Went here for dinner on a Saturday night; we made an OpenTable reservation but were informed by the hostess that reservations are not valid for the rooftop and that there was a wait to eat up there. We said that was fine and that we would just wait around the bar area and drink until a table was ready; "No", the hostess said, "there is no room at the bar." We must wait downstairs. Ok...so we waited maybe 20 minutes downstairs until a table was ready. As we enter the rooftop we were expecting it to be mobbed considering the hostess said there were no tables or room at the bar: the rooftop was EMPTY. There were open tables everywhere and the bar was half full. What?? This treatment made a poor first impression, but luckily the service and food the rest of the night made up for it. We had two cocktails that were unique, tasty, and decent pours. For food, the fig & prosciutto flatbread was delicious; highly recommended. Unfortunately, the braised short rib was not good; I have had a lot of short rib in the city and this was below average; it was too chewy and tough (short rib should be tender and rip apart easily; go to Pinstripes for an example of a good short rib); the small piece of polenta that came with it also was underwhelming; short rib should come with mashed potatoes in my opinion. We also had a side of mac 'n cheese which was tasty. Overall, the rooftop really is beautiful; I recommend you go here for good food and drinks (although skip the short rib) and also be prepared to wait 20 minutes to be seated even if the rooftop is empty (I'm not sure what that was all about - let me know if you find out).
(4)
David D.
Came here for lunch. Had a salad that was drenched in oil. So much even that I had to press each bite with my fork against the plate to make it eatable. Barely had any flavor aside from the bitterness of the vinaigrette. Our waitress was very nice and friendly. The burgers looked great but I wouldn't eat here again.
(2)
Anna P.
Nice spot for a business lunch. Service is very attentive and fast, so you can easily get in and out in an hour if necessary. We both had salads that arrived very fast after ordering. I had a grilled veggie salad that was very good, big size, nice grilled chicken and lots of vegetables. They have a rooftop that looks worth checking out sometime as well.
(4)
Katie P.
Nothing special at all. Came here last night for an early dinner before a concert. I had a side salad and the Turkey Burger and both were super mediocre. Our server was very sweet and the service was great but the food was underwhelming.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Came in on a Tuesday, was greeted by warm hosts. We put our name on the wait for outdoor seating in the patio upstairs and had to wait, not a worry because if there is a bar, I am all in there. I got a drink that was their version of a piña colada, cruisin for the infusin'. Such comical names, I love it. man, was that delicious!! I had two and then another drink, which was their version of a margarita..was incomparable to cruisin for the infusin' For dinner I had their seasonal salad! It was to die for!!
(5)
Jennifer C.
I have gone to Tavern at the Park on both of my visits to Chicago - in the summer and the winter. Both times I have been very pleased with the service and quality of food. In the summer, the best way to enjoy an afternoon at Tavern is on their rooftop deck called The Treehouse. It is filled with comfortable tables and lounge chairs, great background music, and provides a great view of Millennium Park. During my summer visit I had their Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread which was absolutely delicious. I'm a sucker for anything with truffle oil, and when you pair it with poached pears, blue cheese, and prosciutto... it's an easy home run. Their Tuna Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, and Shoestring Fries with Truffle Aioli were also very good. I have a major sweet tooth so I went to dessert heaven when I ordered their Warm Apple Blueberry Bread Pudding, New York Style Cheesecake, Key Lime Creme Brulee, and Apple Crumble. The bread pudding is MASSIVE and can easily be shared between 4 or 5 people. The cheesecake and apple crumble were probably my favorite. In the winter, I went to Tavern for a romantic dinner in their Tree House Atrium, which is an enclosed glass section on their deck. Very romantic, quiet, and intimate lounge area. For dinner we had their Wild Mushroom & Truffle Risotto and Lobster Ravioli which were both so, so good! I was so happy we took leftovers back to our hotel so that we could have the next day. The service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and accommodating. I will definitely we returning to Tavern at the Park in my future visits to Chicago.
(4)
Timothy H.
My wife and I enjoyed an early dinner here that has put us in the mood to return very soon. My wife had the steak sandwich, which at $25, had better be amazing. It was. She only gave me a few small bites, but oh man, was that the best steak sandwich I have ever had. It's real steak, not hamburger steak. The aioli and onions on top just made it an out of this world meal. I had the fish n' chips, which was also very good. I found the service to be exceptional. We arrived during a shift change, so we got to experience two servers, and both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, polite, and funny. One of their drink specials was recommended to my wife, but after one sip, she said she just didn't like it. Without hesitation the server (Chris) said he would bring her anything else she wanted and that she wouldn't be charged for the drink she didn't like. That's just great customer service! The atmosphere is very relaxed yet professional. This is not a bar. I would recommend patrons wear something a tad bit nicer than you would if you were going out to Applebee's or TGI Friday's. But if you want to go casual, hey, that's up to you. You're in The Loop, so remember that you will be spending a bit more to eat here. We reported a bill of $89 (including tip), which I thought was pretty good.
(5)
Lexi T.
Would have been five stars but the host and hostess suck! They just stared at me when I walked in, no greeting. They gave us the worst seat in the restaurant, dead center when everyone else was closer to the wall. Didn't even ask us if we wanted to sit outside. The food was amazing, Jose was on point with refilling my water, service was okay
(3)
Ed A.
Hawks Win! After spending too long waiting for the Hawks to parade past Grant Park, I headed to the nearest place for some grub and alcohol. It was great to see the Hawks parade by. Well, I should say it was cute to see the top 3 inches of their heads. The crowd was stacked, whacked and white teenage suburbanite. No alcohol within sight but ganja was in the air. The restaurant was full of hockey fans. It was pretty cool. There was like a hive of red and black bees. The upper deck was pretty cool with a great view that we were unfortunately too late to get. The food was tremendous. My turkey burger was by far the best I've had. The bun was fantastic and held together, a rarity with huge hamburgers. Most of all, the wine selection was very nice. The first floor is more formal and stuffy, yet still contemporary. I'll be back next year after they repeat. Go Hawks!
Save the drama for your momma. Came in for a conference and was attracted by an open air bar. Being from Colorado I wanted to drink outside. Bartenders seem to have issues with management, patrons or something. Instead of making drinks, a soap opera behind the bar is whats served. Heard nothing but restaurant b.s. which i do not care for. Was going to stay for food but Nick gave me a headache and had to go elsewhere.
The host guy here is a real dick. You seat people for a living, don't act so pompous about your middle wage job filling out seating charts. Your job requires the skill level of a 16 year old girl.
(1)
Jeff L.
Arrogant and Overpriced. ToP's close proximity to Millennium Park should not allow them to provide such poor service. Server 'David' cleared all the fun+energy from our party because HE wanted to be the show.
(1)
Patrick W.
My wife and I visited Tavern at the Park after eating at Wildberry (which was right next door). We had some time to kill and figured we would get a few drinks. When walking in it felt like we needed to be way more dressed up than we were. The place has a very upscale, formal feel to it with the staff in white button downs and a black tie. There was a decent rush on a Monday around lunch time which made a service fairly slow - especially since we were only ordering drinks from the bar. My wife ordered a couple White Sangrias and seemed to really enjoy them. I just ordered a Whiskey/Pepsi which came in a fairly tall glass. The bill was over $50 after tip and just four drinks which was a little surprising. Other than the high cost and slower than average service it was a decent experience.
(3)
Jenn W.
I came here with a few friends and my husband just to grab a few drinks. It has a very upscale look on the inside. I ordered their sangria which is actually a white sangria. It was absolutely delicious! However is was a bit more on the pricey side than I usually care to pay for a beverage. Overall not a bad place at all.
(3)
Jasmine S.
This is mainly a review for the rooftop section of Tavern at the Park. We came on a warm Saturday night around 11, and it was pleasantly not as packed as we had expected. The view is great, the seats are super comfy, and the drinks are delicious though maybe not that strong (about $12 a pop which is very much worth it for the atmosphere and location). PS. they're pretty strict about their last call for food at 11 and last call for drinks at 11:30. They also will make you leave right at midnight. I wish the place was open later!
(5)
Catherine P.
This review is more for The Tavern Tree House above Tavern at the Park... Are you looking for a great spot to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, baptism, or other special occasion and want excellent service with even better food and an amazing view? Look no further. I have been dining at Tavern in the Park for several years and most recently celebrated a baptism at Tavern's Tree House this summer. I couldn't believe the amazing view overlooking Millenium Park and Michigan Avenue. The background for photos was breathtaking. The service here is top notch and I couldn't make food like Tavern if I tried. The Tree House can be completely enclosed in glass and heated during the colder months we experience here in Chicago or they can open it up during the summer temps so you can eat, drink and be merry with the sun on your skin and feel Lake Michigan's breeze upon your face. There is a full service bar, restrooms and kitchen on the same level as their Tree House all of it very well maintained and beautifully designed. Check it out for yourself next time you're in the downtown area and grab a bite while you're there. You won't be sorry!!
(5)
Jake J.
Great food but the service was a tad slow. Nothing terrible, i just thing the waitress had too much going on. All in all.. Would happily go there again.
(4)
Greg S.
Great food and even better service. The place was busy and they made us feel like we were the most important guests in the building. The rotisserie ck was a huge portion and had a nice spice. The braised short rib was tender and juicy.
(5)
Terry L.
Location, Structure and Food! After flowing through my Yelp feed, I stumbled on this place and became very intrigued by the rooftop benefit. This location is directly across from Chicago's Millennium Park and externally is a beautiful building. As per recommendations from Yelpers, I made a reservation and noted that I wanted to be at the rooftop. Upon entering, my reservation was confirmed and coat check was available, as the hostess was about to sit me down at a table, I asked if the rooftop was available - she checked with her manager and it was!!!! I was then led to an elevator and escorted to the infamous rooftop... Unfortunately, due to the weather, the rooftop was enclosed but you still had a view of the park and city, however I was not able to get the same experience that other Yelpers had spoken about (ex: bar area, plush seating, closer views and airiness). I knew exactly what I wanted so I got the following... Smoked Pepper Wings - I asked that these be well done. They came out piping hot and were great! I wouldn't say that these are "jerk" but they are seasoned very well, I have to say that I was surprised with the quantity given... it was a lot... enough to share between 2-3 people. The Traverse City Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce that is givin on the side takes the wings to another level, I could swim in a bowl of it... it's sweet and has a hint of spice, you will enjoy it. The Tavern Steak - A 16oz Prime Ribeye, I ordered this well done, this is a lot of steak, lol, I loved that there was more meat than chewy fat and that it was grilled to perfection. It comes with a house made butter which compliments the steak well. I opted to also get a side of onion straws to place on top of the steak (which IMO should come automatically). I know many have concerns about customer service but I had no issues, in fact, my waitress was on it. She overheard me saying that I needed to be quick as I didn't have much time and came back to check on me as I was waiting on my food to ask if I was OK as she did not want me to be late, she kept my glass full and checked on me throughout the night. I did not encounter any issues with any staff and all requests were answered and accommodated without any attitudes. I will most def be back when I return to Chicago AND the weather permits the rooftop to actually be open in it's true element.
(4)
Jackie C.
This place was great! I met an SMU colleague here for dinner and the service was wonderful. The food was delicious! We will definitely be back for dinner and can't wait to try the rooftop.
(4)
Ed D.
Went here for work lunch. First thought was prices are expensive but on second thought once we got the food was it was worth it. My other co-workers agree. We sat inside but it's in a great area for people watching if you happen to sit outside. The ambiance is ok. The service was great. The waiter sold us on the "best" chicken wings in your life...needless to say they were good but definitely not the best. We also ordered the Flatbread and a bunch of entrees. I picked the ginger shrimp salad and it was delicious and very filling. Very nice place to eat lunch.
(4)
Sonny C.
A dinner that begins with the server support knocking a drink squarely into the lap of a patron may be jinxed from the get-go. In this case the original sin was reaching over the table to pour water rather than coming around to the side of each person. So let's talk about the food. Our table had steak Diane, salmon, chicken and fish & chips. Since veggies were not part of the meal, a side of grilled asparagus provided the one not-buttery vegetable option. All round the food was pretty good so I regret the experience was marred by the spilled drink episode. But since eating out is an entertainment experience, it is not just about the food. It's theater and this was not one of Chicago's better productions. The table was soaked as was my companion as the water pouring from the carafe missed the water glass in the ensuing chaos. The server sprinted away to get help. That took 5 minutes for both server and manager to arrive to assess the situation. We asked for a different table. Rather than just move us immediately to the adjacent 4-top, they disappeared to consult their computers. Now another 5 minutes later we were moved to the adjacent table. My companion is still wet and drying off with table napkins. We got the apology, one fresh drink and an offer of free dessert. Free dessert? Well, thank you, but dessert was not on our agenda. What about an offer to clean the clothes or comp the injured individual's meal? Maybe a round of drinks to lighten the mood? Some gesture other than what we're not going to have. Nevertheless, when the meal ended and, well, maybe we might have dessert, no server or manager was around. Ultimately we got up and found a different server and requested they find our server. Check, please and we were gone. One of our party spent the next 4 hours with wet pants. Pretty uncomfortable. Maybe an isolated case? Perhaps. We think the response could have been both prompter, a little more sincere and empathetic for what turned out to be a much less pleasant evening than anticipated.
(3)
Sara P.
I went to the treehouse at tavern at the park last week, this was my second time here. It started off very unpleasant as we were on a waiting list for a table, and they never called us when our table was ready. After awhile I went back to the hostess stand and they did skip over us and forgot to give us a call. I was assured by the hostess our table would be ready in 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes she said someone sat in our table and they weren't going to ask my them to move. We waited another 5 minutes and finally received a table. After we were seated, I spoke to the manager James, who completely turned our night around. He was very apologetic, took charge of the situation and assured us things were going to get better. He brought out several complimentary appetizers, was persistent with checking on us and seeing if we needed anything. James was helping the wait staff clean our plates, grab us drinks. If it wasn't for James compensating for the disaster in the beginning of the evening, we probably would've left or not even come back. Every restaurant needs a James.
(4)
Lisa P.
I have been excited to try this spot because it always looks so fun and it's always busy. My friend and I went on a Wednesday night, it was not crowded at all and we sat at a table on the rooftop without waiting for a table. It took over 15 minutes for a server to come to our table. When she did, she was pleasant and we placed a drink order. Our wine took 10 more minutes to arrive. Eventually, a different server came over and took our food order (she said our server was in the bathroom)...I ordered a hamburger and my friend got a pizza. Our old server kept walking by and saying hello/saying our food was coming out as I watched every other table (ones that were sat and clearly ordered well after we had) get their food. I asked 3 different times where our food was. She kept saying it was coming. Our food took exactly 1 hour to arrive and it came out wrong. Then, yet another server came out to ask how the food was and we ordered another glass of wine to accompany our meal. That glass of wine came out 15 minutes later after we had already eaten most of our meal. Since we had been at the establishment so long the sun had gone down and it was getting cold and all around, waitresses were providing/asking guests if they wanted blankets..we were never asked. In my opinion we should have gotten one of our glasses of wine comped or something for waiting so long but that was also never offered. This was a bad experience and while the food was good, the service was subpar and prices aren't cheap so it was not worth it.
(1)
Rachel K.
Went for lunch on a Monday. Service was pretty quick. I ordered the goat cheese salad, which was good but nothing too special. The Tavern is great for a solid business meal as the noise level is perfect for chatting over food. But if you want to be wowed, you might want to take your party somewhere else.
(3)
See Taste Love ..
We ran into this beautiful romantic spot across from the millennium park and we are so glad see taste love got to experience this! To see the city at a different view was a delight of an experience and the dishes are to die for!
(5)
Shayla J.
Excellent restaurant! The food was amazing. The service was very awesome and the view is spectacular. This was my first visit to Chicago and with so many places that serve steak, I'm glad I chose Tavern at the Park to be my dinner destination. The smoked pepper wings appetizer really lived up to their reputation and the steak encrusted with Bleu cheese was delicious. I would definitely visit again whenever I'm in Chicago
(5)
Ayrin B.
This is a great spot for lunch. It is very easy to find (across from Millennium Park) and the decor is beautiful (lots of wood). The staff is excellent is as well. They are attentive, but not worrisome. The food is reasonably priced for Chicago with good sized portions- not too big or small. I have only been here for lunch, but will have to try dinner some night. My favorite lunch choices are either the Chopped Salad or Seared Ahi Tuna. I'm sure everything else on the menu is great as well. It sure does look tasty.
(4)
Grant P.
