I'm in LEY's frequent diners club and have roughly $80 on my account. I had a great waiter sign me up to the program after a recent meal at RPM. Since he signed me up, on my phone at the restaurant, I never received a physical card. Fast forward to tonight, my GF and I ordered takeout from Wildfire. We go to pick it up, and the carry out lady, with my food on the counter in front of me, politely tells me that I can't use the card on Saturdays. Mind you, I can smell my food in front of me, so I ask "are you sure, I get it's a policy, but all you're going to do is waste the food". Politely, she says let me ask my manager. The manager comes out and tells me the same policy. I show them that nowhere on the app does it say I can't use the card on Saturdays. Then she pulls out a frequent diner brochure that's on the counter, and low and behold, there's no mention of the Saturday clause, either. I say to the manager, as well, "are you sure? I've seen nothing staring this policy and the food is right here, all you're going to do is waste it, I don't really care either way" The manager then says, very condescendingly, "we don't care either". I walked out in amazement that someone could be so rude. Afterwards, I did look on their website and saw the Saturday policy, however, I've only ever had the app and don't spend too much time exploring the LEY website. I'm now writing this review while waiting for my takeout inside of Doc B's. Over something very small, I'll never return to Wildfire and will tell everyone that I know not to visit, as well. read more

Well it's about time I reviewed the place that has my most favorite martini in the world! That's right folks, the Key Lime Pie martini at Wildfire is to die for. It's possible that the one in Red Square in Vegas is better but I haven't been back to compare so this fills my number one slot. I always try a KLP martini anytime I see one on a menu and haven't found one better yet, so trust me on this one. I know my KLP martinis! They have a martini flight too which I tried on my birthday last year after already having a couple Key Lime Pies so it's a wonder I even remember dinner. Anyway, you are probably not as crazy about martinis as I am so let's talk about the food. First off it's a sin to eat here and not have their chopped salad. It's amazing. I never knew salad could be so good. Try it. Then of course there is the reason everyone comes here - the meat. The steak is great especially when you get it with one of their specialty crusts. Not much else to say really. Oh wait, yes there is. Say it with me everyone, KEY LIME PIE MARTINI! read more

I've probably have a different experience here than most diners. My company rents out the private rooms for special events. This is a good place in the city to host group events - they have a large, module room near the front that they can cordon off to make as large or small a space as you require. The food is pretty good, but nothing too special or "wow". Standard, crowd-pleasing fare. The chopped salad is one of my favorite ways to start the night, and their chocolate cake is the perfect ending. We tend to have set menus for these larger events to make things easier, but even then they are always very accommodating with swapping out meat for vegetarian dishes. read more

I have probably worked my way through the better part of this menu and have been at least two dozen times. I have always loved the food and atmosphere here but they do have a little bit of a service issue. Wine list is decent, steaks are awesome and sides are delish. The key lime pie dessert is one of the best I've ever had. The bbq ribs and chicken are decent here too. The place is great for a group dining experience as there is a little something for everyone: Steak, check, seafood, check, chicken, check. Veggie options (not a ton) but check. The salads, especially the Caesar, are fantastic! On a few occasions I've had the disappearing server problem, which in the end probably saved me from buying yet another overpriced bottle of wine. I have also had a few oopsies that were blamed on the kitchen but were clearly server misfires. Wildfire is a reliable go to for me and offers a sophisticated art deco supper club atmosphere. If only the service could improve a tad..... read more

I had heard great things about Wildfire and had high expectations... but I'm not sure this place met them. I had thought it was kind of a nice restaurant, but it was a LOT cheesier than I expected. I had also had it delivered once prior and found it to be OK, but perhaps a little overpriced. We had an 8pm reservation, we showed up just before 8, they handed us one of those beacon things that light up and buzz when our table is ready. First sign that this is like going to Chili's.. It was busy but there were maybe 5-10 people standing around at most. We probably waited 15 or 20 minutes. The atmosphere was cheesy to the max. The wine list was as corporate as any Applebees... Geyser Peak this, Geyser Peak that... They even had a room that Geyser Peak paid to put their name on. The crowd was very mixed... some people dressed up for a nice meal out, others looked like they were ready to go work out at the gym. (Maybe this doesn't happen at the suburban location).. There was a pole with plaques on it, did those people pay to have their name plastered there forever? The food..... I started out with a bisque. It was good. Their specialty is a filet with some form of a crusty topping on it. They have many size filets, including petite trio where you get 3. This is what I had. Then you can pick the "toppings" ... I opted for the Bearnaise, horseradish, and blue cheese. All in all it was very gimmicky, I didn't find that the toppings added much value to the meal. They were kind of... just blah toppings. And they were more "hot" than "crispy" ...The blue cheese topping was not memorable. The horseradish was kinda mush and not very spicy from horseradish, kind of bland. The Bearnaise was very herbal, I probably could've done without it... In the end, a traditional normal steak of some sort would have been a better choice. The dessert menu was so predictable that we named 5 out of 6 things on it before they even brought it to our table. The snickers/peanut butter ice cream sundae was tasty. 2.5 stars maybe... I think we spent $250ish for 4. For this price point, you can do a LOT better in Chicago. read more

