Five awesome stars. We came here on a sunday afternoon without reservation just for dessert. Here's the catch. We're a party of 13 (8 crazy kids and 5 tired parents). We didn't get the middle seats because we know that we have kids and no complaint here. The staff really took care of us. They accommodated us nicely. We ordered ice creams, chef desserts tasting and mix cookies for the kids. The adults pretty much just ordered drinks. After a long day we just want to lay back and chill. Everything was perfect. Again, no complaint here. Wish I took a picture of the desserts but with 8 kids total, it's pretty much impossible. read more

The Lobby - Irish Coffee. Delish! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

A wonderful luxury dining experience. I just had a very relaxing breakfast here. The large windows and views of the Hancock Tower were lovely. I appreciated the complementary Chicago Tribune, Wall Street Journal, and New York Times brought to my table upon request. The high ceilings are a wonderful touch. The food was very good. The staff was highly attentive. I would absolutely return to this place. read more

The Lobby - The Peninsula Breakfast ($38). Includes coffee, toast, two eggs, meat, tomatoes, yogurt with berries, toast, and juice. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I've been here twice for brunch and I'm a fan! First off, the Pen Kids area is so cute! My kids loved the mac and cheese cups, cheese pizza, pbj and the unlimited desserts! (Daughter loved the gummy bears). We did the Thanksgiving Brunch and the menu was amazing. Lobster Benedict with truffle and caviar, white truffle risotto.. I was in truffle heaven! I loved the peking duck and think I ate it 6 times. The cheese tables was so much fun! Brunch was at 10:30 a.m. and it wasn't that crowded. Our waitress mentioned that we came at a good time because it gets really busy later on. We will definitely be back. read more

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Reservation can be made online at their website. We went on a slow day. The tables are widely spaced it doesn't feel crowded, music is on low so you feel relaxed. The dinner menu has equal number of starter, salads and sandwiches, looks like a lunch menu. They did not have broccolini as a side but we asked and they did it. Their flexible if it's on the menu. Everything we ordered was good. Our waiter was fantastic he's patient and does offer suggestions. They offered valet but there's meter parking (cheaper option) around the area if you don't plan to stay longer than 3 hours, paid about $15. read more

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Unfortunately we didn't have a five star experience. My mother and grandmother were in town for the weekend and I wanted to show them the best Christmas decorations in town. After reviewing several articles, the Peninsula came up many times for some of the best decorations. Decorations definitely 4.5 stars; very classy not terribly over the top. Service was excellent. Food just so-so, Now I will say we only ordered two dishes of dessert, we did not have dinner or the $40 chocolate bar. The dessert was just okay; my grandma even made a comment that she could get it from her local Hy-Vee lol Atmosphere was good, except all the bratty children running around and screaming and running into people, chairs ruined it. Their parents either oblivious or so entitled they think they can do whatever they want did nothing. I wish the wait staff had some gusto to respect everyone else's experience! read more

Amazing afternoon tea service. We're in Chicago celebrating my boyfriend's birthday (a bit belated). The servers, especially Erik, went above and beyond to make him feel special. The sandwiches and desserts were delicious, as was the tea. My boyfriend mentioned that he loved one of the quiches, so at the end of our meal, the server brought us a few extra to take home. So thoughtful! Would definitely return again and recommend the afternoon tea service to our friends! read more

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I have found my new favorite breakfast dish. I wasn't sure how I'd ever top the lobster croissant found at Margeaux but I should've know shaved truffles would be the ticket. To make the dish even MORE decadent there sits a generous amount of caviar on top which adds an extremely creamy element to the dish. The star of the show is undoubtedly the truffles but there is but one component of the dish that's wasn't satisfactory. The potatoes served with are a complete contrast to an amazing entree. They were extremely dry & tasteless. I expected a side that accompanied the lobster to be just as decadent but nonetheless it didn't deter my review. I read many complaints regarding the service & while my server wasn't the best I've ever experienced she definitely wasn't the worse. There's available street parking a block to the west of the hotel for those who don't want to shell out valet costs. read more

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Weekend chocolate buffet review: nice ambiance - check. exclusive and unique experience - check. those are the 2 stars awarded. Where are the other 3 stars? service - it took 20 minutes and a trip to the hostess stand to finally get some water in our glasses. Another 10 mnts and very rude waving to get a menu. chocolates - from reading the other Yelpers' reviews, seems like we had an exceptionally bad night here - just a few truffles, 4 cakes and some chocolate-covered nuts/spices. We were expecting a chocolate fountain, some fruits, a few real desserts and something, anything, at least one thing, to eat and say WOW... but there was none. value for money - seriously, $38 per person for a couple of pieces of truffle i can buy at a store, of my own choice!? That money cannot be justified being paid for ambiance alone!! They said nothing besides black coffee was included to drink.. to me, that's already ruining the chocolate-buffet experience because after paying $38, they expect you to pay for milk and/or tea and/or cappuccino and/or champagne!? Great idea, but very poorly run! I wonder if their real pastry chef has left and now they have a mediocre novice as a replacement? read more