Amazing views, delicious food & drinks, great service and horrible dismal attitude from the front-house staff that almost ruined everything. I guess 3 of 4 ain't bad. And had I read many of the other reviews, I guess I would've known what @$$holes the host and hostess were. I hate to start a decent review with the bad stuff, but chronologically that's how this is going to go. Thankfully things greatly improved as the night went on. I made a reservation several days earlier and was informed that reservations aren't taken for the Tree Top, but they would note that we wanted to sit there on our reservation. Unfortunately when we arrived, it wasn't acknowledged whatsoever. No mention of it. The hostess began to seat us and I asked if we were going upstairs per our request. "No, we only note that on the reservation," she said rather rudely. I told her we'd wait for a table up there, which seemed to shock her. "It could be an hour," she said. "I have no idea. But you can sit at the bar." She pointed to a packed bar. "Where?" I asked. "Well I don't know. It's first come first served." No shit, lady. But don't tell me to sit there if it's obviously full. "So what do you want to do?" I said we'd stand there and wait for our table, which seemed to put her off even more and she walked away. Well, we waited for a spot at the bar to open up, and before our drinks even arrived Friendly McCrabbypants arrived to tell us there was a table available upstairs. Once again she showed annoyance when I mentioned that we hadn't gotten our drinks yet, but my wife absolved the situation by telling me to go ahead upstairs and she would follow when the drinks came. The hostess didn't go upstairs with me or show me to a table, as she did with every other guest that arrived after us. Instead she simply pushed the button on the elevator and said, "take whatever table you want." Jerk. Had they simply said something like, "I see you'd like to sit in the TreeTop. Unfortunately there's no table available right now, but I can seat you in the dining room right away," I wouldn't have been so put off by their behavior. But simply ignoring our request was downright rude and uncalled for. But once we were upstairs things changed. It was another world. It was elegant and warm, with an amazing view of the skyline, picture-perfect lit Christmas trees and a roaring pillar fireplace. Everyone upstairs was delightful and friendly, and our waitress couldn't have been more helpful and attentive. When my wife showed up sans drinks (they were missing an ingredient for one of their signature cocktails at the bar downstairs) our waitress told us they absolutely make it upstairs. The food was divine. We had the duck egg rolls, my wife had a burger and I had the barbecue brisket. Everything was flavorful, delicious and wonderful, and our waitress Nashley checked on us and saw to it that we had an exceptional time. She really turned things around and made what started off as a horrid dining experience into a spectacular one.
(4)
Brittany L.
Great atmosphere, a lot of business men go here for happy hour and its a good vibe. Their beer and wine selection are phenomenal as well as the friendly staff. I live close by so have been coming here more and more. Definitely would recommend!
(5)
Angela S.
On a sunny weekday afternoon with colleagues, coming here for lunch was a real delight. We had a reservation upstairs on the second floor, and it was nice to see a view of the city all around us. From what I understand they have a fantastic outdoor rooftop deck, and I think that must be spectacular. This was my first time dining here, and I have to say my experience was perfect, other than I wish I would have followed my gut and ordered the short rib sandwich, because I'm still thinking about how good it must be. Overall, the menu had so many options that I truly had a difficult time deciding. It's not an overwhelming menu and it's well organized, but it all looked beyond delicious to me. They have a great selection of salads, and for lunch you can choose from an entree or a list of delectable sandwiches - like the short rib. I decided to go with a meatless option today - the butternut squash ravioli dish. It's my fault for assuming, but I thought the ravioli would be made from butternut squash and stuffed with some kind of cheese. It was plain ravioli stuffed with butternut squash. Here's the thing. The ravioli were just okay. The stuffing, however, was a mix of sweet and savory. The sauce, when blended together was a tad more on the sweet side, but a nice summer dish. Not super filling. Our server was professional, friendly, gave us plenty of time to search our menus, and I appreciated that he asked if any of us have allergies, because I'm allergic to soy. Great experience, and I hope to get back for that sandwich!
(4)
Grecia P.
After a walk through the beautiful Millennium Park, we were looking for a place to stop at for lunch before heading to our River Architectural Cruise. Fortunately, we came across this lovely Restaurant, TAVERN AT THE PARK. We got there right before the lunch rush and we were able to get a nice table outside. The food was delicious, the portions were very big for a lunch menu, but we were hungry so that was great for us. The Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread was phenomenal!!!! We also had a Cup of prime rib chili, which was good, the duck egg rolls although great in flavor, lacked a little in the amount of meat, and last we had warm goat cheese starter, which was just ok. The service was really good, and the white sangria was even better!!! The prices are a little up there for lunch, but the portions make it worth it, so go there HUNGRY!!!
(4)
Ivy R.
When we arrived we were stared at (not greeted) by a host (older guy) and a hostess. Only the other host (younger gentleman) who talked to us. We were told to wait for fifteen minutes. And both of these "starers" just stared at us and did not say a word at all throughout this time. So we waited for a minute or two but it's getting so weird with these two catatonics staring. When the other couple who were waiting ahead of us left. We decided to leave too. Management should look at this. Went to Chucks (Michigan Ave) instead and got a much better service.
(1)
Richard D.
Stopped in for dinner and drinks after a fun first day on our vacation. This place is enormous - there are several levels as well as a rooftop patio that overlooks Millenium Park. Cocktails were inventive, and I appreciated that these drinks were described in detail (with pictures) on the restaurant's website. I knew before coming in that I wanted the Chicago Fire Burger: it was a superb blend of heat, sweet, crunch, and richness. A lot of places now are incorporating something akin to the Sriracha aioli, but the fried avocado element put this burger over the top for me. I tried a bite of the generous portion of steak frites my girlfriend ordered, and it was well-seasoned and full of flavor. Our server (think his name might have been John) had a lot of personality - he was hilarious! He also gave us some helpful tips for us on our trip, which was an added bonus. Would definitely return.
(5)
Sarah V.
I'm not very good with numbers, but a couple thousand dollars divided by a couple dozen people almost guarantees a good night. A friend of mine invited me to a work sponsored happy hour. They rented the entire Tree House upstairs which apparently requires a pretty hefty minimum. When I arrived there were already appetizers on the tables and bottles of wine everywhere. We had one main server who was absolutely amazing despite already being guaranteed a large tip. Get this, she memorized ALL of our names! Unfortunately, I've forgotten hers. But for the entire night it was, "Miss Sarah, can I get you another one?" I ordered my first drink off the menu and it was pretty terrible. It had a gigantic aloe leaf which made the drink pretty slimy. I looked for a better drink to order and really wasn't finding anything. Our waitress informed me that they have a fully stocked bar and if I didn't want something off the menu I could order absolutely anything else I wanted. I eventually settled on a Mojito, but before that she offered to have the bartender make me a special drink if I just tell her what flavors I like. Well, one Mojito turned four which turned into more appetizers which turned into more drinks. Overall, it was a great night and from what I can remember everything was pretty delicious!
(5)
Emma K.
My boyfriend and I came here before a show at the Chicago Theatre, and everything was great. Particularly the Caprese Salad. I will definitely be returning here for that specifically. It was HUGE and delicious! The normal caprese stars of mozzarella, tomato, oil, and balsamic, but the additions of avocado and manchego cheese crisps were phenom. My boyfriend ordered some sort of sandwich (I was so involved in my own food, I can't even remember which one!, but I think it was the steak sandwich) that he really enjoyed. He also wanted to try the buffalo chicken mac & cheese, so they created a special appetizer portion for him so he didn't have two gigantic meals. I got the butternut squash ravioli which was yummy and I was glad it was a little smaller of a portion given the size of the Caprese. Great service and cozy sit in a booth next to the bar area downstairs. I will totally be back to check out the terrace next summer to enjoy a Caprese & some wine :)
(4)
Chris M.
Bookmaker sandwich was phenomenal! One of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Atmosphere is fantastic. Only reason I am not giving five stars is because it took 25 minutes longer than they quoted me to have my order ready to go. If it had not been for that it would have been perfect. I will give them another shot soon because the food was superb.
(4)
Carol K.
Updating my review to include "Treehouse at Tavern" their rooftop bar that did a great job of taking care of my friends and I the other night. It's a bit complicated to know how you get up to this place. On some nights you put your name in and wait for your entire party to show up and enter through the main restaurant. And on our recent visit- they directed me a little east of the regular doors to climb up a metal stairway on the outside of the space. No matter- the ending is the same as you find yourself in a cute rooftop bar with comfy seating clusters, cozy sofas and a bar to gather at. Since we were a party of 5, we were able to secure one of the table and sofa areas which was just perfect as it offered us a view of the park. Know that after work and later in the day- the sun moves behind the buildings so it can get chilly up there. Service was attentive and the manager stopped by a couple of times to make sure we had what we needed. This place will definitely go on my rooftop list for Summers to come!
(4)
Rielly M.
Okay first off they do accept reservations, but not for the outdoor seating. The service was absolutely amazing- our waiter went out of his way to recommend drinks and appetizers based on our alcohol preference. The food is a tad over priced, but man was it good. I had the flat bread as an appetizer and the ahi tuna tacos for my main food. The ahi tuna tacos were amazing and covered in teriyaki sauce. Overall great experience!
(5)
Akta D.
My husband and I went here on a Friday night. There was a crowd , but didn't seem overly busy. We only ordered 2 drinks, the Rye, Rye Rye and Check yo self before you wreck yo' self. Both were bad. In fact, the check yo self was just terrible. I haven't had a worse drink. It came with a candied or burnt or dried lemon. It didn't look very pleasing at all. I would NOT recommend it. The worst part was the waiting for our waitress. It first took her about 5 minutes to see us. We ordered the drinks. We never got water as we were waiting. She didn't come to check on us as we were waiting for our drinks. Usually I don;t mind it, but we waited for our drinks for over 20 minutes. That is just unacceptable no matter where you are. Afterwards, she didn't come see us until we were ready to get the check (maybe 45 minutes later). In fact, we had to flag her down. I understand she is busy, but a look over to see if we needed anything would have sufficed. The only reason I can't give this place a 1 star is because we didn't try the food. The one positive note was the music was good. I don't recommend going to this place, even if your looking for a good view because it just isn't a good view of anything
(2)
Steve M.
Don't think this place is just for tourists because it's so close to Millennium Park. Tavern serves up some seriously good food. Pete will always greet you like a good friend and make sure you want for nothing! Steaks are terrific, but there are lots of non meat options. Don't forget about the desserts either. The blueberry bread pudding is NOT TO BE MISSED! It's seriously large and loaded with fresh blueberries. They make it themselves and you'll end up eating way more than you thought you could. It's that good! Apple crumble also gets a thumbs up! Wait staff couldn't be nicer or more skilled. I also appreciate the wine selection. Some joints only offer really expensive options so you buy lots by the glass. Not so at Tavern. They also have a wonderful rooftop dining option in the nice weather. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)
Jeff S.
OK place. I go here roughly four times a year after our quarterly technology users group meeting is held in the Aon Center. So in winter months we can take the pedway to stay inside and in Summer months we can head up to their rooftop bar. Since I only ever go there for drinks then this rating is based heavily on their craft beer selection which is pretty light. Granted 4 years ago they where carrying Lagunitas IPA and Half Acre, but not much had changed since. The roof bar also has a subset of their main draft list so keep that in mind if you head up there. Personally I'd like to see more Chicago breweries represented and more rotation as the beer menu is 90% unchanged over the years.
(3)
Brooke A.
I went out to specifically find Tavern Treehouse with a girlfriend on a Saturday night. On the walk there, it looked as if the Treehouse was empty. We were excited that we might be able to get seated right away. We when finally found the correct hostess, she told us it would be a 15-45 min wait. Since we weren't in a rush, we gave her our cell number and went downstairs to the Tavern at the Park bar for a glass of wine to wait. The bar was nice, not too loud, but the bar tender was very rude and not at all attentive. It took him a good ten minutes to take our order after it took him more than five minutes to get us a wine menu. Since we were in good company, we gave him two bucks, and then ignored him (like he noticed anyway...the bill sat next to even as we left over twenty minutes later). After a while I called the hostess to inquire about our wait time, she said we were next on the list if no one in front of us responded to her calls. Five minutes later, she called back and said our table was ready. Then she told us we could grab the hostess downstairs, and he/she would take us to the elevator, so we didn't have to chug our drinks. How nice! Then...we got upstairs. The view was awesome, and the atmosphere was very nice. However, the place was EMPTY! EXTREMELY EMPTY. Like, I could probably count the number of people on just my fingers, including the staff. We would have been pissed, if it weren't for the wine we had already drank. We really could not figure out why we had to wait when there was absolutely no one there. We came to the conclusion that maybe the restaurant like to keep people waiting to think the tables are more in demand then they truly are. Either way, it was fairly annoying and pretty dishonest. There is no way that 20+ tables are got up and left in the same half hour time span we were waiting. To sum up the rest of our experience: the two apps we got were very good - shoestring fries with aioli and the margherita flatbread. However, the service was awful. So awful in fact that I had to physically find someone to get the check (our server was no where in sight). Then, I had to waive the check in the air toward two or three servers standing and talking (again, not our server), just to pay them. I would have to say I wouldn't mind going back because of the food, the view, and the atmosphere (for us old people, you can actually hear each other talk). As long as I am willing to put up with crap service the entire night. However, I am still not sure why we had to wait when the place had over twenty open tables... This will continue to baffle me...
(3)
Christy L.
This review is for the service at The Tree House, the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I met my friends there after work on a Thursday. My friends were told that at least three people in our party of four needed to be there in order to get a table. I was #3, but a table wasn't available. No big deal - tables filled while they waited for me to arrive. However, the host hesitated in letting me up to the rooftop, implying that they were at capacity. When I finally was allowed up, I was shocked to see empty tables and a rooftop that was not at all crowded. Not long after I arrived, the hostess came over to tell us our table was available. But she immediately hesitated when she saw that we had an appetizer, and said because we had ordered food (it was all eaten), she couldn't seat us at a table. This is their policy, which was not explained to us. We asked her to double check with her manager, who confirmed that they would not move us to a table because we had eaten an appetizer. What a ridiculous policy! Finally, our fourth friend arrived. The bar was no busier and they hassled her. One of my friends had to go talk to the "doorman" to let her in. The Tree House has miserable service and policies. I will not be returning despite the nice view and atmosphere.
(1)
Tiffany M.
Went here just after the river dying ceremony, and got there before the crowds. They had specials for St. P's like drinks and dinners and the whole place had green, orange and white balloons. The staff cheerfully served us. I had the corned beef and cabbage which was pretty good. But the cabbage itself was a disappointment. It was a scoop over cooked something or other. My boyfriend had a regular menu item, the buffalo chicken mac and cheese, which he ate to the bottom of the plate. The mixed drinks were great, and they had a decent beer selection. They also have a few floors, the roof top seating wasn't available when we went, but the view of the park looked like it would be fantastic. I'd go again.
(4)
Carol M.
Eh. That's all I have. Because the GD are in town it was very busy. I kinda feel like I wasted a meal here. We had the chili, French onion soup, and fig flatbread. Not blown away. Just eh.
(3)
Natalie H.
The food was nothing I couldn't throw together in my kitchen in 10 minutes. The chopped salad was bland, at best. But it wasn't just the food that makes this place a total waste of time and money. There were plenty of tables open when we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday, yet we waited a full hour for a table. The prices undoubtedly don't match the food and service. Will not be returning.
(1)
Rachel S.
Went with my boyfriend while visiting Chicago after his 21st Bday. Recommended by the concierge @ the Renaissance Marriot. Great twist on regular American food. I got the Hippy Burger (vegetarian. Basis of it was quinoa and black beans) w/ fries; it was delicious. My boyfriend got the Great Chicago Burger and said it was the best burger he'd ever had. Calamari was also delicious, as was the apple crumble crisp.
(5)
Gerry A.
The BEST wings I have had in some time, including my own. Marinated, smoked, a little char, baked not fried, THREE dipping sauces, about $11 for a dozen. We love the Treehouse, everywhere else is just loud and crowded imo. Opens at 4pm. Drinks are a little pricey. Their weekly specials change all the time and are fantastic if you like to try something a little different. If you come thirsty it's going to cost you. Excellent service and helpful recommendations. Coming back for the Black Truffle Chicken Hash. Beet salad and Blistered beans are a nice healthier cheap appetizer. Ryan was the perfect server tonight.
(4)
William K.
This was a very consistent place... everything was very good: location (great actually), service, food, ambiance. I had the mini-burgers and TY had the lobster ravioli. Yum! T at the P was a great dinner choice for us before seeing Wynton and the lads play at CSO. It's a $6 cab ride from Union Station, and we just walked to CSO after dinner. Huzzah! yow, bill
(4)
Greg L.
We decided to try the roof top area (Tavern Treehouse) when we saw the sign at the doorway that stated it was open. (It was a little difficult to find the entrance as the sign said "around the flower bed" which meant we had to go back several steps from where we came and then up the stairs to a building next to the Tavern to see the entrance hidden on the side.) All of the staff were very pleasant and did a great job which contributed to the enjoyment of our dinner. We shared a meatball flatbread as an appetizer which was very good with a sufficient amount of meatballs, cheese and sauce. My guest had the steak diane which I tasted and loved. It was four beef tenderloins on little beds of mash potatoes and gravy and it was good. I had the chicken pot pie which had a great flaky crust and it was full of white meat chicken and vegetables. We also had the Cloudgate martinis - a mixture of peach vodka and champagne. Yummy for the summer day! The price on the menu is $221, but that is if you want a Tiffany necklace also supplied with the drink. We settled for just the drinks and had a good laugh on that. The view is nice and it was a beautiful sunny day in Chicago, not too hot or humid, which really made this roof top experience a lot of fun.
(4)
Melissa M.
We lucked out and ate here during restaurant week. Have a lovely 3 course meal. Pork belly appetizer was amazing. The server was great and even the busboy was friendly and engaging. Overall an excellent experience.
(5)
Erica H.
I had the mushroom risotto. I did not like it ---Way too salty.
(2)
Tennille T.
The drinks and food was not horrible but definitely not the greatest...basically nowhere near worth the price. I ordered a margarita which tasted like anything but (it is my signature drink so I should know). I also got the lobster ravioli & for 8 small pieces with a few "pieces" of mini lobster bits on top it was not worth the money. It tasted ok but I could have gotten better at Olive Garden. My husband ordered a long island and half chicken dinner. He had pretty much the same experience. He did say half of the chicken & have the rest 2 homeless person. Our meal costs $114. Waste of money.
