere and the views of the lake. A perfect place to do some people watching or even to watch a sports game. We were seated immediately, however it took about 35 minutes for a waiter to come greet us. It wasn't particularly busy, maybe about three tables were seated. It was only until after we tried talking to the hostess. We ordered dryers elote tostadas and bread and butter. The elote had a great flavor and the fresno chilies were a nice sweet heat. I was disappointed that it was just in a simple tortilla chip, but it was tasty. There were three different types of bread in the assortment. I wasn't a huge fan of 2/3 of the breads, but it made for a good small bite. I don't think I'll be rushing to return, but it's definitely a cute place on the water.

    Fullerton Feelings cocktail - gin, agave, lime, cucumber, dill, and tajin. Really yummy!
    Kendra M.

    Gorgeous views and a nice patio, and great service. But holy overpriced! My table had two cocktails ($14 each), the chicken tinga tacos ($14) and the fish and chips special ($18). There were only TWO (2!!) tacos and about eight tortilla chips in that $14 order. They were good and fresh but not worth the price at all. The fish and chips were actually really tasty and meaty, but they were about the size of half a fish stick, and there were only 3. Maybe worth the $14 taco price but definitely not $18. We both had the Fullerton Feelings gin cocktail and it was delightful. I would maybe come back for just drinks, or do appetizers with a larger group, but definitely not a meal.

    John G.

    They've done a pandemic pivot to a lighter menu and have one of the most beautiful outside seating areas in Chicago. They have an expansive space around the Theatre by the Lake and an overhead roof. We started with their deviled eggs which we have always liked and a nice cheese plate. The entrees are more like comfort food than the fancier menu from before. I had the shrimp sandwich roll which was light, fresh, and delicious. The side was a terrific roasted red pepper dip and chips. Others had the hamburger, and raved about it, the tacos were a hit from fish to veggies. We finished by sharing a chocolate Carmel cake. The have valet parking for $10. It's right off LSD so there isn't any close by parking. This place has a wonderful setting. Right on the lake and watching the bikers, runners, and walkers on the trails.

    Food with a side of dog poop. That's after clean up.

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    2 months ago

    Very very clean place amazing food great service highly recommend during the day amazing view

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    1 month ago

    Beautiful view of the lake, parking lot, good food but limited menu. That's all I have to say.

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    Ask the Community - The Lakefront Restaurant

    Are kids ok to bring? I have a 5 month old who would stay in a car seat.

    I would think so--the setting is the Chicago park district, so we went in our cubs attire....and here's outdoor seating...

    What should I wear?

    Casual clothes. During the morning/brunch hours lots of people in bikewear.

    Have a parking lot?

    Yes, provided there's an event at the restaurant. There's also street parking on cannon drive.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Lucky Dorr - Pollyanna Brewery Casey At The Bat And Pretzel

    Lucky Dorr

    4.3(44 reviews)
    2.0 miWrigleyville, Lakeview
    $$

    Good place for those who like baseball history. It's literally next to Wrigley Field and is open…read moreeven when no game is being played. Lucky Dorr has reasons to come besides baseball, and you don't have to be a fan to have a good time. A lot of choices from local breweries. There's also some ballpark style food like pretzels and junk. Curious about this, we made our way here when there wasn't a game. It was actually pretty chill and laid back with almost no one at the bar and patio. This is located next to the Cubs statues. Go check those out whether you're a fan of the team or just baseball in general. Those who don't care about the loser team can still enjoy the offerings. It's about $8 a pint, which is a bit of a ripoff, but expected with the location. There's selections from local breweries such as Pollyanna. Also there's food. It's $8 for a big ass Pretzel. Even if you don't like the Cubs, it's a nice little bar. It's open during the season even when there's not a game. The beer is a good sample of the local breweries, plus they have pretzels that are good for sharing.

    We were in town for the Dead and Company shows and hit this place up. Their beer is excellent and…read morethe staff couldn't have been nicer. Door guy had beer recommendations for us, so we already knew what to order. Nice that they were still serving in actualy glassware despite being really busy. Hit this spot if you are a craft beer fan and near Wrigley.

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    Lucky Dorr
    Lucky Dorr - Facing Wrigley Field

    Facing Wrigley Field

    Lucky Dorr - Mahalo

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    Mahalo

    Gman Tavern  - Party central

    Gman Tavern

    4.1(208 reviews)
    2.2 miLakeview
    $$

    Only giving two stars because of the lovely bartender that served us (didn't catch their name)…read more There was however, another bartender (blonde) that seemed to have some issue with my friend and I being in the bar. We came in around 1:15am, thinking this would be a cool bar to end the night. The first bartender informed us that last call was approaching. We only wanted one round, so we immediately closed out after ordering. That bartender was very attentive and pleasant during the entire transaction. At 1:50am, the other bartender (who wasn't even serving us/hadn't spoke to us) came over and said we needed to start chugging. Her words: "I'm not going to tell you to get the f* out, but you need to chug". She kept telling us we needed to chug, and I kindly told her I wasn't chugging anything because we already paid and I can literally just leave. She brought up the bar closing soon (we already heard the very loud announcement for last call). She proceeded to blame it on having a bad day. Mind you, someone next to me literally just came in, and was being served. She tried to back out of it and kept repeating we'll know when it's time to go. I'm not sure what kind of establishment this is, but she didn't say anything to anyone else but us, the only two Black women at the bar at the time. I don't understand why she felt like it was okay to direct her "bad day" at us, sitting there calmly with two half drunken beers, while there were plenty of other people still up and active at the bar. The behavior displayed, completely unacceptable.

    Why pay $20 for an Old Style draft pour inside Wrigley Field when you can pay $8 for 12oz of Hamms…read moreand a generous pour of Four Roses at Gman? Duh?! Stretch your dollar and come spend it at Gman!

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    Gman Tavern  - Down the street....heaven

    Down the street....heaven

    Gman Tavern  - Celebrating Jay and Lauren

    Celebrating Jay and Lauren

    Gman Tavern  - Glenrothes absolutely delicious

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    Glenrothes absolutely delicious

    The Lakefront Restaurant - breakfast_brunch - Updated May 2026

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