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5 stars easily. My friends took me here for afternoon tea to celebrate my birthday. I've never experienced true "Afternoon Tea" service and now the bar is set high for future tea services in other establishments. What I loved was that we were able to linger past the 5pm service time. Tea service is from 330 to 5pm on weekends and when I glanced at the time I couldn't believe it was half past 5 and no one was shooing us out. It was a super relaxing afternoon with impeccable service. Our service tray held finger sandwiches (smoked salmon, chicken salad, cucumber, egg salad--my fave was the chicken salad). And the sweets included a passion fruit tart, a lemon meringue puff, raspberry sweet, a cranberry sweet and other assorted mini tarts. The basket of warm orange scones was delicious as well. Our choices for tea was a bit overwhelming, but our server was very helpful and our table decided on a vanilla tea, a golden chamomile and a mandarin rose. They kept the teapots full so we were able to sample each other's tea and each was so aromatic and delicious. Sugar cubes, honey, milk, lemon wedges for the teas, and clotted cream, lemon curd, raspberry jam for our scones--little touches just added to the decadence of the service. The space is beautiful--the huge windows let in so much light. The table settings were sleek, but tasteful. And the seating was so comfortable. Since it was my birthday, I also received a chocolate mousse dessert shared with the table that was so rich but so light. And our server sent us home with extra scones (bonus!) Easily one of the most delightful afternoons I've had in a long time. read more

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Food: 4 Decor: 5 Service: 5 I came here for Saturday lunch, $22, during Chicago Restaurant Week with three of my friends. Parking at the Peninsula is $26, $23 with validation, but there is garage next door that's only $12 for all-day parking if you arrive before noon. 1. Assorted appetizers http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VZRNSAoPrg_CNiCtMNSlyw?userid=2fN8mN7uUjOw-QqtcgYqXQ Delicious. As Jenny H mentioned, there were butternut squash veloute, grilled veggies, salads, cheese and charcuterie, breads and crackers. My favorite were probably the salad and crackers. Those crackers were so addicting. 2. Seared scallops http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VZRNSAoPrg_CNiCtMNSlyw?select=oGqDbEZvxvFJmFc8zZM_zg Okay. Good scallops, but I would have liked them seared a lot more. Only the top was seared. 3. Assorted desserts http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VZRNSAoPrg_CNiCtMNSlyw?select=OhODtNTouaI3zHVjWSV3vQ Pretty good. Cupcakes, mousse, macarons, chocolate expresso beans, and chocolate-covered almonds. Macarons were a bit dry. Service was excellent. The scallops and desserts were the only thing keeping me from giving 5 stars. read more

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I came here for restaurant week (2015) with friends on a Sunday evening. Upon arrival, we were given options to either sit at the bar, sit at the table (while waiting for our friends to arrival), or sit at the side. The customer service was great from the start to end. Restaurant Week Food -great presentation and great food! Appetizer: Beet Salad: a variety of different beets (including beet marshmallow), yum.. absolutely enjoyed it! Enjoyed the entree options as well as dessert options. Portions: small - especially for big eaters, you might be hungry after the meal. Great date location! :) I would come here again. read more

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My mom and I have a tradition of going to High Tea every year around the holidays and this year we chose The Lobby. I am only giving The Lobby 3 stars because compared to a few other high tea spots in the city I felt as though it was just average. For $60/pp I expected a better experience. I thought the service was just okay, nothing extraordinary and definitely slow at times. The tea itself was amazing (5 stars in itself)! I ordered the Orange Jasmine and my mom had the Mandarin Rose Petal both were exceptional. I loved that the hot water was refilled quite frequently but I think I drank way too much tea at the end of the experience. The food was just average; I have had better at high tea service. We had cucumber sandwiches (I thought they lacked in flavor), a shrimp sandwich in a mini brioche bowl (too fishy), Smoked Salmon sandwich (average), butternut squash (it was baked in a mini pie crust, it was good!) and there was also a ham and cheese sandwich with a cranberry garnish (surprisingly it was my favorite and I don't typically eat pork). They offered to refill the sandwiches and I did ask for seconds of the ham and cheese. Aside from the sandwiches there were fresh baked scones and pastries. I absolutely loved all the pastries (they were perfect) and the scones were absolutely delicious. At the end of our tea service they brought out a chocolate soufflé that was to die for it was chocolate heaven. It came out a little too late and we did not have room for it but we managed a bite and wow!!! All in all, the tea and pastries were delicious but I did not love the tea sandwiches or the environment. I think my expectations were a tad bit too high and the experience did not match the price of the package. read more