Great late lunch. Hummus plate and cauliflower plate both were incredible. Hummus can easily feed 4-6 people. Big bar with window booth over looking Millennium Park. Heather was a wonderful server!
(5)
Jenny K.
Lovely restaurant ambiance, service and food. Got the chicken caprese - a giant plate of fresh tomato chunks, perfectly salty balsamic, tasty mozzarella balls and shredded chicken. Was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away for table for 3 during lunch rush hour.
(4)
Mel S.
Ordered a meal for carry out here on a Friday evening because I felt like staying in and having a fancy meal all to myself. I chose tavern at the park as it's located right across the street from my apt complex. I ordered the 8oz prime rib with two sides. The sites are enormous and I ate a few stalks of asparagus and maybe 1/2 of the baked potato so keep that in mind. The prime rib was good, maybe not the best I've had but I also ordered it to-go so it may be juicier served right away. The staff here take pride in what they do and I noticed that in the detail of how they packaged my food. Overall, this place is decent. I saw a large Friday night crowd so this place is definitely popular- think 30 min wait for a Friday evening. Share the sides, get your meat rare, and grab a seat on the rooftop.
(3)
Christina L.
Our friend took us here praising the filet mignon and meat entrees. The appetizers were good but not great. We ordered the duck spring rolls, crab stuffed artichokes, and tuna tacos. The tacos were a must try. The entrees were the highlight of the restaurant. I ordered the petite prime rib medium rare, which was full of flavor and juicy. The sauce added even more to the delicious experience. I highly recommend the meat dishes here, particularly the filet mignon and prime rib! Besides this, the wine and service is superb. Without a doubt, I had an overall great dining experience here.
(4)
Anthony M.
A VIEW TO A DRINK We stopped in here on a Friday night after attending a show across the street at the Harris Theater. I was excited to try this place because who doesn't love an outdoor deck with a view. I am giving 4 stars for the view. Location location location and this tavern has it and more. You can see Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue from here. The moon was even out the night we were sitting here. This space is amazing and a perfect place to relax. Now the prices on the drinks are expensive. Yes you are paying for this view. The staff was okay. It seemed like it took a while to get our drinks even though it was not crowded up here The manager came over and said hi which is always nice. We did not have any food, so I'm not even sure what they have to eat here or if its even good. I highly recommend this place if you want to grab a drink with a view but beware of the prices. I say grab one drink and get out. There's more bars in Chicago.
(4)
Leslie J.
Sat on the roof. Spectacular atmosphere, great service, not rushed at all. Good, fresh food, nice presentation. Reasonably priced for downtown Chicago. Looking forward to returning. Only negative, soft seating could have been cleaner.
(5)
Elaine D.
They had a special with their brunch items. I didn't really think the brunch item I ordered was that great. This was a month ago, however. It may have gotten better. The atmosphere was a little too stuffy for me as well. I didn't really think the name fit how the place looked inside. I usually think of taverns are more of a casual dining place, but it seemed a bit more on the high end side of things. Then again, it's right on Michigan, so walking inside shouldn't be a surprise to see despite the name of the restaurant. Service was pretty decent.
(3)
Kristin S.
Cool rooftop bar, good food, overall great atmosphere. Great location for a parties and special occasions, with accommodating staff and good service. Really cannot beat the view or the location!
(4)
Bev W.
A friend and I tried to have lunch at Tavern At The Park today. We got there at a quarter to 12 - the place was pretty empty plenty of tables and views. We were taken upstairs to a empty banquet room with no windows or people in it. We asked for a better view and were told that where we were seated was all that was available. I repeat - most of the first floor and all of the second was sparse. Not sure what this was about, but we left. I would give this place no stars if I could and will be sending management a note on our attempted visit as well.
(1)
Fran D.
Atmosphere & decor was fun. Our waiter was great. Food was spectacular! We had the fig & goat cheese appetizer. It was full of flavor. The breaded meatball appetizer was seriously lacking in flavor. For dinner I had the linguine with mussels, clams, scallops & shrimp. Fish was fresh & abundant. Hubby orders the scallops. He loves it. Portions were good. Overall a great restaurant to visit in Chicago.
(4)
Kelsey J.
By far one of the best places if you want to eat outside in Chicago! My boyfriend and I came here two weeks ago, and it was the first truly nice day of the year. I'll break down our visit for you Service and Ambiance: We had a reservation for 7:00, and when we arrived they said they could seat us immediately inside, or if we waited till 7:45 we could eat on their rooftop patio. I'm so glad we waited! It's directly across from Millennium Park, so it was so easy killing some time there, and then the hostess called my cell when the table was ready, about fifteen minutes earlier than they anticipated! The whole experience was wonderful. We were taken upstairs in an elevator, and the hostess gave us great recommendations on the way up. We were seated at a really cute table by the glass wall of the patio with the most amazing view of the city skyline. It was dusk, and everything was gorgeous! Very romantic. I wish I could remember our waiters names" (that's right plural, waiters, we had two super awesome and attentive gentlemen serving us) because they both did a fantastic job. They answered all our questions, service was fast, and they made us laugh with their good-natured ribbing of one another. Food: This is why my review is 4 stars instead of a solid 5. We both got beers, they have a pretty ecletic and unique selection. They were large and priced right. We also got the calamari appetizer to share, and it was delicious. The aoili was flavorful, the portion was big, and the calamari was done to perfection. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich (I believe it was called the Blackhawk) and he said it was really good. I got the Hippie Burger, which was a veggie burger, with rice, beans, and chick-peas, and I wasn't impressed. It kept falling apart and made a mess! I couldn't pick it up and eat with the bun and toppings, I ended up scooping the bits of burger up with a fork. It was a little disappointing because everything else was perfect. I'll definitely be back this summer, I would love to try it for brunch, I'll just avoid the Hippie Burger in the future.
(4)
Kay K.
This review is for the Treehouse at Tavern - absolutely wonderful place to take in the city! We stopped by late night a few weeks ago (toward the end of the outdoor bar season) and were so pleasantly surprised with the cozy, fun outdoor lounge area. The heaters were on, it was pretty quiet, and they had great music playing! We ordered a few drinks (which were pretty pricey), but the ambiance alone was totally worth it! The staff was friendly, too. We can't wait to come back in the warmer months and enjoy this great spot!!
(5)
Matt O.
Stopped by the Tavern at The Park this weekend and when me and my date arrived we were greeted by the floor manager with a less than personable attitude. We had never been there before so we asked a couple of quick and easy questions (what time does upstairs open, do we need reservations, etc) and they were answered by short and abrupt answers that really didn't help us. It wasn't particularly busy so we weren't taking too much time away from him. Now with that said, we took a seat at the bar before the Tree House upstairs opened. We were served quickly by the bartenders who were both great energy. The drinks were great (whisky ginger and a sangria). Once upstairs opened, we were quickly seated and greeted by our server who we both knew we would like immediately. Drinks came quickly and all of our starters and sandwiches were killer! Despite the little speed bump right at the beginning I enjoyed the environment on the outside patio upstairs and the drinks and food were great!
(4)
Michael C.
Food tasted great! My favorite was Sea Scallops. The place wasn't busy on Saturday night so we just got a table right away. Calamari was good too. We enjoyed our dinner here.
(5)
Maureen W.
Old school, that's how I would describe this restaurant. I went on a work related dinner. It was dimly lit, all paneling and glass. The service was impeccable. We had a large party and two very capable wait staff handled us well. The wine and water was never empty, lets just say. The food was good. It wasn't surprising or original but it was good. The best thing was the fig flat bread appetizer which was crisp, gooey and scented with truffle. Really yummy. I also tried the stuffed mushroom which was only ok. I had the prime rib, cooked medium. It was good. I also got a baked potato which was huge and a side salad. Nothing out of the ordinary and it all tasted good. Come here for a good old school steak and the nice service. And try that flat bread.
(3)
Jean P.
Not bad! Great service and nice atmosphere. Wasn't thrilled with the chopped salad, but that's just me. It was fresh and well presented, but am not a fan of pasta in a traditional salad.
(4)
Blake S.
Delicious food and friendly service make dining here a treat. The menu is diverse with interesting twists on traditional bar and steakhouse fare.
(5)
Gregory C.
I think Tavern at the Park is a great place to grab drinks and business dinners. It's great for large groups. The food is good and serving sizes are pretty large. The service is great. I haven't had any issues every time I go here.
(4)
Emily J.
I had a nice couple of afternoon drinks here the other day and I would certainly be back. Our server, Toby, was great and let us enjoy an upstairs table for about 3 hours, even though the section was technically closed. We wanted to use the patio deck overlooking Millennium Park but unfortunately it only opens at 4:00pm on Fridays. I didn't have the food but joined a group who did and they loved it. The burger comes highly recommended from them. Certainly a great place to stop and get lunch either on your lunch break or after a jaunt in the park. If you want the patio though be sure and call ahead as it's often closed for private events.
(4)
Susan S.
Service is great, but food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the most recommended bookmaker burger but it's just so-so. And the risotto is very different from what I had at other Italian restaurants. I don't like it very much.
(2)
Kevin N.
This review is for the restaurant, and I was able to be seated on the rooftop. The view is mighty beautiful, but I wish it was a tad higher up! Service: 5/5 nothing I can complain about. Servers were courteous and prompt. Atmosphere/decor: 4/5 the location of this place is spot-on, right next to the coolest park in the city! I would recommend wearing something a little more dressy to this restaurant, it's time to break out that navy blazer that you've had stashed away in your closet for years! Definitely fun to dress the part when you're at this restaurant. Food: 4/5 a tad pricey, but what do you expect? The food came out delicious though, I had the halibut and it was perfectly cooked. However, the portions were a little on the small side! And this is coming from someone that doesn't eat a lot! Whoa! haha maybe I was just really hungry that day. The fries were cut really thin and small, so it was pretty crispy when we ate them, but they cooled down really fast though! I've been back twice to this restaurant. It's a foolproof place to go when you don't want to hurt your brain thinking about where to go when you have out-of-towners visiting.
(4)
Jenna S.
A friend and I walked here after attending a graduation at the Harris Theater. We needed a drink and this place seemed like just the place to go since we were wearing some fancy-ish digs and looking for good times. This place was way better than I thought it would be. We sat outside on the patio, which I highly recommend. The night was a bit chilly, but have no fear! The bar has amazing "lap skins" that you can rent with a credit card (no charge, just a hold in case you decide to steal one). Yes, I said LAP SKINS. They're really, soft, warm, faux fur blankets that do the trick when you aren't close to one of the outdoor fireplaces but you're chilly and need some warming up. Oh, and there's outdoor fireplaces if you're lucky enough to score one of those tables. Service was fast enough (could have been better), prices were decent and the food was delicious. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to have some appetizers, drinks and conversation with friends. We even witnessed an almost-fight between two rich WASPS over something dumb, like the way one of the guys was looking at the other guy. It was totally hilarious. I would definitely come here again. The atmosphere on the outdoor patio really did the trick for making an already great night even better. The views of Millennium Park and the city's skyline are wonderful and everything on the patio is modern, clean and fancy, so it all feels like something that should cost more but doesn't.
(4)
Bobbie A.
My go to place before an event at the Harris Theater, it's right across the street. I had the Chicago Fire burger and it ranks in the top 5 for me. Can't recall all of the toppings but avocado and sircha sauce made the fire. Gooood. There's outdoor seating upstairs in the summer, craft cocktails. This place has it all
(4)
Alfreda D.
Good spot for drinks after work. I've been here numerous times... in the Tree House during the summer, by the bar inside, in the main dining area. Last night, I came for a friend/coworker's going away celebration. We had a private room booked and a server. I don't recall his name but he was solid. The fact that he literally took everyone's name with their drink order and cleanly/easily kept everyone's check separate was fantastic. It's not that separating checks hasn't been done before but he was on point. His book was organized and ready to go... much appreciated. You know how that goes... 15 people show up for drinks and when the check comes the last 3 people standing are like "Wait, what? What's the balance?" LOL. Now that I think of it, most of my after work drink visits were work related and we've always had private areas and whatnot and the staff has always treated us right. I remember the appetizers being really good too but I can't review that right now because it's been a while. Anyway, the cocktails I had were good and reasonably priced, so no complaints on my end. And our server kept bringing out those warm bread baskets to help coat our stomachs since it was pre-dinner time. Ha... also much appreciated. We tipped him well... I hope he thought so anyway!
(4)
Cassie G.
The tavern is right across from the Randolph train station and millennium park. So walking out of the station it's a short walk, which was very convenient. Loved the atmosphere, great service. A little more fine dining bar. But no need to dress up in your best suit. Food was pretty delicious. We enjoyed the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and the club. The club was alright, a little dry, not worth $17. But the Mac and cheese was very delicious. I would definitely come back :)
(4)
lori c.
Another night of light bites! The complimentary dinner rolls & bread is delicious. We ordered the wedge salad, duck rolls and seared tuna. The duck rolls had an interesting pineapple dipping sauce that I didn't care for too much; but we enjoyed everything we ordered. Service was excellent (thanks Chris)! We would come back here again.
(5)
Nick T.
Was visiting Chicago recently and hung out at The Plaza at Park Grill. A couple we met there recommended we try the Tavern, and while The Plaza was great, I wish i had saved more of my appetite for the Tavern! First and foremost, the smoked chicken wings were the best wings I've ever tasted anywhere, and I'm no stranger to wings. These alone could have garnered the Tavern a 5-star review, but everything else was great as well. They came with tradition hot sauce as well as a cherry cola BBQ, but they were so good plain I was neglecting the sauces. I paired the wings with a Kentucky Bourbon Ale, which was as flavorful as it was smooth. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding (made with apples, blueberries, and lemon curd sauce) and a drink called The Peach Around. I'm not usually a fan of peaches or baked apple, but both were great and they paired fantastically. The bread pudding must have the size and weight of a cinder block, I've seen mixed reviews regarding the service, but I had no complaints. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were knowledgeable, jovial, and welcoming. While the atmosphere is definitely more upscale, I never felt out of place despite the fact that I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Will definitely be returning the next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Andrea H.
I went here with my work team for lunch. This place has good and bad qualities, which is why I am giving it 3 stars. The venue is great, as you would expect for the trendy location (right across from Millennium Park.) Upscale atmosphere and nicely decorated. Out of six people, our lunches were all huge portion sizes and all consistently mediocre. The food was underwhelming in terms of freshness, flavor, and presentation. I got the Louis salad with shrimp and it was two days worth of lunches for me for a pretty reasonable $14. The shrimp was huge but smelled fishy, which to me says "Not Fresh". The girl who ordered fish tacos got tons of bland fried fish in a soft shell taco. Um, yuck. The sausage pizza looked really tasty though, and the pot pie was good, hard-core comfort food. Everyone agreed the best part of the entire meal was desert, which was a freshly baked chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. It was the size of a truck but since it was feeding six people, that was ok! I would come here again for drinks aand an appetizer (ie the sausage pizza) and desert.
(3)
Tim O.
Unbeatable location and great atmosphere. Service was exceptionally friendly. My guest and I both had steak sandwiches which were $25 each. The meat was indeed actually steak and it was cooked correctly. A little pricey for a "Tavern", but most definitely not a tourist trap.
(4)
Sherri K.
This is one of those places where, traditionally, you know you are going to get great service and great food. Presentation is important and the staff works hard to maintain the integrity of the establishment. My dining partner had some gluten free restrictions and the waiter went above and beyond to confirm what dishes she could eat or not (even down to the teriyaki sauce). We enjoyed a couple appetizers - the dry wings were a little crispy for my taste, but the flavor was well done. The ahi tuna was perfect and the petite side salad that came with it not only offered a little color on the plate but was delicious and fresh as well. I also enjoyed the french onion soup which had an amazing cheese top, perfectly cooked onions and a tasty bread. It is the kind of onion soup I expect every time I think about and order onion soup. Great wine list! On point service! Bravo!
(5)
Leang E.
We came here for a coworker's birthday lunch in addition to it being Administrative Professionals Day, and I believe our little lady felt extremely special as we were seated at a table for 7 in a private room. It was so incredibly nice, and I didn't even mention an occasion. I love the little touches they do here. The manager had also come in to check on us and see how things were going. The waiter made sure our water was filled to the top of our glasses. I had the Chicken Hash that was recommended by our server and it was pretty good. I think if the dish blew me away and we got our food a little quicker I would have given the place the 5th start. The portions are huge here, and the service was outstanding. The prices are comparable for downtown, and I'd love to come back and try other dishes.
(4)
Leslie K.
Looking for a safe gluten free meal, go somewhere else. Party of three, one gluten free. Ordered a short rib burger without the bun, but romaine lettuce to make a wrap. Was served a different burger with a bun on it. Sent it back, got the short rib burger with no bun visible. When I picked some of the meat up to put it in a lettuce leaf I found that the bottom of the bun it had been on was still there. This is spite of making it very clear that gluten/wheat/bread was a huge allergy problem. Sent it back. In the meantime the rest of the party was served their entrees 10 minutes apart so that the tree of us all had to eat a different times. A wholly unsatisfactory experience even after the manager got involved. Will never go back. One star for location, negative stars for attention to allergies.
(1)
Julee W.
Our food was not good Our service was mediocre Our cocktails were watery Our wine had turned Even after saying the wine was bad the server kept asking us what we want to do. So awkward, no one even apologized to us and we had to pay way more for a not spoiled bottle??? The brisket was hard and overcooked. The snapper was served in an overly acidic sauce.... Everything was bland. The only good thing about this place (not the seven TVs glaring in your face) is the location.
(1)
Rose T.