Very, very average. Wildfire is primarily a steakhouse, though it doesn't bill itself as such. The decor is traditional steakhouse, with lots of wood and black-and-white photographs of scenes from the 1950s. The choice of appetizers were fairly uninspiring, but we landed on French onion soup (salty) and fried calamari (oily and overcooked). Not a great start. The mains were better. The beef dishes were universally tasty, but the temps on the meats were off. I ordered prime rib medium and it came out medium-well. Another ordered his prime rib medium-rare and it came out rare. The filet that was ordered rare came out medium-rare (almost medium). On and on it went. For a steak(ish) house, not cooking to temp is a sin. The sides that came with the meats were subpar. The double baked potato with cheddar cheese had ZERO flavor, except for a dash of paprika. Actually, it tasted a bit like cardboard (no exaggeration) as confirmed by another guest. It went virtually untouched. The wild rice tasted like it came from a box (I'm quite certain it didn't) and had corn (atypical) and an odd sauce. The au gratin potatoes needed seasoning and could have been crisper, but they were passable. The creamed spinach was watery. The mushrooms were good (but salty) and, while I didn't try them, the fries looked good from afar. Not a great hit rate. One more thing, the wine list is pretty lousy, chock full of uninteresting mass-market selections. I'd probably consider this 2.5 stars, but I'm rounding up to account for typical Yelp grade inflation. read more

After reading the awesome reviews Jeff and I decided to make reservations at Wildfire for 7:45 on a Thursday. We were very impressed at first with the atmosphere. We ended up getting a larger booth and that was nice since the smaller booths looked a little too small. The booth was comfortable and the menu looked very impressive. We couldn't decide what to get! We put in our drink orders and both ordered the lobster bisque, and we ordered scallops wrapped in bacon for the appetizer. The drinks took at least 20 minutes to arrive. The rye and coke was very watered down but Jeff's Manhattan was very good. The waiter asked us several times if we wanted more bread, and every time we said yes but it never came. Eventually we got some bread and it was over an hour before the waiter took our food order. It didn't take long to get the food out after that. I ordered the prime rib medium-well and it arrived medium-rare (still rather bloody). Jeff ordered the duck and said it was above average. I didn't eat my prime rib and I wanted to get out of there because we were going to a movie. I let the waiter know about the prime rib and he comp'ed a desert for us but everything was so slow we didn't get out of the restaurant until quarter to 10. The bill came to $99. Overall I think the food quality was great, the food was just cooked poorly and the service was very below average. We were disappointed. read more

Miss Hannah D. was craving some red meat and was especially craving meat from Wildfire so on a snowy night we ventured over to Wildfire. Prior to my meeting with the fire I had heard good things and after reading the reviews I went in with mixed feelings. I don't eat a lot of steak or red meats so I wasn't sure what I would order. I followed the lead of my trusty sidekick and ordered the petite trio. However I got jumbo lump crab and some sauce on mine and also go a side of mashed potatoes. My tators were to die for and my steaks were pretty good to. However the "jumbo lump crab" was not so jumbo or lumpy. Made me kind of sad. Hannah ordered a twice baked potato with was quite easily as big as her head! Size doesn't scare this girl she quickly sank her teeth into it. We also opted for dessert, however, after receiving it we also received a small present we weren't expecting. No matter we returned it and received a nice credit on our bill. The manager was very apologetic but I just couldn't stomach anything else. Our martinis were very good but service was a little on the slow side. It seems that our waitress paid attention to everyone around us more than she did us. (Did that make sense) All in all the food was pretty good but I was expecting something more. I didn't find the magic this time. read more