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As you walk into the lobby at the peninsula, the first thing to catch your eye is the grand architecture and the pillars which give the ambiance a Greek theme. The breakfast was served with utmost care to each detail and the food was amazing alongside the freshly squeezed green juice. read more

The Lobby - Huevos Rancheros - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The food was great but I think they were really short-staffed. We stayed at The Peninsula and the chocolate bar came highly recommended. I read up on the details and saw that the chocolate bar was offered after dinner at the Lobby so I made reservations on Open Table. The ambiance was great! They had live music that night (which I wish I got their info because I would've bought their CD) and they were fantastic! We should've known upon sitting down that the service would be off that night since it took a little bit of time to get greeted after we were sat and had the menus. We placed our orders and waited for some time before we got our drinks. The server came by and apologized and said there was a mix up at the bar and that our drinks would be coming out shortly. We waited a bit more and finally got our drinks. Then we waited a bit more to get our soups. We noticed that it was the same 3 servers helping all the tables at the whole restaurant. I noticed some people left and the turnover was faster compared to us still waiting for our entrees. So I'm not sure if they left because it took too long or otherwise. After a long wait, we got our food and it was worth the wait (trying to stay positive). We all ordered the steaks and it was prepared to perfection. The server did stop by and check on us and at that point everything was good and didn't need anything else. Unfortunately, things got worse and we waited for at least 30 minutes for anyone to come by. We were low on drinks and we still wanted to do the chocolate bar. I looked at my watched and saw that we only had 30 minutes left before they closed it so I was starting to get worried. We were finally able to wave someone over and we said that we wanted to do the chocolate bar so they said that they'll be back to clear the dishes and give us new silverware for dessert. After 10 minutes, there was still nothing and I can see them running around helping other tables. It wasn't like they didn't care, it was simply a staffing issue and there just weren't enough hands to take care of all the guests. At this point, I was a little frustrated so my sister and I got up and took a look at the chocolate bar for desserts and then we ended up getting the hot chocolate from the hot chocolate station. We exchanged conversation with the nice lady that made us our drinks. I asked her if she knows where we can get forks for dessert and she said no problem, I'll bring one over. She ended up helping the rest of the people in her line and we were so grateful for her coming back with the fork. She took a look at our table and saw that it was still filled with our dinner plates and I felt so bad but she apologized and started clearing out the table. Our server did end up coming back and apologizing for everything and ended up giving us a 20% discount but at this time the damage was done and we just wanted to get out of there. The whole experience was just unfortunate. We had really looked forward to this dinner and the chocolate bar but since we were mostly frustrated and irritated the rest of the evening, it was really difficult to enjoy it. In other circumstances I know I would've loved this place and have given it 10/5 stars! I'm sad that it didn't work out. The food and desserts were quite delicious. read more

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I dined here as a party of 3 on a Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate a Birthday. Atmosphere just lovely and service was wonderful. The Lobby is a restaurant located in the Peninsula Hotel. We had ordered cocktails while perusing the menu. Appetizers were the Chef special Steak Tartare, and Baby Iceburg Salad. Entrees were the Foie Gras Terrine, roasted Sea Scallops, and a 1/2 order of Three Cheese Agnolotti. All prepared perfectly and tasted great. Lovely atmosphere, wonderful service and Great food was a making of a very nice Birthday celebration. read more

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Recently having the feeling that I really needed some Me time, I headed over to the Peninsula for Afternoon Tea. I've visited the Lobby on a number of occasions but never alone and never during the Holiday Season. The tree and other festive accents are very well executed without being gaudy. The drapery to the entrance of the Lobby is a very nice touch. The tray of goodies was nicely presented and the service was excellent. The tea came with a complimentary flute of Taittinger and all was lovely. I somehow always seem to end up with a window seat and I do enjoy looking down onto the skating rink. The day I was there it was cold and very gray, which is my kind of weather, so it made the tea experience even warmer. If there was to be any drawback, I'd have to say that the bill was a bit steeper than I had expected, but...cest la vie. All in all, this was an excellent experience. read more