We came here for a little break from the art museum. It is a really beautiful restaurant. We usually prefer a bar top, but we randomly decided to get a table. This is the only negative part about our visit because we sat in a booth right behind the host stand. Our server Marc and the busser were great, very professional and helpful. We never needed anything and timing was great. Our food was cooked to perfection.
(4)
Scott J.
So we read that this place was good so we stopped in on our way to The Bean... It was very upscale inside without being pretentious...and I have to admit that although my fish and chips had a great batter, my date's Shrimp Louie looked phenomena!! We enjoyed good drinks and great service!!! A great place for a solid meal when touring the park/shopping!
(4)
Abishek M.
Good food. Excellent service. HUGE menu. Went here because we had a gift certificate and was pleasantly surprised. The French onion soup is amazing! RATINGS: French onion soup gratinee: 5/5 Brick Chicken: 3/5 Chicken Hash w/ black truffle: 4/5 Chocolate Peanut butter pie: 4/5
(4)
Amanda J.
Review for Tavern Treehouse: Mediocre and over priced food. The view seems like it would be better from the street; once you get upstairs it's a letdown. If you must go avoid any pasta dish. The tuna tacos are pretty good ONLY if you REALLY like mangoes. Service was decent. Overall a big pass.
(2)
Renee H.
The food and service were excellent! They apparently have a new chef so if you didn't like it before you may want to try it again. Hummus plate, beet salad and butternut squash ravioli were all device. Service perfectly timed.
(4)
Patrick B.
For many years I have been a big fan of Tavern at the Park, as well as its parent restaurant Keefers. I come to Chicago a dozen times a year and always find time for lunch there. I've hosted business events in its second floor private space and on its rooftop patio. But I recently had as disappointing a dining experience as ever there. And blame it all on the manager. Although my first luncheon choice was not available, I happily ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon. The salad came, but the salmon did not. No problem. Kitchen mistakes happen. The waiter took the salad back to the kitchen and a few minutes later the manager returned with it. In a restaurant known for large portions, I've never quite seen as small and thin and burnt shard of salmon in my life. So I asked the waiter if this was the standard portion. He said no; apologized and summoned the manager, who gave me a lecture on portion control. Then bashfully admitted that the piece of salmon was indeed small. And overcooked. He then half heartedly offered to get me another piece and discouragingly said "but that would take some time." Instead he said I won't charge you the extra $9 for the salmon -- the small thin burnt piece of Inedible salmon. Thanks so much for the great customer service! Then he turned and walk away! So I paid the bill and I turned and walked away, never to return to Tavern at the Park!
(1)
AJ M.
Great drinks! We watched the world cup here and enjoyed some unique drinks.
(4)
Jay C.
Solid old school Chicago vibe. Steaks thick. Drinks stiff. Prices stiff too..but. not an everyday place you visit. Right across Randolph from Harris Theater..park. the bean...parking garage right there too... Grilled salmon was good. Food was good. Vibe made it great. Views are killer will return
(4)
Nicki P.
I am a regular here since its right next to my office. The service is top notch, and the food is good, just good though. Portion sizes are huge and the general ambience is lively but casual. The typical crowd during the week are suits but the happy hour and patio crowd is a little more casual.
(3)
s b.
Inattentive waiter, dirty glasses, warm whit wine, loud, very rude manager who wouldn't take feedback. Food was ok. But not for the price and experience.
(2)
Andre W.
This place has one of my favorite things: a rooftop for warm summertime drinking Since it was hot as hell out, I decided to go with one of my favorite summer drinks: white sangria. It was very good and refreshing...me and my party of 6 had 2 rounds and had to roll out because the heat was ridic! Service was ok and they seem to be very meticulous when it comes to seating a group. Good stuff here
(4)
Giovanni M.
Excellent experience: great drink menu (and dining menu) and courteous, talented bar staff. I enjoyed the atmosphere when I had dinner at the bar, it was happy hour, so the place was fairly busy, but I wasn't lost in the shuffle or jostled by the crowd. I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Chicago. If you happen to meet Donnie (owner/manager?), you're in for a treat, he's really smart, funny guy with a wealth of knowledge and humor.
(4)
Ed B.
Great food. Excellent service. Steep prices. Try there custom brewed beer (excellent!)
(4)
Bobs C.
Tavern is an awesome place. The location is absolutely phenomenal. I took my gf there and we ordered the filet mignon and the chopped steak burger. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection and is easily the top 3 filet in the city The chopped burger was awesome. Very flavorful and would order again.
(5)
Pat K.
Food was good, but our credit card was hacked. Our server took our credit card to pay our bill and a few minutes after that, over $700 in purchases (that we did not make) was charged to our account. Our credit card company picked up suspicious activity and stopped further charges. We called the restaurant and talked to the manager. He did not seem to care. He never even asked for the server's name. We will not be going back to this restaurant and warn you to pay with cash here or not go at all.
We absolutely loved everything about it! The best salmon I've ever eaten! Prime rib outstanding also. Beautiful place! Great service! Wonderful location! Wirth every cent! Will definitely return!
(5)
Chicago B.
Excellent food, excellent service, and a great place to go for any business deal meeting anytime. I was there for lunch last Friday, and even though it was the start of a holiday weekend the restaurant served up the same great meal with impeccable service that I have grown to expect and respect time after time. This is an awesome place to get an unbelievable meal.
(4)
Steven E.
I was in town for a conference and found this place a walk down from my hotel. I was greeted by a racist yuppie whom promptly passed me off to the next available server. I opted to sit at the bar. Bartender was cordial and quick to meet my needs. Book makers sandwich was great. Beer selection was limited and under stocked. Would visit again for the sandwich. However, I have a small tolerance for racism; as that is the lowest form of ignorance. Not to typecast of course.
(1)
Linda F.
This restaurant is at the corner of Randolph and Michigan Avenue, across the street from Millennium Park. It couldn't be more convenient. I've been here several times and have to say that it doesn't disappoint. The food is consistently good. Try the chili or the chili, especially on a cold evening. Those at our table had fish and chips, chopped salad, and the cheeseburger. All of these meals got good reviews. It appeared that our waiter was new on the job. He had a few challenges and had to correct bringing the wrong soup to the table. Service was a little slow but this was very busy place to be since it was dinner time.
(3)
Jennifer A.
First, I will say that the food was very good and the ambiance was just right. We made reservations for our family of 6 (siblings and spouses) and asked for a 'good table' and they gave us a private room circular table, which was fantastic. I am only giving it 2 stars because the service was TERRIBLE. We waited about 10 minutes at our table without anyone greeting us or taking a drink order. We went and spoke to the concierge who would 'take care of it' and that is when he sent in 'David', our waiter. We were happy to see him and joked that we 'only waited about 2 hours for someone to come say hi'. He said in response 'well, then, you can wait 2 more hours and walked out of the room! He didn't come back for about 3 minutes to which he said, 'I hope you learned your lesson'. We apologized and told him that we were just joking and he said 'well, it wasn't funny'. That moment set a very somber tone for the rest of the evening and it was very tense in the room any time he walked in. A few days later we called the restaurant to speak to the manager (as I think they would want to know about this rude wait staff person) and the manager was 'too busy to talk'. We asked if he could call us back and the reply was 'no, you can just continue to call and maybe one of the times you call he will be available'. We told the person on the phone that we would rather talk about what happened on the phone rather than on yelp, Trip Advisor, etc., to which he replied "you have to do what you have to do". So that is what I'm doing. It is a restaurant in a great location with really good food, but I don't think anyone needs to be treated like we were treated when spending over $300 for a meal.
(2)
Chris A.
Food was decent, but nothing that would have us recommending this to our friends who visit the Windy City. We both got steaks, and they were seasoned alright. Nothing was particularly wrong with our meal, just nothing stuck out to us and made us think that we should come back. The location is a big plus, although we did not have a view in the room we ate. Also had no trouble making a reservation just a few hours before dining.
(3)
Illinois C.
We arrived for our 6:45 reservation an hour early and immediately found a seat at the bar. Good thing... Because this place became very lively quickly. A couple martinis later we were seated at a window booth. Fantastic wine selection and excellent service! I had the Halibut over asparagus with a lemon cream sauce and my husband had the Blackened Grouper over sauteed spinach. Both dishes arrived hot and were gobbled up in no time. So goooood!! We were seeing a performance at the Harris Theater across the street at 8:00 and got there right on time. Wonderful dining experience! The owner of the restaurant even checked up on us to make sure everything was perfect. We will be back!
(5)
Lin C.
I had been here about 5 years ago while on business. This was a trip to the Windy City with my Dad and surprisingly I remembered the name of it and how to get to it! I guess it was because this place is a gem. It's spendy for sure, but the service is fabulous and the food is fantastic. We started with what my Dad thought would be the grossest appetizer on the menu....the fig proscuitto flatbread. He reluctantly tried it and ate half of it....he loved it! We then had their slider sampler...turkey, beef and I forget the other type of burger- i just remember that they were all very good. I was disappointed as they no longer have fat tire beer (New belgium beer isn't available in Ma) but the server helped us select some other brews....he made great recommendations. (we went with their private label goose island) Make this a stop when you visit Chicago!
(5)
Mallorie R.
Wonderful! Came here for a bachelorette party. We got perfect seats with a window view of the city. Their cocktails are creative and delicious. The food was incredible. Service was excellent. Very attentive and fun. Highly recommended.
(5)
Melanie S.
With its proximity to Millennium Park, you'd probably think Tavern at the Park would be a bona-fide tourist trap. And you'd be right. The food actually isn't bad; it's just completely overpriced for the portion sizes. The menu is full of "safe" choices meant to appeal to those with an unsophisticated palate. This isn't necessarily meant to sound derisive; sometimes I rather enjoy "plain" food (for lack of a better word) and I certainly don't mind spending money if food is tasty, well-prepared and fills my stomach. The latter is the biggest issue I have with TatP. Today, for instance, I ordered a grilled vegetable salad. For $14, I expect it to fill me up. Now granted, I did not add on a protein to the salad (mainly because it would have turned into a $20 entree), but I foolishly thought a salad with grilled zucchini, peppers, corn, and tomatoes would suffice. My friend's caesar salad, to which she added salmon, came with a hefty price tag of $21, and it was the teensiest piece of salmon I've seen. Ridiculous. My salad was fine, but the portion made it look more like a "side" salad than one meant to, I don't know, actually fill me up. I'm back in the office after lunch and I feel as if I didn't eat anything. I'm on the verge of breaking my cardinal rule of scrounging in the office kitchen looking for whatever leftover food there might be from one of the lunch meetings we always seem to have. Normally, the thought of that horrifies me, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Service is perfectly fine. It's efficient and professional; no complaints there. They have a nice rooftop area to sit when the weather cooperates. That's pretty much all of the positives I can come up with at the moment. You could do worse. But you definitely can do better.
(2)
Amy Z.
Great service, though we were seated in a fishbowl type room. We had requested patio space but they were unable to accommodate the request. It was understandable since we were a rather large group (6 total) and it was beautiful out on a Friday afternoon. The special of fish tacos was okay. The breading was slightly off-putting and strangely crunchy. Another member of my party ordered the buffalo mac and cheese, which did not include buffalo sauce mixed in as expected. It was a few peices of buffalo chicken strips over mac and cheese. She indicated it was good, but unexpected.
(4)
Megha S.
Our second visit to the Tavern with an international guest was a complete embarrassment. Drinks were ok but came in as slow as 20 monocytes after order was placed couple times. Food was worse than what I can get at one of the Italian chains-watery chicken and the pasta dish were just bad. Worst $130.00 spent
(2)
Jackie K.
Tourist in Chicago, end up hungry, must have food, end up here and annoyed. Most expensive cappacino in the world (more than nyc) and the food was only okay. Service was great---we sat at the bar and he was available but not hovering. Food was not that good which is surprising because I was so hungry so I cannot image what would have happened if I wasn't starving. I would never come back.
(2)
Publius K.
In the tradition of a 1920s speakeasy run by soulless gangsters, this boisterously crass establishment excels at rolling the drunks, short changing the chumps, and shearing the tourist sheep who have the misfortune of being steered here by complicit huckster concierges at the nearby hotels. Their glorified pub grubby burgers at a Jackson per cheap smeared bun are cynically crafted to club you into a food coma while rolling you pickled and salty over a barrel with the stingiest pours of mediocre California wines I have seen anywhere, ever, in a lifetime of travel. You can feel yourself being brutally ravaged into parched penury milliliter by milliliter, as you watch your wine grudgingly dribbled from a small flask into large glasses as if to mock you, the victim, with your debauched and masochistic consent. Definitely for a boorish younger set that will burn through piles of money for the merest of satisfactions, indeed out of feckless self-indulgence when little or no satisfaction is to be had. The help seemed as brutalized as their clientele were indifferent, while wolfish managers stood watch like gangster thugs. Not Chicago at its best, more like a stockyard brothel, and you, my meaty tourist friend, are the one on the menu.
(1)
Brian K.
We had a work function here and had half the terrace reserved so I don't know if this is the best review to describe Tavern at the Park for individual outings. Service was good and overall, an enjoyable place for good conversation with a great view. "The Park" being Mil. Park. The food wasn't impressive but then again, we weren't there to eat but to catch up and network.
(3)
Brandon L.
Met for a Saturday night dinner, did make reservations, but found out that we could have just showed up. She had a steak and I had halibut. The steak came out smaller than expected, but was good and the halibut was great. The wait staff was attentive almost to a fault. For dessert we shared a piece of bread pudding, which was huge. It was a bit drier than I like, but still good. All in all it was a great place to eat and talk.
(4)
Justin B.
Tavern on the Park, located right across from Millenium Park, offers a great location for business lunches, client dinners, or after work cocktails with friends. Serves an array of contemporary American dishes, I love their French onion soup, which you can get in a cup (even though a bowl is the only thing listed on the menu), and their bookmaker steak sandwich. The goat cheese salad is also a nice weekday lunch entree. I, and everyone I know that's eaten here, consider this a "very good place" to dine. Service has been pretty top notch. Each time I go, it's been good. The bar can get pretty crowded, so don't expect to get in and out quickly. And, this place gets pretty crowded just about every weekday. Lunch reservations are HIGHLY recommended. They also have one private room, which seats a max of seven (?), and can be reserved. Be sure to check out their rooftop deck! It's a great place to show off the city while enjoying a dirty martini! A lunch for two without cocktails can run about $40-50. Televisions are at the bar only. (If you're looking for a sports bar, this is not the place.)
(3)
Kassie D.
Stopped by for lunch on a Monday; the service was very attentive, and large portions of tasty food. Seemed a favourite place for a business lunch. I liked the layout and decor of the place, and with reasonable prices. Ideal place for a great meal with friends without being overly expensive.
(5)
MoMo K.
the environment is really nice but the service isn't the best. we had to ask our Waiter three times for bread. and we ran out of water, but waiter didn't refill it. she was more occupied with the other tables with older folks. it was probably because she wanted to get their tip money and thought we wouldn't tip well because we are college students. And it took forever to get our food! at least 35 minutes. Also, if you want to sit on rooftop on a busy night, you need to get there an hour ahead an pit yourself on waiting list. The view from the rooftop is AMAZING! I went in on a Saturday night.
(3)
Jazmyne M.
I made a reservation for my birthday and had to wait a couple minutes but that was okay because the wait was over an for those who didn't! The food was AMAZING! I had the warm goat cheese and butternut squash ravioli ! So yummy! Our waiter Cory was excellent as well!
(5)
D B.
Had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport and stumbled into this spot with the help of Yelp. Was a beautiful fall day so I sat on the sidewalk patio in the sun. Was just in for lunch so I didn't get a whole lot. I ordered a steak salad that was delicious and served with plenty of steak. Others eating around all had good looking meals on their plates.
Ive been a here few times for cocktails on the rooftop and it was a decent time. We went for lunch today as our office is close by and it was a great meal. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very prompt and knowledge about the menu. Gave us some good suggestions on what to order. My glass of water was never empty. The food was really good and a generous portion for what we ordered. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Daniel M.
This review is for the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I went to check out the rooftop but was denied entry. My boyfriend and I were dressed in formal wear. The hostess was very rude and simple said we couldn't go up there even though the whole place was empty. I asked if there was a private party and they said no. I feel like they discriminated against us or at the very least were giving us the shaft. I understand if you want to make your place exclusive and high end but this establishment is not at that level. Furthermore, both of us were dressed in formal wear and dress shoes. I will never return to this place because there are so many other bars in the city that provide respectful service, better views, and actual high end services.
(1)
Christine M.
While on Michigan Avenue shopping (Saturday afternoon) three of us decided to stop and eat (walking makes you sooo hungry). The food was GREAT, service was GREAT - the only downfall was outside seating only had like 5 tables and the upper outside seating "doesn't open till 4p....otherwise we were all VERY HAPPY. Be prepared for a wait approx. 20-30 min BUT well worth it!
(5)
Brittany Y.