On a very special episode of Simon on Yelp Scene : Wildfire Dining Room CAST: Simon with Friends Friend: Hey Simon......errr....What do you think you're doing? Simon: What do you mean? What am I doing? Friend: Well, we have been here for about 2 hours and you have not been able to stop eating WILDFIRES AMAZING HOUSE CHOPPED SALAD. I'm starting to get a lil worried. Plus you have to sing tonight! Simon: This is my first bowl? Friend: Simon.....that is your 6th bowl dude...Please..we know its delicious but.... Simon: Really? I just...I didn't know. I....I...need more.... Friend: We need to go man.....take you home to get ready for your performance. We don't have enough time!! Simon: Okay Okay. Let me just take some more of their DELICIOUS BREAD. (SO WARM AND GOOD) Friend: You don't get it. We don't have any frickin TIME!!! no time! We got to bounce!! Simon: THERE IS NEVER ENOUGH TIME!!! I don't have time to STUDY!!! I don't have time to practice singing! I won't ever get into STANFORD!!! I can't eat any of these ultra delicious ENCRUSTED STEAKS, ENTREES, OR DESERTS that are all top notch in a cool laid back setting!! I AM SO CONFUSED!!!!!! (sobs uncontrollably) Friend: Hey Hey..Just calm down it will be Ok...please baby.... (takes Simon into her arms, but he breaks away!!) Simon: NO! I can do this. Everything will be ok. I just need some more WILDFIRE CHOPPED SALAD!!!! I need the energy so I can sing!!! Friend: OMG...you really are addicted to the SALAD! (and bread!) Give me the salad! and you can't sing tonight! You're mentally sick!! Simon: I can control myself!!! { Grabs another mouthful (yum)} AND I CAN SING!!! Simon starts to sing and does a little jig : I'm so excited!!! I'm so EXCITED!!! I'm so EXCITED (about WILDFIRE) I'm so....I'm so.....I'm so scared!!!!!!!!!!!!! and I'm so Hungry!!! I am so scared!!!!!! Please Zach...hold me! (uncontrollable crying and melodrama) Friends: It will be ok! We're for you! We can stay so you can eat as much salad as you want! (GROUP HUG) Simon: Good. (nom nom nom) read more

What a disappointment! I'm really not sure how this place has so many 4 and 5-star reviews, because nearly every aspect of my recent experience here was 1-2 star. Ordered the mussels as an appetizer, they were terrible. The sauce that came with them tasted like an oily mess and the mussels tasted old. They came 12ish to an order and 4 of our mussels did not open during the cooking process. Why a chef would even put unopened mussels on a plate makes no sense to me - if they don't open, they're bad. I said something to our server and he shrugged his shoulders and said "huh..." 1/3 of our appetizer was inedible and we get a shoulder shrug... My husband ordered a cup of their shrimp and crab bisque - ewww, it was terrible! It tasted old and salty, and the seafood was in such small and overcooked pieces that it was barely recognizable. We both ordered steaks, mine was the petite filet and his was the char crusted rib eye. My steak was actually pretty good. My husband's was overcooked and under seasoned. The twice baked potato tasted like it has been baked about 6 times - very dry, old tasting and lacking any flavor. Then, to put the final nail in the coffin, I went to the ladies room. There was NO SOAP for hand washing. Ewwww, that is so gross! All of the servers/kitchen staff coming in and out and no one can wash their hands with soap?! Gross! I politely said something to the hostess, and her response "yah, it's been a pretty busy night." No sense of urgency and didn't really seem like it was a priority to her to let someone know to refill it. Service was bad/awkward, food tasted really bad and with no soap in the ladies room, this place just did not cut it for me. If I could do it over, I would spend the extra $15 per person and head over to any other steak house near by and get a good meal! read more

Worst BBQ Baby-Back Ribs in My Life! This is the toughest review i've ever given because I love BBQ... baby-backs, St. Louis, brisket, pulled pork - dry rubbed or sauced - hot or cold, breakfast - lunch or dinner. So giving this a 1 Star rating is like publicly, criticizing a family member. The other evening I ordered dinner and was excited to try the baby-backs. The only discernible flavor was that of the BBQ sauce, which turned out to be merely, a cosmetic treatment covering up one end of the rack that was paper-thin-meat, dried to the level and texture of jerky. In that I had a whole rack, I'd hoped some of it to be salvageable... but not even close. You'd probably be right, if you guess that it was reheated in a micro-wave. The thicker portion of the rack resembled rubber - not tough - just rubbery. It was like chewing dense gum... it didn't break down, it just changed shape. For the first time in my life, not only did I not finish a rack of ribs but... I threw it out. read more