The Lobby - Teatime! - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very sad to write such a poor review for the Peninsula, more specifically, the high tea. I took my wife here today, because of how much she enjoys doing high tea around the city (and the Peninsula has always been one of her favorites). Unfortunately this time, we were both quite disappointed in the service. I should note, our server was super nice (which is why I am not including his name) and the food (mini sandwiches and desert) was outstanding which is why I did not do 1 star. After we were seated, we waited for 20 minutes before anyone came up to us to get our tea selections. By this time, all other tables had their tea and food towers coming out. The reason our tea order was eventually taken was because I got up and snagged a manager. To make matters worse, they were out of the 2 teas my wife and I wanted: Dreams and Fruit Garden, so we each selected a different tea. After another 20 minutes, our food Tower came out, which was indeed fantastic. However, after we finished all on the tower, we had to again snag someone to ask for a "refill" (allowed for high tea). That not only took quite a bit of time, but they only brought 1 each for 4 of the 5 sandwiches (the last we didn't get any). So, my wife and I had to split them. We were told it wasn't intentional, but they were just needing to make more in the kitchen (they ran out). Very sad all of this happened. Not a very positive experience, albeit, the food was good. Image is of the first tower that was full for 2 people (vs. refill that only had 1 of each due to the kitchen running out). At least they labeled me correctly on the bill as "guy striped sweater" (see image) read more

The Lobby - The first fill of out food tower - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE!!!! We waited for our food for 30+ minutes and other customers who got seated and ordered after us got their food way before us. I asked the server, who never once came by with an update about the food, so she said she'll check on it. Then comes back 5 minutes later and says her manager will check on it. And still nothing for another 5 minutes and I had to go track down her manager. No apology, no care in customer service - will never return!!! read more

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago and anywhere. The great experience starts at the front desk where you are greeted with a great smile. The food is excellent and the waitstaff is exceptionally nice. Thank you for everything. read more

Went here to celebrate my friends birthday. We had a great time! Their live band was wonderful, just enough background music that we were able to have a good conversation without any issues hearing each other. A nice place to catch up over dinner especially on their special occasion. We weren't able to fully take advantage of their chocolate bar because they gave us free desserts for the birthday celebrants and that was enough for us for the night. Service was great and we will go back to focus on their Chocolate Bar read more

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Came here for afternoon tea time with my family and I absolutely LOVED IT!! I ordered the traditional afternoon tea set which came with an assortment of sandwiches, pastries, and a tea of your choice. I recommend the vanilla bean (scented black) tea, which had the most amazing aromatic scent! So, vanilla lovers, try it! The sandwiches were petite and delicious. The dessert tray was beautiful and almost too pretty to eat (but I still ate it anyway). My favorite part of tea time had to be the WARM SCONES. They served two type of scones: traditional and orange- both of which were warm, crumbly, and were the perfect accompaniment for my tea. The Lobby is a beautiful venue with a great assortment of food and teas. There were even violinists playing in the background. It's an absolutely luxurious experience to dine here. I would definitely come back to celebrate a special occasion. read more

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This review is specifically for "Chocolate at the Pen" which takes place on Friday and Saturday nights. My boyfriend and I decided to go for a pre-Valentines day celebration and were not disappointed. "Chocolate at the Pen" is basically an all you can eat dessert buffet ($40 pp) that has an emphasis on chocolate. There is a custom hot chocolate station where you get to sample different chocolates and toppings and pick which flavors go into your perfect hot chocolate concoction. A chef makes each cup individually, and serves you warm beignets to pair. There's a main circular table that contains the bulk of the desserts, ranging from key lime tarts to prosecco & peach gummies to carrot cake. All desserts were decorated beautifully and tasted even better than it looked, if even possible. The last table contained a variety of French macarons and chocolates. My boyfriend was confident that it wasn't possible for him to get a sugar coma...until today. Unfortunately we weren't able to sample everything since we were all chocolated-out, but that just gives us another reason to come back. Also if you eat dinner at the lobby, you can add on the chocolate buffet for only $20 per person. The service was also amazing, which is what you'd expect from a restaurant in a 5 star hotel. TLDR; Definitely go if you have a huge sweet tooth, you won't be disappointed! read more

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Had an amazing Sunday brunch here with the extended family. Such a wonderful atmosphere that manages to be kid friendly, yet upscale and elegant. We loved it! The spread was pretty awesome too! There was literally something "wow" for everyone's own individual tastes -- from the kiddies raving about the Mac n Cheese and the desserts to the Peking Duck and Seafood Shumai for the serious foodies among us to the delicious waffles and applewood smoked bacon for our resident late starters who were just getting up at 1pm. :) Only thing I'd advise is to stay away from their specialty drinks (they weren't that good and were very pricey). I had a Bloody Mary (which was excellent but not worth the $16!) Overall verdict: one of the best brunch spots for family occasions that I've been to ... anywhere! read more