The food: I ordered the dinner salad and swapped out the vinaigrette for blue cheese dressing and I got the Ashely's mac and cheese. My salad was a decent sized portion for 7 dollars, bueno. The mac and cheese though looked delicious "looked"...it was bland though. My sister had the chopped steak burger, she also said her food was bland. My mother had the smoked pepper wings and the ice berg wedge salad. She said her wings were awesome but....she has lost her sense of smell so smell and taste go hand in hand. The iceberg wedge was ginormous but, it's iceberg, I personally don't eat iceberg but if you want to get full from eating salad that's the ticket. The Staff: From the reviews I was kind of worried. I was expecting to run into some snobby waiters/waitresses with horrible attitudes. Complete opposite bro. Our server, Jimmy, was probably one of the nicest, friendliest and most helpful waiters I have ever had in my entire life! He was super attentive and he kept bringing us refills *without us having to ask* and pouring my water for me. The hostesses were very kind as well. Even other people's waiters were nice to me. I think about 5 of the other staff came to tell me happy birthday and they gave me a ballon when I turned down the birthday dessert *I was stuffed*. The interior: Those carpeted stairs won my heart! I had on the most slippery shoes and I was horrified when I saw we had to use the stairs but they were covered by nice plushy carpet...praise Yoda. The booths are nice and big. I'm tall and sitting in a little booth makes me feel awkward so that was great. And there were mirrors everywhere I looked...AWESOME!
(4)
Beau E.
What a great place to hang out, enjoy some people-watching, and have some of the best food and beers in the area! I tried the wings, which were excellent. They smoke them and then bake them, so they are lighter and crispier than fried wings. Then we moved on to the Bookmaker steak sandwich, and it was fantastic! Truffle oil, steak, and onion straws on a pretzel bun. Best steak sandwich in Chicago! Best rooftop in the area as well. Great view of the park so go around sunset and enjoy this awesome spot!
(5)
Caitlin G.
There didn't really seem to be anything special about this place. The food was good, but not great and the atmosphere was nice, but nothing special. It's a pretty great location though, across from the park and ideal if you're headed out to a show later on.
(3)
Julie D.
Came in without a reservation on a Thursday night with no issues. We were seated outside where we had a view of the tour buses in front of Millennium park. The free bread was really good -- a raisin bread and some sort of garlic roll with whipped butter. We ordered one of their specials, a smoked salmon flatbread appetizer. It was basically like a salmon pizza without the tomato sauce. It was REALLY good... had to contain myself because I still had an entree coming. I got the Lake Superior whitefish since it was something I couldn't get very fresh in California. The fish was very tender and plentiful (couldn't finish it). It came on delicious whipped potatoes and some sort of ragu which was flavorful but sort of weird with the fish. My fiance got the little steak dollars, or whatever they are called, with whipped potatoes. The meat looked well-cooked. The final damage was about $100.
(4)
Tim R.
Food = decent. Service = meh. And meh is being nice Wanted to take out a group from my team including out of country guests to see Chicago and picked a restaurant that I hoped would have a view. Got to the restaurant and was unsympathetically (I'll stop short of saying rudely, but it was close) that while we had a reservation which in the comments asked for outside or nice view, they do not take reservations for outside seating and we were out of luck. We were told to enjoy our viewless crappy table by the bar. (Since the Blackhawks were on and it was near a TV we stayed, otherwise would of bolted). I was told that this is clearly stated in Opentable and when I said no its not I was rudely (I will now say it was rude) told I was wrong. Except when I explained you do not see this warning when you book open table from yelp, then the host had nothing to say. No apology, no offer to do anything to make us have a pleaseant experience, or any care to fix said issue. (So yep reader beware) Big fail as any attempt to make us feel better will be welcome. I entertain a lot of clients downtown and this would of been a great option for the future. After last night, no thanks. Waaaaay to many other nice restaurants in Chicago who would like my business and would not let a simple misunderstanding hurt the customer's experience. The original misunderstanding was a chance to do something to win us back. They failed. I will say the food was good, though. I enjoyed the halibut and most of guest liked the food. Beer selection was okay enough to find some options. Service was ok. Our server was training another server. I am not sure who was the trainee and the experienced. They were not rude, just neither added much to the experience and they where clumsy on the script. (Like at the last minuted remembered there were specials on the table , but not understanding of what they were or what they recommended) It a shame because the location is awesome (well, not our cramped viewless corner table, but other seat locations and the roof) and the food was more than decent. Other's be warned your better off NOT having a reservation and putting your name is early, kill some time at the park, and come back if you want a view. If the restaurant would like more details, I am glad to share. I am an honest reviewer and rarely post negative comments but in this case, yelp readers need to be aware.
(2)
Amelia D.
Mediocre and greasy food. The chicken wings were decent but everything else we ordered was pretty subpar. Booked the reservation mostly for the view... Which unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy because it was raining out.
(2)
Grace E.
I had a lovely dining experience at Tavern at the Park. Before catching a 7:00 show at the Oriental Theater, I sat out on the patio at 5:30pm to enjoy a glass of wine, side salad, and Halibut entree. The service was polite and courteous, and I really enjoyed watching tourists walking to and from Millennium Park. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was pleasant and left me content. For its price point, there are certainly better places to dine in the city, but for the convenience of location, patio view, and service, Tavern gets 4 stars from me.
(4)
Michelle F.
Yum, Yum, Triple Yum!! My friend has a condo right down the street, and when he asked if we had ever been to Tavern at The Park, we said no. He was delighted to bring us, and we were delighted to be eating/drinking there. WOW, was this place fantastic!! Our server was attentive, fast, and the drinks were very strong :) We ordered a round of wine and my husband loved that they had his coveted Matilda! My moscato was delightful! I know it's technically a "dessert wine" but I like to consider moscato to be an "anytime wine". I also had a martini on their specials list--it was cinnamon something. It was strong!! So don't be the DD after drinking here! Now onto the food! My friend had the chicken picatta--I didn't try it, but he said it was amazing! My husband ordered the Max Burger. DO NOT ORDER THIS IF YOU ARE SMALL. Seriously, the thing was bigger than his outstretched hands (go look at the picture if you don't believe me!) and the fries it came with were delicious, too! I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. It was good, but I don't really know why they were called "crispy" meatballs. There really wasn't anything crispy about them...I mean don't get me wrong, they were really good, but not crispy. But the sauce was good, and the noodles were al dente which I really liked! For dessert, my friends ordered the fried bananas, and my husband and I ordered the carrot cake that was on the specials menu. The fried banana was cool and different, but the carrot cake is the BEST carrot cake I have EVER had!! And it was HUGE!! I wish I had a picture of it! But I was too busy nomming on it to grab the camera :)
(5)
Jacques M.
After my previous review one of the mangers reached out to me, in order to better explain the situation. Our room was not in fact sold to another client, despite my previous understanding. To the best of my knowledge, you can comfortably reserve a private room at TATP. That being said if your unable to get a private room for your party (I'm talking about 20 or more people here, not small groups) , I wouldn't recommend trying to hold a private party in the bar area for some of the reason previously stated. Again, the service was excellent and the food was good also. The manager reaching out showed me they do care about feedback from the customers.
(3)
Drea K.
We chose Tavern at the Park for our Wedding Rehearsal dinner and were thrilled with the results. Their mid-sized private dining room is very nice and accommodated our party of 40+ well. We chose the family style dinner, starting with caesar salad, prime rib and whitefish paired with green beans and mac n'cheese and had the carmel apple dessert. Everything was sensational! Truly, all of our guests were chatting about how great the food was. Additionally the staff during planning and on the night of our rehearsal dinner were all attentive, efficient, and very easy to work with. The staff on the night of was great in terms of making sure that everyone had drinks, that everyone was eating at the same time, etc. We were very, very pleased and would absolutely recommend this as a spot for large party dinner.
(5)
Jeb B.
The shrimp Louie is a mess. Overall subpar for the price. Nice location and decent service.
(2)
Lawrence C.
Tuna taco appetizer is great! Grouper was great and the service was outstanding. This was a month ago but I do know I said I would go back.
(4)
Melanie V.
Best service EVER. The bf picked Tavern at the Park for Vday 'cuz he saw that they extended their Restaurant Week menu. We had a little bit of a fail for Restaurant Week, so he thought this might make up for it. First off, service was incredible. For this location, I assumed that we would be dealing with snobbiness all night, but I was really wrong. Everyone was really friendly, especially our darling waiter. We were seated in one of the large booths (which was perfect for sharing convo AND people watching). For the Restaurant Week menu, I choose to the duck confit flatbread and the bf ordered the crab stuffed artichoke. We ended up swapping apps, though, as we liked each other's picks better. The flatbread was good, but I really liked the crab/artchoke combo. My main entree was the sea bass which came with this apple hash, rice and amazingly addictive spicy sauce. I have no idea what that suace was, but it pretty much made the dish. The bf ordered the beef medallions, so when they brought out this huge piece of beef, I thought to myself, "Wow, they don't really skimp on the portions here." If you know me, you know that I have no clue about steak/prime rib/cuts of beef, so I didn't realize that they brought out the wrong thing. Neither did my bf, apparently. When the waiter came by, he was absolutely appalled that they brought out the wrong dish. A couple minutes later, when my bf was mid-bite, one of the managers came around with the dish he actually ordered. I thought they were just going to swap out the items, but the manager actually wrapped up the initial dish for us to take home! Amazing! I was pretty food coma'ing at this point, but I couldn't refuse taking a few bites of the fantastic banana cream pie. It was probably the hugest slice of pie I've ever seen. Since my bf wanted an after dinner sip of something (and I did NOT want scotch), the waiter suggested Frangelico. When I admitted that I've had grappa and limoncello, but never frangelico, the waiter offered to bring me out a sample so I could figure out if I liked it. It was honestly the best thing ever (and I started wondering how I've never had it!) and it was the perfect way to cap off the meal! Lovely. So lovely.
I love the atmosphere here. This is the second time I've been here for lunch around the holidays. I don't remember what I had last year, but this year I ordered the chopped salad. I came with few co workers, and we shared two appetizers. One was the onion straws and the other was fried calamari. Both was delicious! My chopped salad was good. I asked the rest of my co workers what they thought of their food, and they all loved it. Always heard good reviews about this place. The only thing that does stop me from coming here always is the price. It is relatively expensive, but the food is good. Inside the restaurant it's very warm and cozy..and since it's the holidays they put up Christmas lights and other decors. Our servers have always been nice :)
(4)
Jennifer S.
Lobster and salmon and ribs...oh my! On a recent Saturday evening, I had the pleasure of experiencing dinner at Tavern At The Park for the very first time. It was magical like The Wizard of Oz! My party arrived before I did. When I walked in, I was led through a gorgeous dining room. Warm, dark woods. Interesting wall art. Large booths. And...wait for it...comfortable chairs! I sat in one of those for quite a while over a leisurely dinner with family and friends. We started with crispy meatballs and smokey chicken wings. The meatballs definitely were the real deal! Crispy on the outside. Soft and moist on the inside. Expertly combined with a rich Sunday gravy (like Grandpa C. used to make). The wings really surprised me. See, the apps were ordered before I arrived. Honestly, I never would have ordered these. I would have missed this life-changing experience had it not been for my dining companions. Thanks folks! The side sauces were fantastic, but almost unnecessary. Don't misunderstand me. The sauces were spot on, but those wings were seasoned beautifully and the smokiness had me eating every single bite and maybe even licking my fingers. ...Allegedly. ;-) Don't skip the bread and butter. This is very important, so I will say it again. Do not skip the bread and butter. There was a variety of choices available. My favorite? The pull-apart rolls with a bit of cheese melted on top. I indulged in the broiled king salmon. This was the most memorable entree that I have eaten in years. Literally. The cherry and apple glaze on this huge piece of salmon was light, but definitely present. This was served on top of a crispy hashbrown, an onion chutney and a fabulous sauce. I ate every single bite. I'll share a secret with you. I took one of those crazy good rolls and basically wiped my plate clean. I'm not ashamed. There was no way that I could waste a single morsel of that yummy goodness! I nibbled on a little of almost everything that hit our table. I was in heaven. Smokey ribs (another finger lickin' good dish). I had a lobster ravioli. The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente. The sauce was unique in the most deliciously memorable sort of way. Then, the desserts arrived. We tried three of the most luscious sweet treats I have ever laid a fork on before. I can't even tell you which one to order because I would probably want a bite of all three again. First, was a blueberry bread pudding. Fresh blueberries among perfectly executed bread pudding. Not overly sweet. The perfect temperature. Fantastic! Next, there was a slab of carrot cake with caramel sauce. I should use a word other than slab to describe it, but it was a huge piece! How about hunk? Aw, forget it. This carrot cake had the best surprise throughout. Pineapple chunks! Perfect bites of fruit helped to keep the cake moist. The frosting was a cream cheese base with a hint of something else that I couldn't put my finger on. Good? Understatement! If I hadn't been so full at that point, I probably could have eaten a bowl of that frosting. Finally we had a strawberry blues. Imagine blueberry scones (really they are hoecakes, but it was just like a scone), with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. Fantastic textures had my mouth dancing for joy! Service was delightful! Our server was helpful, courteous and on top of everything that we needed before we needed it. The manager stopped by a few times over the course of the (leisurely) evening to check on things. He had his eye on every detail and really seems to keep the operation in check. One of the owners also stopped by. He was friendly and down to earth. Obviously attentive to his guests' needs. I waited a couple days to make sure that I wasn't dreaming this whole amazing experience up in my head. I wasn't. I'd like to go back right now. In fact, I'm going to grab my ruby slippers... There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park...
(5)
Peter K.
Based on review on Yelp, made the decision for a last minute reservation before theater. Had never made a reservation using yelp. Easy. and when we got there ( it was a snowy night in Chicago, so I thought it would be busy...it was.) We were offered and accepted the only remaining table at the time .../bu the window..a booth..cozy on a snowy night. French-onion soup was great...one of the best ever..nice and cheesy..richly flavorful. Had not seen the "iceberg"lettuce with blue cheese on a menu in ages..so jumped at that.. It was enormous..bacon crumbles, lost of crumbled blue cheese., lumpy blue cheese salad dressing. The combo of onion soup and the salad was MORE than enough. didn't finish the salad..just to much as I had eagerly sampled the rolls and bread nice assortment. But did finally opt for the Key Lime ( a nice twist )Creme Brule.. Service was attentive...and will definatlely have this as a "go to" restaurant before theater/symphony etc again. Nice "Clubby feel to the surroundings in the bar area, with the view..GREAT !
(4)
Kevin L.
We had seen Tavern At The Park on one of the foodie networks and marked it down as a must visit. My wife had seen their special martini that was laced with silver and included the special gift from Tiffany's. It's located by the park and is convenient for drinks were pretty good. The silver was weird but she really wanted the silver 'bean' necklace so was pleased. Fairly pricey of a place for what you seem to get vs other places on the mile.
(3)
Nicole L.
I don't know much about this place, but I do know one thing. I ordered the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich after the waiter told me it was the best steak sandwich in Chicago. I found that hard to believe until I tried it. OMG it's been over a month and I'm still raving about it!!! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Bryan S.
Had dinner on the roof top with a bunch of work colleagues while in town on business. Wonderful atmosphere, great views, great ambiance. I do agree with a lot of the other reviews about the door/hostess staff. They're a little fussy, but once you smile and make a joke with them, we got upstairs quick, even before everyone was there. Policy about full party is weird when your restaurant is empty. Food was okay. My ceviche was excellent, but pasta was horrible. Waitress was great. And dessert was outstanding.
(4)
Sam K.
Thought my cab driver recommended this because it was the closest place where he dropped us off (across from millennium park) so I was a bit weary. Boy was I wrong.. This place is amazing! Wings were excellent. I had the fillet mignon sandwich for the main course and it was amazing. Do yourself a favor and eat here!!!
(5)
Mark H.
I was in Chicago for a conference and didn't want to stray far from my hotel one evening so we walked to Tavern on the Park. Aki was our server and he was fantastic and certainly did his part to make the meal very good. I ordered a seared scallop salad and it was absolutely fantastic! The scallops were fresh and cooked to perfection. Presentation was also done very well. Cocktails weren't under poured and they had fantastic blue cheese stuffed Olives for our Martinis. I was really impressed here and didn't expect to be. Nice surprise and I'll certainly be back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)
Karlee Q.
Very nice experience. I went here with some friends before the ballet on a Friday night. The atmosphere is great...cozy, yet sophisticated. I also liked how the tables were not crammed together, there was nice spacing. I sat at the bar while waiting for my friends to arrive and had a drink. The beer menu is selective, but covers all the bases. Both at the bar and at our table, the service was excellent. We were seated even though we did not have our full party, which is a plus compared to some other places I've gone that make you wait. The food was well prepared and beautifully presented. The menu is a little on the pricier side, but it is well worth it. I recommend the house-made hummus as an appetizer, and do NOT leave this place without ordering a brownie sundae. It is to die for. I took the blue line and walked from Washington, which was not a bad walk, so I'm not sure about the parking situation. The reason I gave this restaurant 4 stars instead of 5, because really I have no complaints about the service or the food taste and presentation, is because the menu has limited vegetarian options besides salad and one veggie burger. I would like to see a mushroom sandwich or some sort of delicious pasta dish, but obviously I ate something and it was fabulous. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
Julie Z.
This review is strictly for the Tree House which is their rooftop. I think it's pretty fair to say that most Chicagoan's love a rooftop, including myself. This one is great b/c it's in the heart of downtown and across the street from Millennium Park. The view is legit. The drinks are pricey but that's no surprise. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. I did not eat here so I can't review the food but if you're looking for a happy hour spot or to grab a few drinks before dinner, check this place out. Arrive early too! It gets crowded quickly.
(4)
Eric L.
We went here last night on Valentine's Day, and it was awesome! I had fried calamari and a medium steak burger with cheddar. The burger was so juicy you didn't have to add anything to it to make it great, no sauces or salt or anything. My girlfriend had the chopped salad, which was large and tasted great. Also, this place has good beers on the menu, which we had a couple of. We will definitely come back to this place. It was a pretty big bill but well worth it. The service was good and quick as well.
