The Saddle Room has a way of making a night out feel a little more special. The food is consistently good, the drinks are fun without trying too hard, and the atmosphere strikes that rare balance between polished and relaxed. What really makes it stand out is the ambiance -- warm, inviting, and tailor-made for date night. It's the kind of place that may not shout for attention, but quietly delivers a very enjoyable experience. read more

The Saddle Room is an interesting spot to find in the suburbs of... anywhere. It feels like it'd be more at home dug in deep in a pure metropolitan area (like a downtown, or semi-downtown, Chicago). But it does offer a unique experience: western-themed hang out. I grabbed drinks with friends here on a Thursday night and we had our pick of the seats. Luckily my friend, who has been here before, grabbed us seats by the center fire place and we were able to enjoy the atmosphere; chill and, despite the aesthetic, not western-in-your-face. In fact, we were seated as some super comfy leather couches. Sure, it has some special experiences (the bathrooms are slightly confusing the first time) but I thought everything was very well done. The menu has a little bit of everything, from cocktails to beers, small plates to entrees. Again, we only had drinks but my "Campfire" cocktail was tasty (but a bit sweet). I was slightly dismayed that they were all out of both sour beers as well... oh well. For what we were looking for, a chill spot to catch up and imbibe, this place hit the mark perfectly. If you've never been then it's worth checking out. read more

On Friday, December 5, I was went there with a few friends. There were not very busy for a Friday night. We sat at the bar. When I first arrived, our bar tender was very prompt and professional introducing himself. However, as the night went on, the attentiveness severely decreased. He was also working the waitress bar, and that seemed to take up a lot of his time. We wanted to order an appetizer, and after trying to get his attention, I had to go to the waitress bar, and request to order an appetizer. Later in the evening I had to do the same for our check. My dinner arrived, the Prime Pizza, allegedly containing prime rib. There was hardly any prime rib on the pizza and what was there, looked more like minimal shreds of pot roast, and was covered in so much cheese that you couldn't make out what type of pizza it was. It had 3 eggs on top, and 2 of the 3 eggs were uncooked and runny; not runny yolks but runny uncooked eggs. I decided to not make an issue since I was with friends, but immediately wrote the restaurant when I got home. As of today, 4 days later, no reply. read more

Place is nice and that's really the just of my visit here. Honestly, I have had much better ribeyes at chain restaurants and I'm not kidding. Service that evening was mediocre and the food was mediocre at best. Save your money and go somewhere else. read more

We did not have a great experience at this restaurant. First, we were sat in the bar when the four of us came in for dinner. The dining room was open with servers, but we got sat in the bar regardless and had a hard time getting any server to pay attention to our basic needs (like water refills). Next, the food was not great. The flatbread was lukewarm and flavorless. The Brie "curds" were, first of all, a bad idea and not at all curds. They were larger-than-mouthful size "nuggets" of brie that were very greasy and served with a strange blueberry "ketchup." Inedible. Next, my daughter got the chicken roulade, which was not a roulade. Worse, she took a bite and spat it out and said, "Something is wrong with this." Since it was next to impossible to get service, the only person who came along to help was the manager and when my daughter told him something was wrong with the dish, rather than take it away and replace it with something else, he said, "Sometimes I order something and I don't like it when I get it. It happens." and he walked away. Later that night back at the hotel my daughter got ill from food poisoning. The steak was fine and the braised pork was okay. read more

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I would give this place 5 stars if I could see what I was eating. The place is very nice, with little nooks in each room giving a romantic atmosphere. It's a little pricey but the food was outstanding. I ordered the Brie cheese curds as an appetizer. Really good. Our guests ordered a hummus trio platter with flat bread and a blueberry compote. For dinner, I ordered Duck. I had to use my phone flashlight to see the menu. It's really that dark inside by each table. It makes for a great ambiance, but you have to see what you're ordering. When the duck arrived, I couldn't tell what I was cutting into, either the duck or the root vegetables. I gave up trying to see it, and just ate what was on my plate. Hey, pretty darn good. My wife had some kind of pasta dish which she liked but thought the portions were small. I also had a couple of local brews in a can, but I can't remember what they were. It was the only local lager they had. Wife had a peach sangria. I tasted it and thought it was very sweet. We opted out of dessert, and the final tab was around $117 per couple, before tip. I might come back, but for the price, I'll try a few new places first. read more