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My BFF took me to the Pen's chocolate bar (https://www.peninsula.com/en/chicago/special-offers/dining/chocolate-bar) for my birthday! It's a great concept--all you can eat fancy dessert! The ambiance is great and there is a WIDE variety of treats. They weren't the best tasting, but they were alright. You're paying for the experience/ambiance for sure. We had a delightful time. It was fun to do once, but I wouldn't go back. read more

This place is ridiculously amazing and beautiful. I decided to try out the afternoon tea service for my anniversary and it was not a disappointment. Oh my goodness, the afternoon tea was so exquisite that the charge for $50 per person was worth the lifetime experience. You'd think the little finger sandwiches and desserts are un-filling, but trust me you end up being so full that you won't be able to move. They were also delicious! At first I felt so out of place, but the service was super friendly and they also make small talk with you, making it seem like they appreciate you as an individual. I highly recommend this place for any special occasion. read more

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Tea for 2, $170 with tip. Expensive, yes. An every day thing? Not for me. But really lovely as a belated mother's day treat, just for the girls (though men are welcome too, of course). We ordered the vegetarian tea menu - the tomato and cheese open faced sandwich, the beet sandwich, and the cucumber sandwich were my favorites. I also inhaled the biscuit and scone - that lemon curd....I'd spread that on just about anything and eat it. Service was as expected, pretty terrific. Coming to pour our tea often, bringing us more lemon curd (and a third time too), checking in on us just the right amount...what I'd expect from an establishment like The Peninsula. We couldn't finish everything, so one lucky mother got to take home some chocolate truffles, chocolate brownie type things and another small tart... and I think one biscuit. It's definitely ample food, and was lovely to not be rushed or communicating with each other through our phone screens as I often do with my mother. The live music was the icing on the metaphorical cake (there were plenty of desserts, but no cake) -- The fact that I shared an elevator with JOHN STAMOS on our way down to the fist floor was the ultimate cherry on top. I was a good little fan and didn't harass him, but damn. That was exciting. read more

The Lobby - Tea for 2 - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Delicious brunch - so many options and stations to choose from, three hours of bites and conversation were joy enough. I tried to sample everything I could, but didn't think I could make it, so I had to make choices-- what a conundrum.... I loved the music played by the Pen Quartet, especially The Beatles, and I was told that you can put in a request if they have the music for your song!! The dress code is 'smart casual' and for such a stunning room, the Lobby is very relaxed during brunch. I felt like a princess during brunch, catered to for my food and drink needs, and after the past couple of weeks I've had, it was well deserved. My friend and I will be back sometime, as we've decided to check out brunch spots on the weekends. read more

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We two were looking for a place to take a brief rest and taste light desserts before dinner. We found Pierrot gourmet on yelp. It located in the peninsula... but we ended up with the lobby unintentionally... Everything is fine until the waiter got our order... obviously, he wanted us to order more. His attitude turned 180 degree literally after we ordered! He even did not say a word to us when he come to our table and pass the bill. We did not receive any service from him after we ordered. But he checked out the table next to us very often. We feel that guests who order less than $40 are not welcomed here. So, if you want to try this place, plan to order the peninsula afternoon tea $75 at least. We will never come again even if we want to have high tea in downtown. The taste of desserts are just ok. Then the waiter's attitude ruined everything. FYI: their dessert menu changes four times a year (if I remember correctly). currently they do not carry the desserts in the past Yelp reviews. And they do not display the desserts (no showcase). read more

The Lobby - Menu as of oct 2019 - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Had the peninsula club and the sushi roll that had lobster and caviar on it (can't think of the name), if you ask for it the server will know. The sushi roll was delicious and was filled with lobster and such a great taste. The peninsula club was filling and the fries were great. The staff was friendly, accommodating, and made sure we had everything we needed without asking. I recommend especially for lunch. read more

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The services is terrible. You wait 30 min for a table when they have 15+ seats open. The waiters try to memorize you order and still forget what you told them. Takes 10 min just to get water. And there is more hostess then servers. read more