Warning: that plate of desserts they show you is made of a 'butter substitute' and is not edible. And - the desserts really are that big. Second warning: you can't carry your bar tab to your table. You cannot be seated until your entire party arrives. If they arrive five minutes apart, this means settling a tab while trying to carry your drinks to your table and say hello to everyone. Noone helps wth the drinks, not even the sour-faced barwoman who hated everyone (a surprise, that). A shame that this is the big blemish on otherwise really lovely service all night. Shame on you, sour face. The food was fantastic. My friend and I tried the filet mignon trio, with 3 different crusts each (skip the potato one, it was a bit of an experiment). The filets were cooked perfectly, juicy and delicious. There were 5 of us so like the genii we are, we each ordered a different side and had a huge variety of stuff to try. Oh, and I had to have the mac n cheese. I always have to have the mac n cheese. So a huge of variety of stuff plus one extra... equals an awful lot of food to box up at the end of the night. The portions are hearty! However, we managed to squeeze in a shared dessert and it was to die for. Literally. Chocolate + cookie + ice cream + chocolate = one week of guilt.... I highly recommend the wine flights. They're around $12 and last the whole meal, and I'd have happily had a whole glass of any one of the tasters. All in all, I'd definitely go back, the meal was delicious, good value and the restaurant had a nice atmosphere. read more

Nice looking restaurant that is typical of a steakhouse. The tables were a bit close to each other but that's really the only thing that I noticed. Service was quick and friendly. We got our bread and water out quickly then the drinks from the bar also came quickly. For the appetizer we got the pretzel which was good with the dip. I got the bison sliders with Mac and Cheese as a side. The bison sliders were seasoned well and juicy with a nice blue cheese crumbled on top. I thought it was very good. The baked Mac and Cheese was also very good. It was creamy with a nice crust on top. Great spot. I would totally recommend this spot. read more

Hands down, the most absolutely perfect filet mignon that I have EVER had. Made even more perfect by liberal business expense accounts. Loses no points for crowd and noise. The world could be blowing up around me, and I wouldn't care, as long as I have this steak in front of me. read more

Came in for happy hour with my husband which I believe is from 4-6 on weekdays- but we were there at 5:30 in the lounge. There was only another couple on a high top table. By 6, the lounge area was getting filled and more people were coming in to dine. It's a typical steak house feel. The bartender happily served me a larger size cocktail in a coke glass for 7 dollars. That's the happy hour special! They also served us warm bread, and candied nuts were already on the table. We ordered a few dishes that were half off appetizers and what can i say- we were happy about our bill. I love steak- but when I want to watch my money, and save the calories, I try for the happy our specials. Wildifire has it, but I liked Sullivan's happy hour specials more. The service here was too quick, all though professional. I'm a big LEYE you person- so that's why we went to Wildfire. But- I've come for dinner and that's also just as fabulous and better than Weber Grill in that perspective. read more

My heart's ablaze for this Lettuce Entertain You carnivore and seafood delight. Don't let the North Shore carbon copies deter you from trying this special spot in the heart of River North. I heart WILDFIRE's: * Jazzy Wine Flight * Passionfruit Mojito * Filet Medallions (Good: Bearnaise; Better: Mashed Potato; Best/ Heaven in a Bite: Blue Cheese) * Halibut Special & Asparagus * Wildfire Ice Cream Sandwich * Individual Bathroom Stalls & Bamboo Wallpaper Fantastic service! YUMMMY! read more

I'm actually not a huge red meat fan but Wildfire might have changed that. I had the Blue Cheese Crusted Filet Mignon with mashed potatoes on the side and a glass of red wine and it was absolutely fucking amazing. Our waiter was also really nice. I'm into nice people giving me awesome food to eat. I will be eating red meat here again, for sure. My mouth is watering just thinking about that double stuffed potato that the person I went with got.. damn. Amazing. For sure. read more

Wildfire is one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago and I'm not even a huge fan of steaks, which is apparently their speciality. They have the best chopped salad in the city and the halibut (a permanent special on their menu) is amazing! I also enjoy the Chicago style ambiance of the restaurant. My one complaint is that they are not open for lunch...my co-worker and I recently wandered over there in the middle of the day craving the chopped salad and were extremely disappointed to discover they were closed. A restaurant this good should be open all day! read more