The Saddle Room - Wife's pasta dish - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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Rating: (3.5/5) Sometimes, all you need is good company and a great atmosphere. After work, my friend and I were looking for a spot to meet halfway between the city and the suburbs of Elgin, Illinois. She suggested The Saddle Room, located at 2559 Pratum Ave. Given its proximity to a convention center and entertainment area, I wasn't quite sure what to expect. As soon as I walked in, I was pleasantly surprised by the warm, western-country vibe. The interior was cozy and romantic, with plenty of wood accents and fireplace features. Even the restrooms were charmingly themed, styled like horse saddle coops--a fun and unexpected touch. Since the weather was beautiful, we chose to sit outside by one of the two outdoor fireplaces, which added to the ambiance. Our server was excellent--attentive, friendly, and knowledgeable. He checked in regularly despite our outdoor table and was transparent about the menu, which I appreciated. We kicked things off with drinks. I went with a classic Old Fashioned, while my friend chose the Indy Wild Mule, a Moscow Mule-inspired cocktail. We both loved our choices--well-balanced and flavorful. For dinner, she had the Vegan Bolognese ($20.95), made with wild mushrooms, black garlic truffle fontina, linguini, tomatoes, and red wine. She enjoyed it so much she cleaned her plate--and honestly, I might've liked her dish more than mine! I ordered the Chicken Roulade ($28.95): oven-roasted chicken breast on puff pastry with a white wine cream sauce, mozzarella cheese, and a potato croquette. It was tasty, especially the croquette, and the pastry had a unique flair. We also shared a side of asparagus ($12.95), which was cooked to perfection. To be honest, the food--while very good--was secondary to the great conversation and overall vibe of the place. That's one of the strengths of The Saddle Room: it's an ideal setting for a date or a relaxed, intimate evening. While it is on the pricier side, the menu includes a solid range of vegetarian and vegan options. That said, it seems like beef might be their specialty, so I'd like to come back and explore more of the menu. Based on this first visit, I'd give The Saddle Room a solid 3.5 out of 5. I'm looking forward to returning--next time, it might even earn a 4 or 5. read more

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My husband and I came here for dinner. The menu had items listed as GF. They also have GF pasta for an upcharge. We started off with the eggplant press and I had the Hawaiian Poke Bowl as my entree. We also got the flourless chocolate cake for dessert. Everything was really good and the service was excellent. Definitely want to come back and try more GF options. read more

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I've been to The Saddle Room a few times, and it's consistently solid when it comes to both food and service. Recently I came here to catch up with a couple of friends. We started dinner off with martinis and a mocktail. The martini's are shaken table side and they don't skimp on the pour. They're always super chilled and really good. As for the food, the meal was decent. They bring out bread with salted butter, which saves the bread because it's just ok on its own. For entree's we all ordered salads. My friends were initially skeptical about the chicken on their salads. It looked unseasoned and plain, but both ended up liking it more than expected. I went with the salmon salad (no sunflower seeds). I liked that it came with spinach instead of lettuce but the salmon was tiny in comparison to the size of the salad. Kind of disappointing because it was really well seasoned. The waitress mentioned the dressing had a "kick" to it, I'm guessing it was supposed to be spicy? But it really wasn't. Tasted fine but it didn't live up to the hype. We also split an order of fries that were hot, crispy, and enough for a group of three. Also, I get the whole Saddle Room theme, but my friend literally had a saddle hanging over her head while we were eating, which was kind of awkward lol. All in all, the food doesn't wow me but I'll keep coming back for the drinks! read more