This review is for the Peninsula's traditional afternoon tea. Afternoon tea at the Peninsula is something I've always wanted to experience, because I absolutely adore high tea. The idea of sipping tea while munching on finger sandwiches and pastries is my idea of the perfect afternoon. Pair that with the Peninsula's Lobby, which has 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows, gold leaf-covered double-dome ceiling, hand-tufted carpet, gorgeous flower displays, and elegant table settings, and I was in utter bliss. Traditional afternoon tea is $65, as of February 2017. You can select any of their teas or blend coffee. I chose the mandarin rose petal, which is a scented black tea. Afternoon tea comes with a three-tiered stand of savory and sweet essentials. It also comes with traditional and mandarin orange scones with lemon curd, strawberry jam, and fresh cream. The bottom tier contained a variety of sandwiches: +Cranberry chicken salad on whole wheat pullman with balsamic cranberry spread +Smoked salmon on pumpernickel with citrus and dill cream cheese +Crab salad on a brioche bun with celery, cilantro, and citrus aioli +Cucumber sandwich on white pullman with vegetable cream cheese The middle tier housed parsnip soul with fennel and coffee beans. And the top tier held all the sweets: +Coffee caramelia macaron +Cherry, pistachio mascarpone petit gateaux +Fig, almond, and creme fraiche tart +Wedding cookie +Chocolate, gianduja, and passion fruit financier All the sandwiches and pastries were delicious. I especially liked the scones, the cucumber sandwiches, and the passion fruit financier. As expected, the quality was exceptional and well-deserving of the Peninsula name. Service was impeccably well-timed and choreographed. Our server would promptly come to refill our cups and our water glasses. The savory and sweet treats are all-you-can-eat, so you can ask for more and they'll bring over new plates with your requests. The ambiance really pulled the whole experience together. Aside from the elegant decor, they also had a violinist and cellist treat their guests with relaxing classical music. This was a truly memorable experience that I hope to relive very soon. read more

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Pinky up. When a dear friend suggested the girls do high tea at The Lobby (Peninsula Hotel) on my short trip to my beloved Chicago, I squealed with delight, replied immediately, invited my mother and went out to buy a new dress. Priorities. Of course, we opted for the sparkly version...($68/pp) CHAMPAGNE AFTERNOON TEA: Traditional Afternoon Tea + a glass of Moët & Chandon Imperial Champagne (I die of happiness). My mother isn't into bubbles (I know, where did I come from?) and they were very happy to substitute white wine for her. I will say, I don't know if this is common but the "top ups" on the champagne and wine were gracious. It wasn't expected but it was absolutely welcome. Insider tip -- being polite and looking the part (faking it is fine! I do!) invites some insider perks. Maybe they do this for everyone!? I don't know but it certainly prolonged our very enjoyable experience. And it was all it was cracked up to be. The service absolutely impeccable from start to finish. These guys have it on LOCK. It's spendy, but you'll leave your afternoon tea experience feeling full of far more than delicious tea and small sandwiches/petit desserts -- it's an experience to be savored and enjoyed. To slow down and enjoy the company you are with. To wear something nicer than usual. To indulge and be delighted for an afternoon. I suggest you make a booking, cheers! *Gluten-Free, Vegan, Vegetarian and Children's Afternoon Tea menus available upon request. read more

The Lobby - The spread - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Lordy. I've been to the lobby at the Peninsula a couple times for lunch and brunch but never for the chocolate bar or afternoon tea. Afternoon tea- you're up next on my calendar. The chocolate bar didn't disappoint even though there is no longer a chocolate fountain offered. *weeps* Here's my summary on what's important to know when it comes to doing the chocolate bar: *reservations -it's better to be safe than sorry imo. *it's offered from 8pm-midnight -when they start to close the lobby and clean up. Fridays and Saturdays only. *at least come here in business casual attire. *it's 40/person *pace yourself. You have all night. Even though I'd cover my plate with a lot, I spaced this out with a lot of lingering and conversation with my friends at the table. It's not an eating competition but I did want to try all that was offered, except I forgot the crepes! oh well next time.. *to survive and withstand all that sweetness, I ordered something savory on the side. In this case I ordered truffle fries with an herby aioli to cut all that chocolate and sugar. It was fantastic by the way and I was ready for round 3. *it's not all chocolate that's offered. That was nice and it helped with not becoming too chocolated out. *go with a cocktail that's not chocolate influenced. I paired my desserts with their cocktail, strawberry fields. It's stiff and wonderful. With lime and crushed strawberries. I would love to return again for this and looking at the pictures, it looks like they offer different selections sometimes. (hello picture with chocolate covered strawberries and what looks like creme brulee) This was a wonderful end to a busy work week and to kick off the weekend. There is a jazz band playing and it makes for a very relaxing evening. Loved. It. read more