Dreaming of Wildfire's Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie... I realize there is an unwritten rule in the Yelp Law Book that it is not cool to do a review on: 1. a chain restaurant such as a Lettuce Entertain You establishment; 2. a restaurant that already has so many reviews. But frankly, my dear, I don't follow the rules. I love Wildfire - I have always loved Wildfire - I simply have never had a bad meal. I have never had bad service here, either. Ever. Still dreaming of Wildfire's Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie... From the appetizers to the salads to the entrees to the desserts. Every single item I have eaten has been delicious and has kept me coming back for more. Continuing to dream of Wildfire's Homemade Chocolate Cream Pie... See, I don't always need ethnic foods or bizarre and outlandish foods like bull testicles and fried brain and pig anus and chicken feet. Nah, sometimes I just want: - a good salad. And their House Specialty is fabulous w/ roasted chicken, avocado, tomato, blue cheese, bacon, scallions, tortilla strips, corn, tossed with citrus lime vinaigrette - fabulously crispy fried calamari - extra crispy for moi - oh baby! Best I have ever had. The sauces are perfect. - shrimp and crab bisque - mouthwatering steaks! To die for. Every bit as high quality as some of the big name steak places in Chicago. - a reasonably priced nightly special such as spit roasted half Long Island Duck or a eight hour barbeque platter featuring baby back ribs, pulled pork, sliced brisket, cornbread muffin and baked beans. And one more thing - I would walk on hot coals for their Homemade Chocolate Cream pie. It's seasonal so get your piehole in there before it's gone. You can buy a whole one, too. You're welcome. read more

After my dining experience at a Wildfire in the burbs I wasn't exactly thrilled about going here for my sister's bachelorette party dinner. But now I'm really glad we did! We had a good server, which definitely makes a huge difference. I also ordered a steak this time, the filet which was what I should have done the first time I went there. SO good! I ordered it medium rare, I did think it it could have stood to be slightly more rare than it was when it got to the table...that being said it was still killer! For my side I had the red skinned mashed potatoes, again a super good choice. I would easily have this again if I go back. I ordered a gin yummy to drink, which was pretty good and quite strong. My sister had a dark and stormy which was so good that another girl at the table ended up ordering one as well. Everyone loved their food. Absolute success! read more

We came here for a family birthday dinner. Wildfire was picked because it had a good gluten free menu and could satisfy a picky eater's limited palate. First, if I could rate the bar separately, they would get one star. We arrived early and we headed to the bar to wait for our dining companions. My husband asked the waiter for a negroni cocktail. He looked at us quizzically and said they didn't have it. Eventually he said he would check with the bartender. That should have been our first clue that they had no clue. Our waiter comes back with drinks saying they could make it. The color was too brown missing the pinkish/organish color. It was not a negroni - clearly missing the Campari/Aperol component. As my husband said, it was just bad. Our waiter never came back to check on our drinks and we vowed to stick with wine for the remainder of the night. After the bar experience, I wasn't expecting much. However, our waiter Paul saved the day (and this review for them). He was friendly, helpful, and attentive. Wildfire had an extensive gluten free menu apart from the obvious steak choices which is a big plus. They brought my sister gluten free bread taking care that it was on a separate board with separate butter so there would be no "mixing." The food was overall pretty good although some things were better than others. We ordered the spinach dip appetizer with the gluten free flatbread. It was good and the flatbread was surprisingly tasty and satisfied the "gluten-lovers" at the table. The table got a mix of entrees with most people ordering steak. Everyone was pleased with their steak at the temperature they requested. My sister really enjoyed the gluten free mac and cheese which was quite delicious. I ordered the seafood platter which was a combination of salmon, shrimp, scallops, and a crab cake. My favorite was the salmon and the crab cake. Delicious. The scallops missed the mark. They were three very small scallops that were wrapped in bacon. The bacon, however, was not crispy but rather soggy, and the scallops were a bit chewy. The complimentary flourless chocolate cake for the birthday was a nice touch. Overall, aside from the bar issue, Wildfire had good service and solid food. The main reason we would go back is the gluten free menu options. However, we live in Chicago with steakhouses galore and if I am going to go to a steakhouse, Wildfire probably wouldn't be my first pick. read more

Don't go to this restaurant ! Only thing good was the Martinis Food is better at the McDonald's down the street. Couldn't eat the steak or scallops. Lettuce was spoiled Two of the four of us were sick after eating here I predict this restaurant will close soon or get a new manager read more