(5)
Tom D.
The owner is terribly inappropriate, and he has the worst sideburns that I have ever seen. Corey is a great server The owner used the "f" word at the table towards us and proclaimed how classy he is. If the place is so classy, they should turn down the music.
(1)
Kacie B.
Had an amazing dinner with excellent service and atmosphere! Everyone's meal was delicious, between our table we had calamari, the pasta, port shank (which was huge) and brisket...divine! Get the potato pancakes ( came with the pork but can also be ordered as an app), you'll thank me! Their desserts were great also. We all split the carrot cake and red velvet cake, not too sweet but full of flavor. Watch out, though, they are also huge! Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Janette W.
All I did all week was read reviews and see signs for this new Treehouse rooftop bar at Tavern. Sadly, it was closed for the day when I went by! We opted to pop inside for a quick drink. A little corporate but not a bad choice.
(3)
Eric B.
Don't eat here. But they have Templeton Rye and make reasonably good Manhattans . . . Don't eat here. But they have Domaine Dupage and Dead Guy by the bottle . . . Don't eat here. But they have New York Strip specials and cook a fine rare steak . . . Don't eat here. But, but, but . . . When your steak arrives and you want to wash it down with a lovely Malbec, your waitress will not bring it out to you, because you haven't finished your Manhattan. Your waitress will refer to some nonexistent city statute she isn't intelligent enough to cite, which states you can't have two drinks in front of you at once, and you must finish your cocktail, which you wanted to save for after your dinner, before you'll get your wine with dinner. This sort of nonsense is why the terrorists are winning. Pink Floyd would not stand for this nonsense and neither should you. Don't eat here.
(1)
Kristy A.
The view was pretty awesome - the service not so much. I showed up pretty early having heard that the place gets busy. There's a hostess (gatekeeper) at the entrance downstairs, who needs a walkie talkie to know what's going on upstairs. She didn't bother to ask me whether I wanted inside or outside seating and I didn't know to specify, so I ended up at the outdoor bar rather than being sat inside by the hostess at the top of the stairs. The only seat available was the one next to the service bar - not something I usually mind, except that I spent the entire time listening to the servers bitch and complain about their customers. Another patron at the bar (a regular) recommended that I didn't eat there (not a good sign) and I was annoyed with the servers, so I left after one drink and went elsewhere for dinner.
(2)
Samantha H.
I was in need of a pre theater dinner and you can only go to Petterinos and Atwood so many times so I decided to check this out. As expected, tons of tourists and suburbanites on a Friday, but that is due to the location. I actually really liked the ambiance in there. I expected it to me more bland and touristy but it was quite charming. They have a huge menu, which I am actually not a fan of but if you like that sort of thing, plenty to choose from here. Kudos for having Pride Merlot on the wine list. The food was okay. I got the scallops, which were supposed to come with habenero but I got no spice. They were decent though. My husband got the French dip. The bread was massive. Again, it was okay. Nothing special but not bad either. The fries were the same. The real star was Nicholas, our server. Very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Not a place I'd go out of my way to get to but decent if you're in the neighborhood and ask to sit in Nicholas' section.
(3)
Victor P.
Post SAIC Graduation dinner. We were very hungry after a long day but I also wanted it to be a great dining experience. Was not disappointed. Alright it is on the expensive side but the food and service was worth it. The graduate had the sliced Ahi Tuna..."cooked" to perfection. I had the Filet. Also perfect. Wife had the roasted beet salad. Another winner. Hummus and pizza were the starters. Great. All food was tasty and satisfied my desire for a grand dinner. Which was aided by great service. I recommend the Tavern, but don't forget a large roll of cash (of course they accept plastic) but well worth the expense.
(5)
Alicia C.
Visited the restaurant on a whim after a walk in the loop on a Friday afternoon. They have prime real estate to capture all the tourists coming out of art institute and millennium park. Great outdoor seating --- street and rooftop available although good luck getting it on a nice day. We had a very solicitous waiter and seemed well trained in the necessary chit chat. Took the payment before my partner was done with his beer. Poor form. Food: The bread tastes very processed--- and it was the kind of warm where they let it stand around and get cold and stuck it in the oven for a minute before it was served. It was also really shiny--ie greasy? Kind of scary when my bread is shinier than the bald head of the guy sitting one table over. I had the black truffle chicken hash while my partner had the chicken pot Pie. We also shared a calamari appetizer. Food was very bland -- especially my chicken hash. Calamari was a bit too greasy for my taste although I did appreciate that they fried the spices with the squid. Pot pie was probably the best item we ordered although it wasn't the kind of creamy pie I was expecting. Everything felt very greasy-- and not sure why it all had to be. I would say this place is pretty standard in the restaurant desert of southern Michigan Av. I think it tries to go for atmosphere more than food. And unless you are a tourist wanting a close place to eat, not worth it.
(3)
Lauren F.
To start on a good note, the bread and service were impeccable. The ambience is nice and it's in a convenient location. Unfortunately, this place lacks a good dose of originality. Most of the drinks on the menu looked appealing, but none were creative. I decided on a drink that is normally served with a $200 necklace (though I went sans Tiffany). It was pleasant enough, but it was on the flat side. The house infused pair of vodka used in the drink, however, was tasty. The food menu went the same way. Everything that was on the menu I have seen a dozen times at other restaurants. We ordered an appetizer, which was presented very well, but it wasn't special enough to convince us to stick around for the main course. Overall, a solid restaurant with no pizzazz.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Great location as they are right across from the park and near many theaters. Perfect for dinner before the show. I ordered the blackened grouper which was delish and not too heavy. I don't know if there was anything that truly standout about my experience, but I would go back when I'm in the area.
(4)
Lily N.
We stopped by to grab a drink and some appetizers after visiting the CloudGate (Bean). Our waitress, Louisa, was awesome! She was nice and gave her honest opinion. It wasn't hard as the food is quite good. We ordered the Fried Calamari and Warm Goat Cheese. The latter was delicious! I had to slow down to ensure I didn't eat it all. The goat cheese flavor was not overpowering. Plus it was a great vegan option. (The word gravy had us uncertain). The Calamari was just so-so. It included the tentacles (Warning!). So if you are not a fan, specify. The reason for the 3 stars was the texture. Somehow it tasted almost soggy with oil. The flavor was a good balance of lemon, but the oily taste/texture made me unhappy. Then the dip was not anything special. It didn't offset the oil. Maybe marinara would have been better. The drinks: was great!!!!!! We ordered the breast cancer special and the cloudgate without the jewelry. (Tiffany's bean) definitely going back for that!
(3)
Tricia D.
"Burger, get in my belly!" - my conscience to myself during dinner last week If you're going to have a burger with foie gras, duck confit, bacon, and cheese, what can you expect? To pay a lot ($21), to leave with a food baby (check), and to not crave a burger for a while (maybe). The pretzel bun was a great call, and you'll get more fries than you could ever want with this! My burger was prepared medium, like I requested but the bf's Max burger (like breakfast on a burger - fried egg, bacon, sausage patty, cheese atop TWO patties) was a preparation fail. He ordered it well done, and it came out pinker than mine. The manager came by to apologize, the kitchen redid it, and the burger and our (read: my) choice of dessert was comp'ed. If the prices weren't quite as high as they are, I'd dine here more often.
(3)
Candia M.
Nice mix of teenager friendly pasta and mom friendly seafood on the dinner menu. Collin is a friendly and knowledgable waiter. The blueberry bread pudding is enough for a party of four.
(4)
Belinda A.
My new favorite downtown Chicago rooftop restaurant. The halibut was out of this world and the strawberry breeze dessert left me speechless. Great service and prices are well worth it.
(4)
Teresa L.
We were staying at the Hyatt nearby, saw the reviews, and decided to walk over and try it. So glad we did. The ambiance, service and food were fantastic. Would definitely visit again.
(5)
Belle L.
Absinthe in Escargot! The only one in Chicago. Absinthe cuts the butter and garlic a bit. Woo hoo! Do request extra bread for dipping. The string fries can be a bit more crispy, but still addictive. Excellent service as we were never rushed even though its last call for the kitchen. Takes initiative. Knowledgeable between the Tavern's Lemonade versus Minute Maid Lemonade.
(5)
dean d.
Fancy-pants lunch spot: make sure someone else is picking up the tab then enjoy. I had the Chopped Steak CheeseBurger and asked for Brie (you can pick any cheese you want: loved it.
(4)
Dallas M.
This is my favorite place to go after work. Friendly, attentive and professional bartenders. Food is excellent. Wine selection is fantastic. Management is spot on. Try the lobster roll. One of the best I've had outside of Maine. It's the size of your head!
(5)
Randolph W.
Excellent filet (lots of garlic butter on it so beware), awesome fries (shoestring style). Excellent service and atmosphere.
(5)
Casey M.
Stopped in after a day of shopping and wandering around Millennium Park. Definitely a tourist trap considering the prices you pay for the quality of food. Don't get me wrong, the food is good (not great), but not worth the price. Try the hummus, the fried calamari, and the rotisserie chicken and you will be satisfied. Our waiter, Michael, was nice. Would probably return if someone else was paying (haha), or just for drinks and appetizers. I hear they have beautiful rooftop seating.
(3)
Valerie W.
Very cool outdoor patio area that has a great view of the city scape. Service here is friendly and the drinks are good. Can't review the food, but the evening was pleasent and it is certainly a hot spot. Only sad part is that it started to rain on us right when we were finishing our drinks. No biggie, but it was a mad dash to the inside!
(4)
Cheryl R.
OMG. We ate here New Year's Eve.. early before the crowds, and sat in the bar with a window seat overlooking a beautiful Chicago view. Our party had the Ashley's mac n cheese. Which was made with a sharp cheddar, and had the option of adding chicken, meatballs, mushrooms, shrimp, beef tenderlion, etc... simply amazing! Also we had the blackened grouper w sauteed spinach, cooked to perfection.. The most amazing burger was the Road house BbQ burger. .. crazy good, and the Book Maker Steak Sandwich was pure heaven. You can't go wrong here people. This will definitely stay on my list of favorites. The service was impeccable! Thanks to Collin for an amazing experience!
(5)
Stephanie L.
Went today for lunch. Great ambiance food and staff. Our waiter AJ was great. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Rachel S.
Very beautiful inside but wish I would have sat in the upper area outside with the view of the park. Sat at the bar. I ordered "Nectar? Damn near killed her?". Was effing delicious - kind of a gingery taste served with a black cherry. Date ordered a margarita on the rocks and that was very good as well.
(4)
Veronica Z.
The roof top is cozy classy just right for a Chicago summer afternoon and evening. Food is fantastic ceviche was DELICIOUS and I am picky when it comes to that dish. Most of all the service, staff and Manager Peter especially makes us feel welcome ALWAYS!! I LOVE THIS PLACE* Great date spot or just to hang out in our beautiful city*
(5)
Band E.
Only giving 4 stars because our server (young kid who traveled a lot and had been in the restaurant biz since he was 10) was great. Knew a lot about the food and was able to work it in to the conversation. Had the Portuguese mussels (fantastic). Had the lobster ravioli which, while had plenty of what looked like langostines, was a little heavy and needed seasoning. Kind of bland. Had trouble getting a last minute reservation before a concert but this place had plenty of room, good ambiance, lots of attentive help. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Jonathan K.
I went to this place with good hopes, and happily had those hopes met. I figured any place that had half of the venue closed off for a private party for the Chicago Bears wouldn't be a bad place to go. I wound up having the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich along side an Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was kind of "meh" but the steak sammich was tasty. It was also huge, and I had to split my method of eating it between fork and knife and squishing it into my mouth.
(4)
Leslie G.
I have been here dozens of times because it's in my office building. The location is a huge plus. Another positive is that I've never had to wait to be seated here--the place is huge and I've rarely seen it full. Normally, I just come here for drinks and an appetizer (usually the calamari, which is delicious every time). I've also been here for business lunches a few times and thought the food was good. However, I recently came here for dinner with a friend and was rather disappointed. I ordered the ricotta gnocci, which turned out to be enough food for about 3 people. I probably ate about a third of it. I guess they're trying to justify the incredibly steep prices by piling on the food, but I would much prefer a normal portion size with a normal price. The gnocci also seemed overcooked to me and the sauce was overwhelming in taste and in quantity. There was probably a pound of sauce alone. If you're looking for a full-fledged meal, I think there are better restaurants around. If you work in the area and want a nice place to have drinks with a few people, this is a good option.
(3)
Christine C.
Checking out the rooftop on a Tuesday after rain and the place was not busy so I thought we would get our appetizer quick. No such luck. Hostess was snobby and every seat was open! Great music and views of Millenium park, but slow bad service. Can't comment on the food yet because it's still not here. Food just got here. BBQ short rib sandwich Is delicious. Ok. Food and cocktails were good.
(2)
Kimberly S.
We went to this place last night for dinner... When we checked and we did not have a reservation and they told us the wait would be very long... However it was only about 15 minutes. We ate on the second level, the balcony was closed because of rain... But, the waitstaff was a little strange. They had a served by three separate waiters one who just had taken her lunch and I don't know how the third one came in, but each one was super nice and very accommodating. The second waiter was named Chris, he was a real nice and funny guy. He gave some really good suggestions and suggested I try the goat cheese salad... Salad is not my favorite thing to order, but sometimes we need to watch what we eat. The appetizer was a fig and prosciutto flatbread.. It could have used a little more fig but it was delicious nonetheless. I also ordered a cup of French onion soup, which was decent. The atmosphere was really nice, and I really liked and enjoyed the food. I would definitely suggest this place for friends, the lounge area was classy and cool.
(4)
Emul M.
Pros: convenient location next to tourist attractions (i.e. Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate etc), service is quick and pleasant, the ambiance is classy but cool, big servings, appetizers are of decent sizes, beer special was awesome, decent pricing Cons: Special request will cost at least $6 and they won't mention it. Their fried chicken special was to die for! It was still tasty the morning after, without being heated. ;)
(4)
Megan L.
Great experience at Tavern at the Park! A friend of mine were meeting for dinner before a show at the Harris Theatre, and decided to go here based entirely on location, so I made a reservation and off we went. However, my friend went to Kansas and as such is a HUGE Jayhawks fan and they were playing in the Big 12 tourney last night... something that wasn't scheduled or really even considered when buying the show tickets. What's this got to do with Tavern at the Park, you say? More than you'd expect. We get seated in the back dining area, and to our very pleasant surprise there's a tv near our table! So we ask if they can change the channel to the Kansas game when it comes on and our server very accommodatingly says he'll do so. Unfortunately when he comes back, it turns out they can't change it as it's tied to another tv and people who got there first requested something else. Which would be a huge bummer, except he talked to the manager and it turns out there are also tvs in their upstairs area and there's a free table so we can watch whatever we want if we don't mind moving. Seriously, they would not have been any nicer to us, or more eager to help us watch a basketball game. This, friends, is what customer service is about. WAY TO GO, Tavern at the Park! We ended up with a different server upstairs, but she was just as great - they were also very conscious of the fact that we had tickets to a show and made sure we were all finished up in time to get there. In addition to the service, I have to say that the food was also great. I had chicken piccata, served with angel hair and I loved it. I have absolutely no recollection what my friend had (sorry, it's been a month or so... I'm a little behind on reviews), but I do remember that he was equally pleased with his meal. Definitely worth a return trip, especially in the summer when you can enjoy the upstairs patio - nothing like sitting outside with a drink, overlooking Millenium Park!
(5)
Mark F.
Based off of near-the-theater yelp reviews, we took a chance at this tasty-sounding, food and drink stand. Tavern @ the Park was oh so close to that illustrious 5th star but the really awkward server quickly brought it down a star (so close...) along with a consistent lack in use of salt and pepper. The biggest surprise to me were the prices of the drinks. Incredibly affordable for that area. The beer, cocktail and wine consumed by us was delicious and my wallet only took a paper cut rather than a financial gashing. As for the food, it lacked a sprinkle of pepper and salt. That little shake of s&p could've made the meals amazing. They were, however, quite delicious in my tummy. The pork belly appetizer provided a much larger portion than anticipated for $8. The mustard-vin dressed salad it comes with was the tastiest surprise on that plate (the bread with raisins didn't make any sense). If you like chicken and want something hardy, I recommend the chicken hash. Everything went really well together. It was like having dinner and breakfast all at the same time. My wife had the lamb shank special and though tasty - she craved some good ol salt n peppa. (You can Push It, Tavern, Push It real good). All in all, it was a delightful experience before seeing a show just down the road. It's not too loud, the food's great and everything was very prompt. I'll recommend it and I'll most likely go back again if for nothing else but affordable drinks.
(4)
Linda H.
The ahi appetizer is fabulous! But the service is mighty slow and mighty surly about it. Our waiter seemed quite put out that we actually wanted to order food. And wanted water. And perhaps some sugar for tea. Don't go if you have a time limit or are terribly hungry.
(2)
Lauren D.
my family and I came here after my younger brothers graduation from Naval bootcamp up at Great Lakes. Firstly we were almost an hour early for our reservation and they still sat us right away and in the private room which was great ! Our Server (eddie) was kind, funny, and knowledgeable and gave GREAT recommendations on what to eat. The food came out fast and tasted AWESOME best steak sandwich id ever eaten and the chicken hash was something I don't normally eat but was glad I did!! After we were all stuffed the Server nicely informed us that my brothers meal was on the house per the management team and sent him great wishes and support on his new military journey. We had to track the manger down and my brother personally thanked him and what a gracious man he was, giving words of encouragement and thanks for his soon to be help to our country. I HIGHLY recommend this great establishment to anyone looking for great food and friendly environment with a great view of the popping Millennium park with a wonderful staff. If ever in the Chicago area again we will for sure be stopping in and giving our business to this great restaurant!