The Lobby - Chocolate bar - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

My initial impression was to give The Lobby 3 or 4 stars. The setting was nothing notable at first glance (simply a large hotel lobby), and the prices are sky high. However, as our experience progressed, I became more and more impressed to the point where I felt the price tag was justified, and a 5 star review is warranted. We were seated next to the window, which overlooked an ice skating rink. Adorbs... In the middle of our lunch, I looked up and noticed a balcony with a cellist and a violinist! I thought the ambient music was pre-recorded until then. The string duo definitely added charm. As for our food, I was blown away. I ordered the full tea service. At first glance, the tower was not so impressive. But as I took each piece onto my plate, I was able to appreciate how delicate everything was, especially the desserts. There was this one cake in particular that had a decorative white chocolate piece placed on top; it was a thin, triangular plate with orange marbling... It was beautiful. Of course, presentation aside, everything tasted delicious! In addition to my perfect meal, I had a bite of my friend's lobster sandwich, and wow... I'm salivating just thinking about it! So so juicy!! I also loved their tea. We had the lychee and the ginger. Both were good, but I liked the lychee a little better. All in all, I was glad I got to experience The Lobby! I'll shoot to come back around Christmas next time. It just strikes me as a place that can deliver overwhelming holiday cheer! So yes... I intend to write an update review. read more

The Lobby - Tea service: Finger sandwiches - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Great atmosphere and service. Delicious food. Love the chocolate bar and live jazz music. We went on a Saturday night at 6pm. At that time, Shanghai Terrance had their lion dance show and we were able to witness a little bit of that, which was cool. We ordered the octopus and lobster bisque for starters. Octopus was a bit chewy but still good. The lobster bisque has an Asian twist. Our main entrees were carbonara and the risotto with lobster. And for dessert, of course, the chocolate bar. Our server, Ruben, did a nice job with explaining everything. Everything was well portioned and delicious. At first, I was afraid the dishes were tiny portions but it was just right. The only downside (on my end), I left the to-go bag with my risotto on the chair when I left, so sad :( I didn't notice it when they removed it from the tabletop onto the chair. But otherwise, definitely recommend this place. This place has valet parking for $25 with validation which is nice. read more

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The Lobby at the Peninsula offers the best Afternoon Tea in the city...and I've compared it to lots of other teas at the fancy schmancy hotels in the area. Unfortunately, the Peninsula don't offer tea before 2:30pm so my mom and I were out of luck when we stopped in on a Friday at 12:30pm on a whim. We opted for their regular lunch menu instead, which still looked pretty good, although nothing beats those little tea sandwiches and pastries. They have lots of salads, sandwiches and even sushi to choose from on the lunch menu, but the best deal was the $25 prix fixe menu where you could choose any appetizers from their salad buffet, an entree and then back to the buffet table for dessert. While we waited for our swordfish entree, we sure got our $25 worth of salad. Mmm...caprese salad, pasta salad, a super yummy rice salad among others. This would have been plenty of food, but it was just the beginning.The display was beautiful and my mom was taking notes of how to copy it for my daughter-to-be's baby naming in a few months. The swordfish was quite good, although it was a little rare inside, which made me a bit nervous being pregnant. I decided it probably didn't make much of a difference being just a week away from my due and gobbled it all up. And then it was back to the buffet to satisfy our sweet tooth. We tried a bit of everything and it was all beyond delish, but the flourless chocolate cake was the clear winner. I still think the Afternoon Tea is the best reason to visit the Lobby at the Peninsula, but turns out they have a pretty good regular lunch menu as well. Sometimes it's fun to be a lady who lunches! read more