We visited this restaurant with a pal couple to celebrate the end of yet another year, woohoo, and Happy New Year to all! Saddle Room is a bit of a different venue.  First, it's located in a bit of an isolated lot adjacent to the NOW (ex Sears) Arena.  It's also darkish both outside and inside and the dimly lit outside signage is only visible from the NOW Arena side.  When I approached it, I thought it might be closed, but then remembered we had confirmed reservations, ha.  Thirdly, their quite large dining space is partitioned into like 4 dining areas along with a couple of bar areas.  One of the bars is dedicated to horse race monitoring and presumably OTB.  There is a lot of saddle and cowboy decor throughout, so it's a nicely themed venue. Overall, I go with 3 stars, mainly as due to their highish price point, the food is pretty average.  Joanna was our friendly, welcoming, and attentive server and she was a big plus for our experience.  We also got a very nice and unique private corner nook with a table for 4 though there were plenty of other more ordinary spots we could have been seated at.  As for the food, we ordered the following: - pork meatballs appetizer, $15.95 - duck breast, $30.95 - short ribs, $43.95 - birds of a feather meatloaf flight, $21.95 - braised pork shank, $28.95 (mine) Bread with butter was complimentary.  I also had a quite nice Maplewood fat pug milk stout nitro (5.6% ABV, $7).  My pal also had a delectable Prohibition Old Fashioned ($15.95) which he really enjoyed.  They have a nice beer menu and an extensive liquor and cocktail list.   The best dish was my pal's unique birds of a feather meatloaf flight, which was also the most economical dish.  It was presented nicely and looked enticing too. My generous pork shank dish was covered in a light brown gravy but the pork shank was overdone and on the dried-out side.  There were plenty of delectable lightly fried green beans to go with it though.  The wife's duck breast and our gal pal's short ribs were quite skimpy for the price point, but they did taste ok except the gal pal said her mashed potatoes were very salty. They also charge a mandatory 2.8% admin fee which I queried about waiving.  I think restaurants should stop doing this so that when customers order, we know what we're paying for the meal.  Put your fee into your menu items.  Some restaurants remove it if requested.  I didn't knock off any stars for this, but just saying so management can read the complaint.   Good luck and best wishes! read more

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Right off the bat, Melissa the bartender snapped at me when I asked if I could sit on the Trackside of the bar. This was my first time there and I just wanted to make sure I sat in an area that was being serviced and comfortable for HER. We had our drinks, food, played a little with the OTB, gaming machines, and when we got our billed, we were SHOCKED to see an "ADMIN FEE" on our bill which explained that it isn't part of the tip, but its a fee to help do a pay increase for the kitchen staff?!?!?....isn't that the responsibility of THE SADDLE ROOM???? Why are they imposing a fee to the checks of the patrons to pay the kitchen staff more??. WHAT?! Unfortunately, since we had to pay the "admin fee" we had to take that into consideration when tipping the bartender. Please also know that ONE MARTINI was $17!!!!, there are no prices in the menu, so ask the bartender for prices before you order your drinks, otherwise you will be surprised when you get your bill, just as I was. I don't drink, but wanted to try something and the price alone on ONE drink here, solidified for me to stay on my alcohol-free enjoyment. One positive: The burger was yummy. *If you're sensitive to smoke, you may want to reconsider The Saddle Room, although it smells like an awesome bonfire, it may be too much for smoke sensitive people. Have a blessed day. read more

A suburban hidden gem. Saddle Room in Hoffman Estates is nestled in by the NOW Arena. The restaurant is off track betting theme so there are tons of race horse decor. Additionally, it gives off a cozy vibe with the wood burning fireplace, dim lighting, and wood everywhere. My partner and I stopped here for a Friday date night. We started the night with two martinis that are always shaken table side! I got the Kentucky French Kiss which is a whiskey martini mixed with strawberry accents and a champagne float. This by far is one of the most unique martini I've had out as one doesn't often see whiskey in a martini. My partner got the Love You Long Time, sake sake after being intrigued by the vodka, fruit, sake, champagne mix. His was also delicious but we thought the blueberries on the rim were silly. For food, one MUST start with the lobster bisque soup! The cup comes out with fresh lobster and additions on the bottom and they pour the bisque over in front of you. After mixing it together, it's some of the best soup and perfectly rich. For entrees, I got the Butternut Squash Ravioli and my partner got the Jambalaya. The Butternut Squash Ravioli was creamy, bright, and fresh tasting. The jambalaya was nicely spicy yet creamy. There was a good portion of meat, noodles, and add ins. I have noted that while the food is amazing, they are not great at modifications to menu items. Overall, Saddle Room is a great spot for a nice dinner, unique happy hour, or elevated lunch (sandwiches offered at lunch time). I have been to their sister locations in North Aurora often before (Turf Room & Hardware). I love the martinis shaken table side, the lobster bisque soup, requesting to sit by the fireplace, and get a kick out of their horse stall bathrooms. This restaurant sets itself apart and I recommend trying it out! read more