I have been a customer of Wildfire for 30 years since its inception. I have been having great experiences in both the Glenview and Lincolnshire stores over the past years. I was back in town and made a special effort to take my girlfriend to Wildfire. Tonight's dinner had a number of problems: - broccoli served cold - twice baked potato over cooked and not hot - peppercorn sauce was thin and watery - one filet was way under cooked - waitress didn't check on us until we were almost finished with dinner The worst problem was with waitress. I order the horseradish crusted filet as I always do. It came and I noticed that it wasn't wrapped in bacon. I asked the waitress when she finally came back if they changed the dish. She said I ordered the filet with horseradish crust, not the horseradish crusted filet that comes with bacon, saying I miscommunicated. No apology, but did mention she should have qualified the order??? Amateurish at best. All I can say is this location is not up to par for a Lettuce restaurant... Management is non existent and it needs upper management's attention. I will not be back nor will anyone in our party. read more

As an event venue: The space is charming. It doesn't scream upscale but it definitely isn't shabby. Tons of dark wood gives it a classic feel much like an old school supper club. Staff went above and beyond to make sure everyone was taken care of during the event. The planner for the venue was also very nice, easy to work with and quick to reply to any questions. They showcased some fall menu items for our group and they were awesome. Mini pumpkin pies and key lime pies were bite sizes pieces of heaven. Other menu favorites included goat cheese stuffed mushrooms, shrimp and asiago pizza, and some mini chicken puff pastries that i can't recall the name of. I could see this venue working well for a group of business men/women, a function for school groups (college) and larger family functions. Ps. it smells like they have a fire burning because, well they do. read more

I ordered dinner through the website for delivery for my birthday (8/18). I had been looking forward to it all day. It arrived completely cold. The steak, the potatoes and the cornbread for both me and my boyfriend. When we cut into the steaks they were rare and definitely NOT medium. I had to microwave the steak for it to be edible for my liking. The potatoes were inedible upon arrival and I microwaved them to make them warmer so we could eat them. The cornbread was also cold and had to be microwaved. For a meal that cost $140 I expected better. We frequent Wildfire for our celebration days, but this has really disappointed me. I expected so much better from Wildfire. Would NOT recommend ordering Wildfire for delivery because it is NOT worth it. Extremely disappointing. read more

I haven't been here for a while, but I've never had a bad meal here. It's a carnivore's delight. I like the steak au poivre (with peppercorns) and the blue cheese crusted filet. The pork chops and planked salmon are both excellent. I hear there are salads here, but I wouldn't know. But the double baked potatoes -- yum. I think I hear my cholesterol calling. read more

Individual little key lime pies. Not slices. Pies. SO CUTE. We had these adorable teeny tiny pies catered in to the office for my boss's boss's birthday. I always like free food at work, but it's especially fantastic to get a mini-key lime pie! We need more office birthdays, stat. The pies are so tasty, just the right combo of sweet and tangy (and so beautiful with the fluffy whipped topping and key lime zest). They're almost too much to handle in one sitting...which is why my leftovers (and some others, I'm sure) made it into the office fridge with passive-aggressive warning notes written on the box. You know, friendly reminders such as "Touch this and I'll kill you!" or "This pie has cyanide in it!" or "I spit in this dessert, still wanna eat it?" It's that delicious. My infatuation with the key lime pies made it really easy for Stacey A. to drag me out to Wildfire for dinner. I am in love with several things about this place: - They will make your steak blue for you. This makes me happy, because I kind of like a cold center. - Bearnaise sauce. My arteries hate me, but my stomach just loves me. - Our waiter described the 007 Martini as "Veeeeery veeeery strong. So much gin." I'm going to go enjoy my food-coma now... read more

My husband and I made reservations for 9:30 on a Saturday and yes, we needed them. The entire restaurant was packed! We arrived 15 minutes early but our table was ready within 5 minutes. We were seated and our server was quick to come by the table for drink orders and suggestions for entrees. I ordered the horseradish crusted filet and my husband ordered the lamb porterhouses. We both ordered the au gratin potatoes as a side. In hindsight we should have ordered two different sides but the potatoes were fantastic. Our meal was very leisurely and our server always seemed to come around at exactly the right time. We ordered coffee and desserts and really just enjoyed our meal. I would highly recommend this restaurant if you're feeling like a steak. I should also mention that my husband is gluten free and there were a lot of options on their separate gluten free menu. read more