After having several friends rave about the Lobby my wife and I finally made it for dinner tonight; now I see what everyone is talking about, this place is the total package and is truly fantastic. Chef de Cuisine Lee Wolen has an impressive resume (stints at famed venues such as Moto, El Bulli and most recently he was sous chef at Eleven Madison Park). He definitely has learned from the best and is doing an amazing job running the show at the Lobby. The Lobby is aptly named; literally set inside the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel. Live music plays in the background, a tall ceiling with an impressive looking chandelier and large windows gazing into downtown Chicago set a nice, upscale but comfortable ambiance. Service was the perfect mix of personable, polished and attentive; our primary server Karen was so friendly that we definitely will request her again next visit. The menu features contemporary American cuisine; there are about eight appetizers ($15 on average), ten mains ($26 to $39), and a half dozen desserts (mostly $13; a new pastry chef was just brought on board). The luxurious chocolate buffet is available Fridays and Saturdays from 9:00pm to midnight; those having dinner may partake for half price - $20. The menu has great variety; one is far more likely to find multiple dishes appealing than struggle to find something. Hotel restaurants often have to be versatile due to serving a diverse array of guests and the Lobby's menu is perfect for this endeavor; several approachable items for picky and unsophisticated palates yet enticing to someone serious about fine dining. For $85 one may opt for the five course tasting menu; as a nice touch the tasting is customized based on one's preferences and aversions. Regardless if you choose a la carte or the tasting menu one also receives an amuse bouche, bread service (three different selections tonight; a baguette, multigrain and an outstanding brioche bacon bun), mignardises and even a small cake to take home as a parting gift. Most cocktails run $15 and wines by the glass are mainly in the $12 to $20 range. While the Lobby is not inexpensive, it is actually quite a value considering all the extras, the upscale ambiance, largish portions (we definitely left stuffed) and most importantly the high end cuisine. Certainly an experience worthy of a special occasion, but affordable enough for a romantic date night. Having greatly enjoyed the whole duck course at Eleven Madison Park last year and the famous whole chicken with foie gras and black truffle stuffing at sister venue The NoMad we were really eager to try the Lobby's incarnation of this dish, the Whole Roasted Chicken for Two. This dish is a must! A stuffing is placed under the skin sealing in all the moisture and enhancing the flavor; crispy skin and wonderfully juicy meat with a delicious sauce, ramps and morel mushrooms. This is one sexy chicken dish! My octopus appetizer with smoked ham was nicely charred and had wonderful textures and flavors; my wife was equally happy with her ricotta gnocchi. Even the desserts were phenomenal; I greatly enjoyed the coconut custard with black sesame, citrus cake, sorbet and candied yuzu. Just the perfect amount of sweetness and again a perfect blend of contrasting flavors and textures. While usually I try new things when I make a return visit to a venue, tonight's meal was so ridiculously good that I might very well repeat the same three courses! Even though this was our first time at the Lobby we were made to feel special and felt like regulars; we were both blown away by the experience and are already planning on returning next month. Chef Lee Wolen and his staff really have something special at the Lobby; they are truly deserving of a Michelin star this fall. read more

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I absolutely love the open space The Lobby has. You're not covered in a restaurant surrounding, but more of an open, let's relax kind of feng shui. The servers are very tentative and friendly. I had an extremely hard time deciding went to get since they had a deliciously looking display of hor d'ourves and desserts, which comes with an entree. I was very tempted, but decided to split the Artisanal Grilled Cheese Sandwich: gruyere, tomato soup, french fries and The Peninsula Club: shaved turkey, applewood-smoked bacon, egg, tomato, avocado with my co-worker. The grilled cheese (http://www.yelp.com/biz_photos/VZRNSAoPrg_CNiCtMNSlyw?userid=GEkww4CD1di7LZkNvoayJw) sounded and looked really good, it even came on a pretzel bun, but the cheese itself lacked flavored. The tomato soup was delicious, cream-less I might add and the fries were crispy. I am in love with their Peninsula Club, first time having egg in any club sandwich it made a difference! We also asked for no middle bread. The bread itself was thin and toasted just right. I did get to try some of my co-workers grilled baby octopus appetizer and WOW this is was full of flavor and cooked perfectly! Also tried some of the truffled mac & cheese and this just might be my new favorite place for mac & cheese, yum! Only complaint is it took quite a long time to receive our 2nd course after we were done with our 1st course. P.s. I definitely want to try their sushi options next time. read more

The Lobby - Artisanal Grilled Cheese Sandwich - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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SERIOUSLY, I am not understanding the people who say they cannot eat $30 worth of delectable chocolates. Oh my, I thought I had died & gone to heaven--or at least one of my versions of heaven. Some girlfriends treated me to the chocolate bar at the peninsula for my birthday & lets just say it was one of the best b-day treats EVER!! The ambiance is warm & romantic (this would be perfect for a date night), the wait staff were fantastic, the live music (jazz) was a nice touch, and the CHOCOLATE was YUMMY. They had a wide variety of sweets--dark, white, & milk chocolate. My favorite was of course the ganache treat--but you should go & discover your favorite. read more

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The staff is professional and aim for this to be a "don't need to lift a finger" high-end experience. They serve a selection of traditional tea sandwiches (cucumber, smoked salmon, turkey + guyere), scones (traditional, orange), and pastries (macarons and other bite-sized cream puffs and desserts). Overall, it was a nice experience, but I was shocked when I spent $70 (including tax and tip) for tea. For that price, I felt that some part of it should have left me really impressed. read more