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Great service, waiter was terrific. Most of the food was good. I got the A5 Wagyu steak. Why am I being served steak from a cow butchered in July 2022? So was this just sitting in a freezer for 3.5 years? I'f I'm paying for A5, I expect it fresh and high quality read more

The Saddle Room - A5 Wagyu that's 3.5 years old apparently - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

I cannot speak about the food as we only had drinks at the bar but I will say the drinks were creative! I had a delicious melon martini and my husband had a s'more old fashioned! read more

The Saddle Room - Melon martini - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Pasta had good flavor. But pasta was definitely not penne shaped. It was more like gummy strips of pasta. Sausage had good flavor. Andouille was sliced very thin. Comfortably Numb was very good. Not too sweet. read more

The Saddle Room - Jambalaya - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Never fails to deliver!! The Saddle Room has become my favorite place to enjoy great food, great service, and great atmosphere!! Kara is amazing and very helpful in making recommendations for both food and drinks. Can't wait to go back. read more

A little too bougie for me. The menu was bougie. The ambiance was too dark. One regret was not getting coffee by the fireplace but the server didn't offer the idea and we didn't think of it until we passed it on our way out. read more

Dined here twice and never had better eggplant. The cheese curds were the best too! I loved the ambiance of the wine room and wish this place was closer. Its pricy but worth it for a special occasion. Both times I was here was with a group. The second time the service was a lot slower and she did not check up on our group of 10 as much. This was evening around 6 so probably busier. The first time was a sunday afternoon and service time was much quicker. read more

Good food, good service and lots of cozy fires. They had fires roaring outside and in the fireplace inside. The horse theme is seen throughout the décor of the restaurant. Calamari $18 - Good portion, lighted breaded and fried, came with fried lemon slices and jalapenos, too. Lobster bisque $9 - Chunks of lobster pieces are presented in the bowl before the soup is poured over. Very creamy and rich. Grilled ceasar salad $9 Truffle farfalle $20 - Not strong truffle flavor, but a good pasta dish. Chicken Roulade $29 - Flavorful, the puff pastry is served on top of the breaded fried chicken. Pork Knuckle $29 - The mean was very tender and fell off the bone. Martini $16 - They bring the shaker to the table and the glass is filled to the brim. .|\---/| | o_o | ..\_^_/..2024 read more

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Had a great time for a graduation dinner. My nephew's steak was overdone and they handled it professionally and replaced it with a higher quality steak. I loved the fried olive slices in the calamari. The perfect fried salt bomb. Yum!! read more

One of my favorite places to eat! Has the best martinis and they don't put them in those tiny glasses! Food is amazing, staff is always amazing! read more

The interior is a dark wood. The dining space is partitioned into about 3 separate dining areas along with a couple of bar areas - lots of room though. One of the bars seems dedicated to horse race monitoring. There is horse saddle and cowboy decor throughout, so it's themed per the name.The ambiance is great if that's your thing. The service was good, thorough, pleasant. There were many, many food choices such as flatbreads, salads, sandwiches, and even a poke bowl. The food was fine - for the price, it wasn't special. read more

Food was good and the martinis are excellent. Great ambiance, I loved the velvet curtains between tables to create privacy. read more

The Saddle Room - Lightly dirty martini - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

Thank you to The Saddle Room staff for being open on Thanksgiving and providing a warm, cozy place for our holiday meal. I lost my beautiful mom a week before Thanksgiving and just didn't have the desire or energy to cook this year. The staff was so friendly and several people came by our table to thank us for coming in and ask how the food was. The turkey was moist, and the unique and light citrus flavor came through. My only gripe was no dark meat, and I could have probably eaten one more piece. The stuffing, potatoes, pasta, and cranberries were equally good. I think the greens had a bit of a kick to it but complimented the turkey well. I think I actually prefer the greens to traditional green bean casserole now. The pumpkin brulee for dessert was rich and creamy with the right amount of crisp on top, and I could have shared my generous portion. After dinner, we sipped drinks by the warm fire as we digested our food. (The chocolate hooch was warm and sweet). None of us felt too overfilled from having endless helpings of food, so it was a nice change. Thanks again to The Saddle Room for providing an easy, carefree night to spend with family over a comforting and tasty meal. read more