(5)
Bruce M.
6 of us had dinner at the Tavern At The Park. The service started out great. But after we placed our order, we became invisible. It took forever to get our food and not once did anyone stop by and give us an explanation or see if we wanted anything else. The food was good - but not sure it was worth the incredibly long wait.
(3)
Matt G.
I had hoped for something a little better, so I would say this place was just OK. Nothing that I would leap out of my seat for and come back. The Duck Egg roll was quite good, sauce was a little thick. I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. While the portion was HUGE, the meatballs were anything but "crispy" so not sure where they got the name for the dish. I was expecting them with a crispy Parmesan coating. Service was adequate, not phenomenal. The restaurant is a nice space and the location is great. Maybe a bit more touristy than I'd like and possibly what is driving traffic to the place.
(3)
Jim K.
Came here for a business lunch. Conveniently located on the Pedway, this place features huge sandwiches and burgers. I had been traveling for work, so I was more than tired of massive portions. I went with the scallops for lunch, and they were very tasty. Could have come with a side for the price, but with the bread on the table, I was satisfied. The service was also top notch here. Very attentive and informative.
(4)
Amanda K.
They have my favorite salad in the whole world - The Chopped Salad (I get balsamic instead of sherry vinaigrette) but don't bother showing up here for lunch without reservations or you will be brutally rebuffed. The hosts (and owners?) are a bit on the snooty side.
(4)
Lisa S.
I had a great time. Awesome location great service. We went for lunch and we had a steakburger with fries and it was delicious. Best steak burger ever!!!
(4)
Tisha K.
If you are in the Millenium Park area then this is in the area. I think the place looks nicer than the actual food. I had a friend in from Dallas and he wanted to eat around Millenium Park area and so I took him here, but I wish I had done a little more research as I think Chicago has a lot more to offer than this restaurant. I will say the service was amazing. My waiter was phenomenal and very friendly and helpful. I had the fish and chips. The chips were a little too thin for me and the fish (I think it was cod) was a little bland and honestly nothing to write home about. We did get a dessert and I will say their portions for dessert are HUGE!!!! Definitely share a dessert (four people can share one dessert easily). We got the apple crumple - and again nothing amazing. :/ It does have an outdoor area so I think on a nice evening during the summer this would be a nice spot for a date (drinks), go some where else for dinner!
(3)
Katie S.
If just going for drinks, 5 stars.... great location, views, and staff. But the kitchen is completely lacking. I went with a large group of friends for dinner and two of us ordered steaks medium rare. When they came out...both came out well done (no pink whatsoever). We sent them back, and 20 minutes later new steaks came out and the manager asked if they were ok... this time they were RAW... looked like a good seared ahi tuna... unfortunately had to send back again. For $34 petite ala carte pricing... I don't expect the best, but I'd expect a kitchen to know temperatures. Many of my other friends said the food was OK, but had very little seasoning. however the desserts were a completely different story... absolutely amazing.
(3)
H T.
Only had one day to spend in Chicago and really glad we picked this place for dinner. We had the crispy pork belly for an appetizer. We thought it would be like tripe but it was really just thick pieces of marinated bacon. Too heavy for an appetizer, but very tasty. My dinner was the short rib with vegetables. The short rib was very tender and the sauce it was stewed in had an amazing flavor. Very generous portion of meat, plus it came with vegetables, so I got a lot of food for the money. My brother had a steak and said that although he has had better, that the steak was still a high quality steak. Finally we had the key lime creme brullee for desert, and we both agreed it was some of the best creme brulee we have ever had. Be sure to dress kinda nice otherwise they will put you upstairs with the drinking crowd, where the furniture is uncomfortable patio chairs with metal bars and mesh. (that's what happened to us). We both agreed that this place was worth coming back to. Good food and the server was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Jeff W.
If you're downtown and looking for a higher quality restaurant with much less of a wait, you should definitely check out Tavern at the Park. It's located in the heart of the fun stuff and has a great menu. The service was wonderful and the food was really pretty darn good. The menu isn't anything revolutionary and it's a bit expensive but the food is tasty and well prepared. The one unique thing you'll have to try is the Prime Rib Chili. They use actual cuts of (presumably) the unsold prime rib to make their chili. Instead of ground beef, you get huge hunks of steak in your chili. Yum! My fiancee and I got the lobster Mac and Cheese and while 30 bucks is expensive for Mac and Cheese, they certainly did not skimp on the lobster. We also split several appetizers with friends which were all very good. Definitely worth a stop during a fancier date night in the city.
(4)
Justin P.
I did not feel welcome here at all, and will not be going back. Every host I interacted with was smug, and acted as if I was in the wrong place. When I finally got to their rooftop where my buddy had a party, I was told by two different employees "there is a private party outside, so no one is allowed on the roof." So I go "yeah, that's my buddy's party." They acted as if I was crazy... For it to be overpriced and in an area with slim options to park, they should be more appreciative of clientele.
(1)
Monica S.
Come here for the Bloody Mary's - Stay for the Bloody Mary's (oh and the food!) They make their own Bloody Mary mix in house which has been perfected with the perfect amount of kick. Each drink comes with your choice of vodka (their well vodka is Svedka...which is not too shabby for their cheapest vodka). I got mine with Absolut and it was perfect. The garnishes also make this a must drink - hot pepper, cheese cube, olive, and lime on a seasoning-dusted glass rim. (hey, stuff some blue cheese in that olive!) I ordered the chopped salad which I could barely make a dent it. This is no side salad here, you get a huge mountain of food. (Shoestring fries on a salad? madness.) Our server Brian was great. Very attentive and showed up at our table at all the right moments. He must have had some sort of alert system to notify him when my drink was getting low. I'll definitely be back hopefully sooner than later. Also, the Tree house roof top seems tempting for an after work happy hour. Apparently, they have a whole different menu....very intriguing.
(4)
L T.
Love a place that has the Smiths playing!
(4)
Patrick F.
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, but since I keep heading back it must be 4 stars....right? I've really only gone here during business lunches and is a great reason to be out of the office on a work day for 90 minutes. It's hard for me not to start with one of you hearty soups or house salad and then dig into the lobster roll with a healthy side of asparagus or some other green. In fact, I do this most times I there. I swear next time I'm going to venture outside of my comfort zone and try one of your many overpriced lunch dishes. Well till next time Tavern at the Park - I know that I will be seeing you soon! I also hear great things about the rooftop, but have yet to enjoy this experience.
(4)
Jenna K.
I never write reviews but I feel like the service that I have received at Tavern at the Park deserves one. My company hosts client outings fairly often so I have worked with quite a few event coordinators and restaurants across the city. That said, I have yet to experience the level of service that I have at Tavern at the Park anywhere else. Tabitha, the event coordinator, has been wonderful to work with and is extremely responsive via phone and email. Every time we hosted an event Tabitha stopped by before our guests arrived to thank us for our business. She also went the extra step of staffing our event with the same server (Ryan) each time which added to our experience. Ryan remembered me and my co-worker, and even called us by name which was impressive. I truly appreciate the service that Tabitha and Ryan have provided and will continue to give them our business moving forward. If you are looking to host a party of any sorts I would recommend Tavern at the Park over anywhere else.
(5)
Abby M.
I've been here for lunch a few times and like others have noted, it is pretty pricey. But the food is good, and the portions are large - so you're definitely getting what you pay for. They honor my seating requests with no complaints (sunny room, please) and everyone is friendly. We went yesterday and I had the steak burger salad - I asked for it Medium and it came out rare (in my opinion - I know this varies from place to place). They took care of it without batting an eye - even when they didn't have to, especially because I had ate at least a third of it! I thought that was going above and beyond to make their customer happy. They also have some seating up on their roof, which is great in the spring/summer time. From what I've heard, it's open all seasons - so we may have to stop for a happy hour sometime soon!
(4)
Rick C.
They would get at least a 4 for their service and food. Outstanding. I am giving them a 5. I left my prescription sunglasses at their establishment. They found them, kept them and I had the pair in my hands instantly. Fantastic!
(5)
Cissi C.
Seafood items are well prepared here. They taste fresh and lightly seasoned with refreshing taste. Nice environment inside and outside (at the patio), too.
(4)
John R.
I was in Chicago last weekend and was dying for a steak. We went to The Tavern and had their NY. It was excellant.
(4)
Chantelle A.
The rooftop is where its at! It took us awhile to actually find the entrance to the Tavern Treehouse but, once we arrived....we ARRIVED! Gorgeous views of the city....so posh...so relaxing.. It was a Friday night, the first night of Lollapalooza, and you could see the back of the Bud Light stage where Black Sabbath was performing. We ordered the Ceviche with huge pieces of Halibut, Cod, Scallops, Shrimp, tomato and cilantro drenched in this awesome lime vinegarette served with crispy tortilla chips. My friend ordered the Type O cocktail, which was made with their housemade Blood Orange Grenadine....it was pretty tasty. I ordered The Flying Zombo...made with ginger....it was very refreshing on this perfect night.
(5)
Katie V.
If this place were cheaper/not trying to pass as fine dining, I might give it 3 stars, but everything was pretty underwhelming, especially given the price point and the ambiance they are striving for. Heavy-handed is the word that comes to mind -- the portions are huge, the plating inelegant, and the menu, while expansive, lacks focus. The special pizza, which came with lobster, pancetta, tomatoes, and spicy onions, was almost too spicy to eat, and I'm not a sissy when it comes to heat. There were jalapenos sort of randomly on there, too, despite no mention of them in the description. The combination of flavors was unusual, but not really harmonious. Felt like a kitchen sink pizza that could have used a little more thought/finesse. Beet salad: good, but standard. Chunks of beets were pretty clunky/big, not pretty to look at. Sockeye special: Fish was good, not overcooked, but the whipped potatoes it came with were cold. The other things on the plate included two sliced tomatoes, some cucumbers, olives and frisee. Weird set, didn't really go with the fish. It was sort of like a nicoise and a Greek salad got together and procreated. For $28, I felt a little cheated that my salmon basically just came with a side salad. My date got the truffle chicken hash, which looked good. Huge plate of food, and he barely made a dent, but it looked more interesting than my dish. The service was pretty good -- only annoying thing is the server kept asking us when we wanted our entrees to arrive. Right after she brought out the apps, she asked if we were ready for entrees. No, we said, we'd like a little time to eat the apps. She asked again 5 minutes later. The kitchen was closing, but still....it's the server's job to time the courses properly. Don't ask me when I want my entree -- bring it after you've cleared the first course, duh. I would like to check out the roof deck. For cocktails and a good view, I might return, but not for a nice dinner.
(2)
Stephanie H.
This place is A-OK. I took one star off for the prices and another star for the food. I've been here several times since I work nearby, but last week was the first time I came here and paid for my own meal. That was a mistake. This place is really really pricey and this is quasi-upscale American food. For example, the last time I was there I had the chicken pot pie, this was $22 and sadly I've had better at Mystic Celt of all places for a lot cheaper. I also had the ceviche to start which "was sooooo good" according to the waitress who claimed that she had never had it before and when she tried it here she asked the chefs to give her the recipe. Clearly she really never had ceviche before because it was really weak, and as you can guess it was pricey. Other times I've been here I've had the bookmaker burger which is really good, but again this is a $20+ steak sandwich. I understand this is in the tourist area, but all of your dishes aren't worth shelling out the money.
(3)
Matthew T.
Great food and service!!! The prices are sightly higher, but worth it. The atmosphere was very nice. We sat in the back so the lighting was dimmed, which was very relaxing, and then there is seating close to the windows overlooking Millennium Park. I ordered the turkey club, which was huge, and it came with a side (stacked higher than the sandwich) of fresh cut fries. My wife ordered the BBQ beef sandwich also came with fresh cut fries. Great wine and beer list (lots of different craft beers). Next time we visit Chicago, we will go back here again.
(5)
Cody F.
I wish this place was good, but it simply is not. My experience was so terribly mediocre and at such a high price. The service was odd, the waitress literally tried to talk us out of our initial orders. The food is exceptionally uninspired, which is totally absurd considering the price. I would not recommend this restaurant, nor will I be returning.
(2)
Liz K.
I've had two good experiences here. The first was for lunch, the second, dinner. Both times I've been overwhelmed by the amount of food on my plate, and when you consider that with the quality, I think the prices are fair. I don't remember the name of the salad I got at lunch, but there were four chicken breasts on the plate. FOUR. For one person! That could have fed me for 4 separate meals. In any case, the salad also had goat cheese and apples and it was just yummy all-around. For dinner, I got the vegetarian lasagna, and again, it was enough for 3 or 4 meals. This is nit-picky, but I would have liked bigger pieces of veggies so that they wouldn't fall off my fork after the noodles were cut...but anyway, it was delicious and I can't wait to eat it for lunch today. My dinner guest was also impressed with her sandwich (the short rib, I think?) and had the same feeling about the portion. We both had the Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc and enjoyed it. The service was friendly and quick both times. It was a little bit loud, which is my only complaint.
(4)
Mahsa T.
Surprisingly, I actually liked this place, it didn't feel touristy at all on a Wednesday night. I was greeted warmly by the host. We sat at the bar and got great service from the bartender. I ordered a glass of wine (which is more like two glasses of wine because they bring you a full glass plus a little carafe) and he ordered a Guinness. Not much of a beer selection on tap, but they have a pretty good selection of wines. Dark woodsy interior was cozy and charming. The place was decorated beautifully for Christmas so that totally upped the ambiance. I didn't get to try the food, so I will have to update the review when I do, but the four stars is based on ambiance, service, and drinks. Great happy hour or date spot.
(4)
Tsveta V.
The atmosphere is a little stuffy for me, but the food was good and it wasn't as packed as other restaurants around the New East Side making it a good pick for a business lunch. I got the Chicken Black Truffle Hash which was recommended by the waiter. The portion was very large, and it was pretty good but nothing to rave about.
(3)
Johanna L.
Came here for the "groom's dinner" before my sister's wedding two weeks ago. There were passed hors d'oeuvres and wine available. I had the sliders (YUM) and the various fruits and cheeses available. There were also bacon-wrapped scallops, which I'm not a fan of in general, but I'm told they were lovely. Great food, kind of cramped (we were upstairs) though. Might be nice to come back when there is room to sit down to enjoy more of the food. The service was great, and everyone working there seemed very intent on us having a good experience.
(3)
Jenny P.
the only place in Chicago that makes a pina colada the way I love it topped with whipped cream !
(5)
Stephanie H.
I had been aching to try this restaurant out for ages after constantly passing it on the way to and from work. I absolutely love outdoor seating, which is what I think draws guests to this restaurant. I finally had the chance to go a few weeks ago. My friend and I shared the butternut squash ravioli and chopped steak cheeseburger. The cheeseburger was delicious, but the butternut squash was very mediocre, and the portion was rather small. Our server was attentive, but his behavior was a little odd. Overall, I don't think the outdoor seating is enough to bring me back.
(2)
Trey M.
Great menu. Service was very good. We had the lobster ravioli and Cajun prime rib. Huge chunks of lobster in the dish, and the prime rib was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Will D.
Nice location, upscale atmosphere and attentive service, but very disappointed with my entree. The brisket was rubbery and fatty, but at least the mac and cheese and cole slaw sides helped salvage the meal. Somewhat expensive to boot, so it was not a good value for me. I expected a lot, lot more. Note to self: don't ever order brisket north of Dallas again.
(2)
Scott Y.
We had an enjoyable meal. Too bad the place is so noisy! It was difficult to have a normal conversation.
(3)
Chelsea B.
Delicious food, great location across the street from millennium park, generous portions. Tabitha, our waitress was phenomenal with our 2 kids. Even though there is no kids menu they were very accommodating. You cant ask for a better place. It was fabulous!
(5)
Sean N.
I've been here a couple of times for drinks and food. I give two stars because I feel that if you're going to offer something it should either meet or exceed expectations. Alcohol and ambiance are nice, so it's great if you're looking for an after work spot to unwind, however, the food leaves much to be desired. Typically bland, and although at times eclectic, you get the feeling the chef in the back less a culinary artist and more a kid in the sandbox.
(2)
Jennifer T.
The rooftop deck has a great view and the service was good. My issue was the food. I ordered the blackened grouper for $29. The seasoning was bland and the the size of the fish was 3" x 2" with a couple pieces of spinach and a small nibble of rice. I would not come back because of the food.
(2)
Nina M.
I still don't think I can improve my rating, but I did want to at least mention that the owner contacted me regarding my experience. I always see it as a good sign when a business cares enough about comments to respond and use it as a training opportunity for his staff.
(2)
Jaime G.
This is my go-to place by the office. Always consistent food and service for entertaining clients and friends with such a great ambiance to match. For starters, the must try is the grilled pallenta in a garlic and Italian sausage sauce. Wow - really full of bold flavor and spice that everyone just loves. My favorite entree is the Seared Ahi Tuna. Very basic but it hits the spot every time. Comes lightly seared with just a little salt and pepper on top of a delightful cabbage salad. Salads are ginormous - the ceaser salad can easily feed 2 people. I also like the fish sandwich that comes with a load of fries. You should try creamy potato side though too. Sometimes i just have this as my entree. So creamy, garlicy, and cheesy that is so satisfying. Bar is ok to just have a drink but tends to get crowded fast. Beer and wine selection is good. Has a nice little outdoor area and the second floor has a fantastic view of Millennium Park but beware - can get full of tourists fast.