I took my hubby here for his birthday, which prima facie says a lot. He's a sabor-toothed carnivore and we've been around the Chicago steakhouse circuit on the hunt for melt-in-your-mouth succulence with good ambiance, and Wildfire delivered. First, his shrimp and crab bisque was creamy and not too salty or viscous, which are flaws in a lot of bisques. My caesar salad was ok, but it was overshadowed by our beer flight which came with healthy portions and a nice sampling of flavors. And now the drumroll please....he ordered the porterhouse medium-rare with a blue cheese crust, and it dissolved on our tongues, it was Just That Good. After finishing my own meal, I kept picking at the bone hoping for more slivers of goodness. I ordered the filet mignon trio with blue cheese, horseradish and bearnaise crusts, and I sang my meat mantra of of "mmm....mmm" throughout the meal, although my one gripe was that while I'd ordered the medallions medium, one was obviously well done, kind of a bummer considering I only had three little meat bits to enjoy. His au gratin potatoes were standard, my mashed potatoes were so smooth that I could have asked for a Big Gulp portion and sucked it through a straw, and that's a good thing. As for the ambiance, many steakhouses aim for the board room decor (why work away from work?), but Wildfire is inviting, warm, and the bubbly conversations never get to the level of a dull roar. read more

I think if there's one steakhouse in the Chicagoland area that has set a standard for a typical steakhouse, Wildfire is it. I've been here plenty of times, and the quality is what keeps me coming back. SOME (and I'll repeat) SOME Lettuce Entertain you restaurants can do that. Goat cheese for an appetizer is a must, and I always suggest the chopped salad, as it's one of the best I've ever had. This means it of course can't be too healthy, loaded with blue cheese, pasta, chicken, avocado, and don't forget the bacon. The Filet Trio is always on the menu no matter what. It's listed as a featured special but it's always on there. I'm not sure if Wildfire is the originator of the encrusted flavors on top of steaks, but they were the first I've seen to have them and I love them for it. Horseradish, Blue Cheese, Parmesean, Peppercorn, whatever your flavors are they have them, and if you get the Filet Trio, you get to choose three different crusts if you like. I go with the horseradish everytime now. read more

The aroma of this restaurant is fantastic. Since that's the first thing I mention, I hope you understand how good the smell of steak was emanating from this place. Had a very good meal here. I had the Parmesan crusted steak and garlic shrimp, and my boyfriend had the nights special of feta crusted steak over caramelized onions. Both were fantastic, perfectly cooked, and the sides of mashed potatoes and grilled were okay, nothing special. We skipped dessert due to fullness but they looked very good. Only complaint was the service was VERY rushed. Our waiter at one point cleared our plates and wiped the table down with a rag before we were done. Slow it down guys. People are trying to enjoy their meal, not win a contest for fastest steak dinner. read more

If I had to sum up the Wildfire experience I would say, "Decent food at prices you would expect from a higher end establishment, but lacking the experience, ambiance, or anything else that makes it stand out". I'm not saying it was bad, they made the steak the way I ordered it. But that doesn't make you a good steak or chop house, that makes you average. And, while I want to be fair to the place, the most memorable thing about my visit was how the casual contrasted with the finer dining experience that Wildfire was trying to provide. This will be a short review because I don't have much else to say. If you like Wildfire, go to Wildfire. But, if you want a premium steak or chop house experience in Chicago, and you're willing to pay the premium, search elsewhere as I fear Wildfire won't deliver. read more

Taken here for my birthday and my daughter-in-law graduation from Rush University, told that we would have a great meal, don't believe the hype. The steak that I had was tough as leather, over cooked almost burnt, just plain bad, the baked potato was hard as a rock I could not eat it. Brought it home to see if I could make it better, nope. The chicken that my daughter-in-law had was under cooked, she could not eat it. The amount of money paid for these meals was a waste, it was not cheap. I even had to ask for sugar for my lemonade, bad, bad, bad. If you want to give someone your money for bad food, eat here. read more

I can honestly say that Wildfire is my absolute favorite restaurant in Chicago. Everything on the menu is incredible. I went for my birthday last month, and we had the soft pretzel appetizer with two dipping sauces: cheddar and honey mustard. TO DIE FOR! Then I got the steak trio. A specialty of Wildfire is that they offer "crusts" to their steaks, flavors including double baked potato, cheddar, parmesan (the three I got), and more! We also got potatoes au gratin, again incredible. For dessert I was surprised with chocolate lava cake! Could my night have gotten any better? The drinks are appropriately strong, which is important when you're paying a pretty penny for them. The staff is knowledgeable on the menu-an obvious requirement for such a place, as well as friendly. The atmosphere is a little loud so if you're looking for a quiet intimate dinner, maybe opt for a different place, but that aspect of the restaurant didn't bother me at all! It seemed a lot of people used it as an after work drink spot, and there were a lot of group parties as well as couples. Overall I love Wildfire and wish I could make more of a habit of going there. read more