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We've been there 3 separate occasions in past 2 months (2025) ... the service is terrible. I can only assume because of over priced menu items and the added service fee to your check that these servers & bartenders are a bit too comfy with their jobs??., we had two totally unacceptable dinners out of three times.. poor service & one dinner order was ordered med-rare and it was totally "well done" :( ... So we wont ever be back. It's obviously the manager or owner or both that let the staff operate and work the way they do ! *** Very unfortunate but thats the truth !!! read more

It's always a good time at the Saddle room. It's our regular spot. Great martinis, ambiance and service.

I've been a big fan of the Saddle Room since it opinioned BUT during the last two times we have dined there, the service has been absolutely horrible. On a Sunday night it took 1&1/2 hour to get our food and they claim it was because they were super busy....they were not. One month ago, my bill was over $300.00 for two and the food was like a cheap steak house and the service once again questionable. They should be embarrassed and ashamed! read more

I recently had dinner at the Saddle Room, Hoffman Estates for the first time. It was on a Saturday evening, with a 7:00 reservation. This is not the place to go if you're looking for a date night where two people can have a conversation. All areas are very loud, with music, the size of the rooms, the acoustics, and large TV 's everywhere you look. It must be the most manly restaurant I have ever been in, and yes there is OTB with screens of past races in one room. I ordered the duck, which was served on a bed of assorted root vegetables. The texture was like suede, not even chewable. The veg's were overcooked and mushy. I didn't complain, but I declined the waitress's offer for a take-home box. She removed my entree from the tab without being asked, which I thought was nice. Seriously, I don't know why people get so excited about this place. It's the size of a Walmart, and more hectic with below average food. read more

The Saddle Room - Duck $28.95 - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

A group of friends wanted to come here on Valentine's Day, which was a big mistake. The place was busier than most Fridays for apparent reasons. My wife and I went there before the others and decided to get some drinks while we waited. The drinks were delicious, but unfortunately, we did not stay for food. I will have to come back and check out the food at the restaurant, and I hope it matches my experience of the drinks. The service was very quick. read more

This place is amazing! Came here last night. It was not at all busy. Our server was experienced. Highly knowledgeable of the menu and drinks. We think her name was Noelle? The food was fresh, perfectly seasoned, and delicious. I forgot to get a picture of our stuffed mushrooms. We ate them too fast! Decor and ambiance was also amazing! Was too cold to sit outside, but the huge fireplaces out on the patio looked so inviting! Highly recommend! read more

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Too expensive and not a good value. The place is nice but other than that not very memorable. We also thought the administrative fee was not really great. read more