Wildfire - Colette medallion special - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Last weekend I was taken out for dinner by my host and he chose Wildfire because according to him, there was no better steakhouse in Chicago. I doubted him but when we got there, I realized that what he said was probably true. Right from the door to seating and it only took 10 minutes to get a table after making a reservation earlier. I found that quite impressive. Soon enough, the waiter came along and took our orders. He happened to be friendly, polite and humorous. We both ordered the surf & turf- filet mignon and a crab-crusted lobster tail which was absolutely delicious and sampled the chopped salad which was probably the best I've ever had. For dessert, we had the key lime pie that was just perfect. I noticed people on other tables making positive comments too and I can only recommend Wildfire to anybody who wants the real deal. read more

I love Wildfire. It may be one of my favorite steakhouses of all time. Or rather, since I am new to the "enjoying steak" scene, it IS my favorite steakhouse of all time by default, since I don't know any better. Service is personable, but professional. Your glass of water is never empty, and after ordering, neither is your stomach. Here's a list of delicious things I have had there (not all at once): - Spinach & artichoke fondue with garlic toast points - Wood oven baked goat cheese (bruschetta, essentially) - Chopped salad - Blue cheese crusted fillet - Bourbon tenderloin tips - Lemon pepper chicken breast Uh, yeah. You will be full and happy and poorer when you leave and you won't even care about the poorer part because the steak was so excellent. I went here on my birthday and was absolutely happy with everything. read more

Yum! I went here recently for my birthday dinner with my family, as well as for a friend's baby shower. (Both the downtown and suburbs) I have no complaints- the petite filet steak is amazing. The chopped salad is wonderful. Even the bread is delish. Great appetizers. The salmon teriyaki was really good too. Wildfire is truly a good splurge and a good destination for birthdays, special occasions or family get togethers (and a nice alternative to a place like Maggiano's.) Oh, and the best mash potatoes ever!! Leave room for dessert... you're leaving with a stomach ache. They were also great about accomodating my special request for a round table out of the way with room for high chairs. And the waiters are always so friendly and helpful- top notch service. They even brought out birthday candles for my two twin nieces! read more

This is my first time vising the Chicago location. i was quite mesmerized by the decor as we patiently waited for our tables. Two days before NYE at 8:30pm, the place was reasonably packed. My group of 3 were anticipating a 30 minute wait with an opportunity to sit at the bar based on a first come, first serve basis. We were seated in 15minutes. Clientele will range between business and K.I.T. friends. I always enjoyed eating Wildfire because they have one dish that I have not experienced at another restaurant. That item is the mushroom crusted porkchops. The flavoring and juiciness found in two pork chops that feel like the beefy versions of filet mignon. Their steaks are equally as good and price is reasonable. Pair the food, the decor, and the friendly staff, it's a great place to eat and gather. read more

So here's how a restaurant does it right and redeems itself. I went last night for dinner with a large group with a 7:30 reservation. When we got there, they were ready to seat us right away. We asked if it was a round table and they said it wasn't but that they could accommodate us. Less than 10 minutes later we were seated at a round table. Our adorable waitress Mandy came over to get our drink order. I asked for something special that they don't make. Mandy and the bartender totally took care of me and made me my perfect drink. For dinner I ordered the skirt steak and my friend ordered the Filet Mignon medallion trio and we were going to share. The medallions were good but my steak was luke warm and had a piece of something not so good running through it. Mandy and the manager came over, apologized and said they would bring me a new one. The second steak came back piping hot but raw. Again, Mandy and the manager came over apologizing for the mistake and offered to bring me a third steak. By this time, I'm over it. Everyone else had pretty much eaten their dinner and I did have half of the medallions. Here's were the redemption comes in. Not only did they not charge me for my dinner, they didn't charge my friend for her filet medallions or the salad we had as an appetizer. The bottom line for other restaurants to take a lesson from...even after you've had a not so good experience with the food, if a restaurant can make you walk out with a good feeling, they know how to do it right. I will definitely be going back...just might not order the skirt steak! read more

This was the first classy joint I ate in when I moved to Chicago..One word Prime Rib!! Triple mouthgasm! This place has many awesome memories! read more