I was given the recommendation to come here by my boss and I'm so glad he recommended it because my husband and I had such a wonderful experience here yesterday! We made a reservation, which was super easy to make using Open Table, and when we arrived, we were seated right away in the second room past the fireplace. I do wish we were able to sit in the first room because I loved the ambiance, but there's always next time. When walking to our seat, I noticed the aesthetic is gorgeous. The dining room is dimly lit, and everything has dark tones. The smell of a wood-burning fire pit spreads all throughout the restaurant because when you walk in, the first room has a large beautiful fire. Even when not seated next to it, it gives such a warm, comfy atmosphere to the dining room. The Saddle Room is also known for their horse decor, and although we didn't do any off-track betting, they do have that, as well. The seats near us in the second room were intimate and sectioned off by long, dark colored curtains, so it was nice for privacy. When sitting down, I sank into the chair cushion. It was comfortable, and we got a table looking out onto the patio, but it sadly wasn't open yet because it was a pretty cold day. I can't wait to come back even just for the outdoor patio because it's large and gorgeous, while one side looks out to a pond. The room we were seated in had an entire wine racked wall. Our waitress asked us if it was our first visit there. Because it was, she made awesome suggestions about the menu and explained the food we received, such as the delicious complimentary bread rolls we received with salted cinnamon butter. When she brought our calamari to our table, she even explained that it had grilled lemons, jalapeños, and olives mixed in and that everything was meant to add flavor and be eaten. Speaking of food, our calamari ($17) was perfectly cooked and had such unique flavors. The grilled lemon brought in some sour flavors but mixed well with the spice of the jalapeno aoili sauce and the grilled jalapeño coins. For dinner, I ordered the steak and potato gnocchi ($24), and I would totally order it again! My steak was cooked perfectly, and the creamy sauce on the gnocchi was great and gave the dish green hues. My husband ordered the lobster carbonara ($36), and it came with a whole lobster tail on top. His pasta had a lighter, more watery sauce than mine, and although I wouldn't order what he got, he thoroughly enjoyed his meal just as I enjoyed mine. When it comes to the menu, they have plenty of unique options. They have many duck options, salads, pizzas, steaks, and chops. When we inevitably come back here, I would love to try their pizza because they are brick oven fired pizzas. They also have a CRAZY amount of alcohol options on their menu, too! It was honestly amazing to see all they had and how small the menu had to write them because otherwise, it wouldn't fit on a page, haha! They also have a separate little menu that includes the red and white wine options. Price-wise, I can understand why it's a more expensive restaurant because the food is high quality. We received larger portions, but I noticed some people who reviewed complained about small portions for price. That wasn't the case for us, at least. This is not a place where my husband and I could come regularly because it would be about $100+ per visit, but for a nice date night, it was perfect. Basically, we both raved the whole time that we couldn't wait to come back for the food and to sit on the patio outside! I guess we can trust my boss to give great restaurant reviews! read more

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The ambiance is what's good here, but the food is *very* mediocre. My burger was a little dry and quite skimpy on the sauce, and the portion of french fries was **egregiously** small, as in even smaller than a McDonalds small size fry.... Do better on the food and portions, Saddle Room. That portion of French fries was ridiculous. read more

The Saddle Room - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

First time visiting the Saddle Room. We really loved the decor inside. They have a nice fireplace in the middle of the restaurant that you can sit around. The service was very slow even though there were only a few other tables in the restaurant. Other than that, all our food was great. Our favorites were the truffle mafaldine pasta, calamari and meatballs. read more

The Saddle Room - Release the Quackin Pizza - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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Was really impressed by the dining room with the large fire pit. An excellent place to relax with some wine and a friend in the colder months. Food was very good as was the service. read more

Went to Saddle Room again with friends- their choice. It was over priced! Our waiter was great- chocolate martini was delicious! Butternut squash ravioli pretty good! Unfortunately- for all of us, the portions were extremely small for the price! $30 for about 8 ravioli. The first thing my friends said was wow they don't give much! Typically when I a pasta dish anywhere else, it's a full bowl with plenty for leftovers!!! Not here! If you aren't going to give a large portion, charge half! While the food wasn't bad- the price is way too much fort what is received! read more

First off...the food was really good, but there where things to warrant the rating. A big issue was dealt with poorly. I also hate when prices for things are not listed (drinks). We have no problem paying for things but I like to know pricing. Why is it purposefully left out? No reasoning. I really want to like this place. We have been several times. read more

Food is always amazing, drinks are strong :) never have had a bad time here. I've been to this place about 5 times now and every dish is stellar. Will be back again! read more

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Love going to this restaurant with my boyfriend. The ambience is cozy and inviting, and the service is top-notch. My favorites are the lobster carbonara and any of the duck dishes. The flatbread appetizer is fantastic, and the double-cut pork chop is a must-try. The wait time for the pork chop is 30-45 minutes, but it's worth it! Great vine selection as well . Always variety choices of desserts ! read more

The Saddle Room - Lamb chops , pork chop - Steakhouses Near Me - Hoffman Estates, Illinois

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This is one of the best restaurants in the area and we love it. We're vegan but we find plenty to order on the menu and we try something new each time we visit. Their menu never gets old. The prices are right in the verge of being high without being high but the value we get in the quality of food we're served is incomparable. read more

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