(4)
Heather H.
Chicken Noodle/Matzoh Ball soup was outstanding. French Onion soup was outstanding. Main Dishes: Mac & Cheese w/Filet, Chicken with Black Truffle Hash were very good. Chicken pot pie was good as was fish and chips. Kyle was the waiter and he delivered STELLAR service. Glad we went here, had a good meal for the price, lovely location and leisurely stroll back to the hotel. The service really was tremendous.
(4)
Cerene P.
Great after work spot. Stopped here after work on Friday. Good food, drinks and atmosphere!!!
(4)
Mary Ann C.
So...I have been wanting to try this place for the last few years, as I have a yearly conference at the Hyatt. I ate at the Gage for lunch the day before, and it is hard to top the Gage. Anyhow, I was dining solo, so I elected to eat at the bar. A glass of wine and Millennium Burger made up my forty dollar lunch. Pretty pricey in my opinion, especially compared to the Gage. The burger was quite good, even though it was not prepared medium as ordered. Loved the duck confit, cheese, organic greens, and other tasty toppings. It is a fork and knife burger! Huge. The fries were quite good. Other than the price, my other complaint is that I was in the middle of taking a bite of my burger, when the bar tender wanted to start a tab on me and asked for my credit card. Very odd, as I had ordered wine and waited for my burger, which took at least 15 minutes. Why ask for the credit card when I was mid-bite?! Pretty unprofessional even for a meal at the bar. In fact, all of my years living and dining in Chicago and all of the years that I have traveled have never brought on such a request mid-bite. Better training for the staff could improve such things. Would have given the place four stars, even with the burger that was not medium and high prices, but asking me for my credit card in the middle of my meal is over the top! Three stars for Tavern at the Park! Plus, the Gage is better and more affordable!
(3)
Barb B.
I actually would've given this restaurant 5 stars if not for the one super important detail to service which you will learn about later. I visited on vacation and was celebrating my friend's 40th birthday that evening (it was just the 2 of us, not a large party). I'd gotten a recommendation from the concierge at my hotel and after reading the reviews on yelp thought it sounded perfect. Walking distance from my hotel, great view from the rooftop, known for great food and service. Once we arrived I let the hostess know we were celebrating a birthday which she then shared with our server who was excellent throughout the entire time. The food was fantastic, everything was cooked perfectly, other servers in the area were also very attentive, even had a visit from the manager asking if everything was OK, which up to that point everything was great. We hadn't finished our meals in order to save room for dessert and while getting that packed up we asked our server for the dessert menu. He then informed us the kitchen was now closed (it was 10:45pm on a thurs and they close at 10). He did say he'd go and speak to the chef and see what he could do. He was gone for awhile but in the meantime we just chatted and enjoyed the view. About 10 or so minutes later he arrived to inform us the chef would not serve us dessert. At that point, feeling somewhat dumbfounded we asked for the check and left. I did leave the server a 20% tip because he was excellent. We however left feeling very disappointed and turned off from this restaurant. Our complete experience went from absolutely perfect to less than just OK because we couldn't believe they wouldn't serve us dessert. The bar was still open with plenty of guests being served. What about a birthday drink offer? Or an ice cream scoop with a candle? or a chocolate cake slice? Something to show that you care about the special occasion. It was my friend's 40th birthday and we celebrated while on vacation, out of all the restaurants we had to choose from we picked this one and this is how it ended? Pretty sad actually as I've worked in the hospitality industry my entire life and service is a huge deal. I was feeling rather embarrassed and felt bad for my friend. Some things only happen once and this was it. This is the last memory we will have of Tavern on the park because we will not be going there on our next visit to Chicago. I understood if the desserts have to be cooked but seriously, any effort would've made us leave with a smile instead of a frown that night. This is just a warning for anyone celebrating any type of special occasion or romantic event, or anyone who is looking for a special night. In the least I would've appreciated a "we're closing the kitchen at 10 so if you want dessert, tell us now" but nope, nothing, nada, zilch.
(3)
Katherine R.
My mom, sister, and I ate salads with Ahi tuna here. Mom had an individual pizza and my sister drank an assortment of red wines. The server was very nice and humble. I think the ambiance was elegant with the long quiet narrow table layout along tall windows to see out to Millenium Park. The fruit and vegetables in our salads was just a colorful and fresh and crisp presentation and taste. I don't drink but they had a non-alcoholic light ale Guiness that taste like butterscotch and it was very good. Thank God he brought that out instead of the high sugary virgin pina colada that I was thinking about. He was right on track. The dessert was good. The banana split with fried banana was drizzled in chocolate syrup and as usual we shared it with three spoons. I thought the Ahi tuna in the appetizer could have been sliced thicker in the salad.
(4)
Michael F.
We dined there last night and while I'm a vegan and my coworker is a vegetarian, they were able to accommodate us nicely. I had a margarita pizza with extra tomatoes and no cheese. Had a salad and side of broccoli...which was cooked perfectly and a generous portion. My coworker had the blueberry bread pudding and he said it was great. Even more than that our waiter was very, very kind, helpful and courtious. While a bit spendy, the food and service were top notch. I'd recommend if you're in the downtown area. Next, off to the Chicago Diner for lunch and really looking forward to it.
(5)
Tom Y.
On a recent business trip to Chicago, My buddy and I wanted a comfortable grill/restaurant where we could enjoy a good meal and watch a hockey game. The Tavern turned out to be a perfect choice. When we arrived, we were hoping to find a table or a couple seats in the front lounge (with the TVs over the bar). Unfortunately, it was completely jammed. The host, knowing we wanted to watch the game, said he cold find us a spot. He took us back into the dining room where there just happened to one empty booth with a TV right in front of it. We each enjoyed a few beers and a nice meal while the game played on. Our own luxury box! The food was quite good. The menu includes a variety of items sure to please a mixed group. I had the brisket which was served with a large side of mac cheese and coleslaw-very tasty. My friend commented that his whitefish was the best he ever had! Portions were large. Our server took excellent care of us. Prices seemed in line with other Chicago restaurants. If youre looking for good food and great service in a comfortable setting, I highly recommend the Tavern at the Park.
I took my parents here over the weekend and it was fab. Everyone loved it- the food was delish and the waiter was super nice. We were a bit underdressed as we had been at the air show all day- but nobody seemed to mind. I ordered the Chicken Milanese that was very good and I also have to recommend trying the Mac & Cheese side- it was heaven! We skipped on dessert but the coffee was really yummy and I'd love to try the Cookies and Cream fondue. This is a place that could be a nice place for a date or somewhere to take your parents. All in all a nice experience, highly recommended!
(5)
Ingrid G.
Not an upscale dining experience, but certainly tavern style food with the potential of great views. I should remark that if you're looking for a well executed dining experience with more upscale choices, the Park Grill is a much better choice than here. But if you're looking for a casual place to relax and have some drinks and dip the Tavern at the Park is the place for you! We had a party of 6. I had called several days before and requested a table with a view. We were seated promptly, though to my dismay, our only view was of a plasma TV in an odd windowless room on the second floor. The appetizers are all about the dips. Crab dip, chicken cheese fondue (skip it) mac and cheese, artichoke, etc. Main courses: Most of us stuck with the tried and true fillet which was pretty good. You order sides a la carte, and you are offered the typical steakhouse fare of creamed spinach, green beans, broccoli with cheese etc. My bf had the pasta with scallops, it was huge and pretty good. My aunt had a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon which looked really good. Overall: The service was marginal. Our waiter, bless his heart, was very inexperienced. They were featuring a heart of palm salad, and he volunteered that though he had never heard of heart of palm before today he thought it was kind of like asparagus. He was very eager to please but unsure of what to do almost every step of the way. The one very important exception to this was at the beginning he made a point to ask if there were any allergies (there were) and he was very intent on making sure that the allergy sufferer was taken care of. Our dishes were cleared promptly. Once again, not fancy schmancy but definitely OK, and the prices while steep aren't outrageous. I am looking forward to returning in the fall, when the leaves are changing.
(3)
Joseph E.
Took the family here before an opera at the Harris Theater across the street and we absolutely loved it. Great food at a good price. I only wish I'd ordered a steak instead of the Ahi tuna. The latter was good, but the ribeye my wife had and the filet my daughter had were wonderful tasting! We'll definitely come here again.
(4)
Amanda D.
Tavern at the Park had the best grilled calamari. What a great way to start the meal. The food here was decent, but nothing to write home about. Service... worse. Our waiter seemed like he had just started and was very clumsy with everything which was not comforting. They perk up their "view of the park", but most of the seating is hidden and has no view. Overall feel: meh
(2)
Tasha H.
Loved this place. Went there last night, the first time for both me and my friend. We both had steaks and salads, and vegetables as sides. First, I have to say that our waiter was outstanding. I tend to be a bit of a smartass, and from my starting out by asking for a very pink drink (for Pinktober, which I consider a month dedicated to me and my cancer), and then going on to ask what specific kinds of tomatoes were in the heirloom tomato salad, he totally went with it all, good-natured. His recommendations were great as well. The steaks were perfect, and the grilled veggies were some of the best I've ever had. I know, how can veggies be that great? But they were. Oh, and at some point someone who i assume must have been the owner stopped by our table to ask how everything was, which was a nice touch. Overall, I'd definitely go back. And the pink drinks were excellent! Oh, and how can I forget the bread pudding! Best. Ever.
(5)
Joelen T.
The Tavern at The Park can certainly cater to a large group of women who love their drinks! Having been here with girlfriends, we enjoyed the service provided as we spent several hours here chatting and drinking away. Some menu suggestions we thoroughly enjoyed: Warm Goat Cheese Parmesan Bread Crumbs & Tomato Fondue $10 Chicken Pot Pie Braised Chicken, Wild Mushrooms, Thyme, Madeira Wine With A Puff Pastry Crust $17 Blackened Sea Scallops & Fettuccine Tossed In A Spicy Vodka Sauce With Mushrooms & Spinach $27 Chopped Steak Cheeseburger American, Cheddar, Bleu Or Swiss $12 Braised Beef Short Ribs Boneless And Slow Roasted In A Red Wine Demi-Glaze $25 Lobster Ravioli Lobster Meat, Mascarpone Cheese, Asparagus & Lobster Cream Sauce $28 Whole Wheat Penne Pasta Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Shitake Mushrooms, Fresh Mozzarella & White Wine Garlic Sauce $17 Warm Blueberry Apple Bread Pudding Fresh Blueberries & Lemon Sauce $6 Triple Chocolate Cake Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Fudge Icing, and Chocolate Cake $8 One downside: this restaurant doesn't offer any happy hour specials, unlike the many other places in the area. Despite the lack of drink specials, the food and service made it worth it!
(4)
Ryan M.
The girl and I celebrated our anniversary last week and part of our celebration was dinner at Tavern at the Park. All in all, the meal was just fine, but I think my dear friend Keara's review below caused me to get way to excited about it. It didn't live up to expectations, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. We began our meal with some drinks. I ordered a scotch and water and to my dismay, it was served to me in a regular drinking glass rather than a rocks glass. I'm not normally a snob (when I'm at home, not owning a rocks glass, I drink from a Shrek glass I got at McDonalds), but at a nicer restaurant I would like to have my drink served in the proper glass. For an appetizer, we had the grilled polenta. This was a part of one of my new years goals to try a new food every month. I'd never had polenta before, but understanding it to be basically uncooked corn bread (sort of) I thought it might be ok. Texturally, I didn't care for it, but if I got a piece of sausage and some cheese and a just a little polenta, it wasn't too bad. I didn't care for the sausage served in the chunky tomato and pepper sauce, but that's my own pickiness. From there, we moved to main courses. The girl had blue cheese crusted filet mignon and absolutely raved about it. I had the prime rib, which was outstanding. Cooked right, tender, flavorful. Just great. The star of this portion of the meal was the Ashley's Mac and Cheese. Some of the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. Let's finish with desert. It was the highlight of the meal. Our waiter told us "Our deserts, with the exception of the cheesecake and the crème brulee are huge so you're only allowed to order one." But at the recommendation of Keara, I was having the key lime crème brulee. Holy balls. It was fantastic. The lady got the cookie ice cream sandwich, which she could barely finish, but since my crème brulee was light, I made quite a dent in it myself. I can say we were satisfied, but I think for the price tag that came with the meal, it may have been a little lackluster. I think we paid about 35 bucks too much, in my opinion. No biggie, just my opinion.
(3)
Nick K.
Went here for dinner and had a great experience. The place wasn't all that busy so we got seated for our reservation right away. The service was absolutely great and the food was excellent as well. We were started off with a basket of assorted breads, which were good. I had the Filet Mignon with the parmesan crusted topping. I have had this before at Wildfire and this was very similar and just as good if not better. The steak was cooked perfectly to how I ordered it. We also got the whipped potato caserole as a side and that was delicious. We were both full after dinner so we skipped on dessert, but they had something that looked delicious that I've never seen before. They had a cookies n cream fondue which is served with assorted fruit, marshmallows, rice krispie treats, and pretzels. Being the sweets lover I am, this sounds delicious and I want to go back and try this sometime. Overall, this was a great dining experience. Hopefully, more people start going so that it stays open.
(5)
Annie S.
I only like this place because it's a block away from my place. The drinks are pricey and not very good. It was kinda funny, one time I was there the waiter carded my friend and she was like "how old do you think I am" and he's like 18. HAHA! And she's 24. I thought that was hilarious. They have this $100 drink (not sure if they still make it but they had it a couple months ago) and I don't know who would spend that much on a freakn drink. I think it had diamonds or something inside... haha =P The place is pretty big and it's nice inside. The bathrooms are large, which is always nice. I do want to try this place again to get food because they've gotten good reviews for that.
(3)
Jen K.
This place gets 5 stars just based on the crab dip alone. It was absolutely amazing. And it tasted just as amazing when I ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I had the French Onion soup as well which was good. I also had the filet sliders with blue cheese. The sliders were a little overcooked and the blue cheese wasn't quite as flavorful as I normally prefer. The wine list gets an extra star since it had one of our favorite bottles on it that is hard to find. Finally, the service was perfect. Our waiter Tim was very friendly and helpful and always looking after us but not intrusive. Two managers stopped by our table as well to ask us about our meal and our night. I'll definitely be back again soon.
(5)
Ellen H.
Not bad. Wait. Quite ok, actually. I'll be honest, I was skeptical when the place opened. I work in one of the office buildings next door and am ALWAYS looking for non-Bennigans options, which seem to be the norm in that neck of the Loop. But, Tavern at the Park is a fairly solid spot....for the following: Lunch with co-workers (they have a great chopped salad and the fries are awesome...although I think all fries are awesome.); Casual dinner with visiting P's during the week/after work (dads will find ok steaks and moms will find decent chicken/fish options); After-work glass of wine (or two) and some appetizers at the bar (the goat cheese/tomato sauce is surprisingly tasty). The place is clearly not something to go nuts over but in the winter, and given it's location...for those "where the h*ll am I gonna take so-and-so after work" moments...Tavern is a safe bet.
(4)
Faith G.
Great location and GREAT food. We had the polenta app, Big Mike burger, Petite Filet and the broccoli. I have to say the food was amazing from start to finish. We spent 6 days in Chicago and after visiting all the "recommended historical" restaurants.. this was by far my favorite. The service was great and I would highly recommend giving this restaurant a go!
(5)
Zack C.
The menu at this establishment is somewhat of a limiting factor if you're looking for a smorgasbord.
(3)
Sarah Z.
Horrid! The food here was absolutely terrible!! Our waiter was nice and the atmosphere was ok- has a nice view overlooking Randolf Street... but the food was soooooo bad, I would never go back!
(1)
Todd C.
There's a ton of great steakhouses in the area, but the New York Strip at Tavern At The Park might be the best steak buy downtown. The service is great and the have this great whisky cocktail called "Them Apples". Mmmm, it's good. This place is also close to the Millennium Park, so you can walk over to The Bean afterwards. It's a great date spot.
(4)
Giri C.
The food and service were both excellent! We ate dinner in a private dining room with a group of about 20 so it may not be reprensentative of the main dining room, but I found the whole meal very good. Definitely get the Apple Crisp for dessert! I'm partial to apple desserts, but this Apple Crisp topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream was incredible!
(4)
Suz C.
This is a preliminary review based on two visits. It was OK - I think they're still working out the kinks. Hey, is it Tavern at the Park or Tavern on the Park? Not to be confused with Tavern on Rush. I wasn't blown away, but I will probably eat here again. I've been here for both lunch and dinner. For dinner, I ate the grilled vegetable salad. I hated the dressing, and the food tasted overgrilled, if that's possible. My friend got a grilled chicken sandwich and loved it. For lunch, I met a colleague, and I tried the sirloin burger salad and I liked it, although the sirloin was a tad too overcooked. My colleague opted for the braised beef short ribs, and she thought it was OK but thought it could have been better. Gorgeous, dark wood interior. For the location, you'd expect an amazing view of the park, but you really don't get any view in the back dining room. I hear you get quite the view if you eat upstairs in one of the rooms. Good loop location, nice interior (safe for a business lunch or after-work drink), but the food was ehhhh and the waitstaff seemed pleasant, albeit harried. Great bar - I'd like to try it for happy hour sometime. A little expensive, but you're paying for location and a fairly nice interior. I think this restaurant competes with Park Grille and The Gage - they're all about equal to me.
(3)
Stacy C.
I've been here twice now, for a company happy hour and just a casual lunch. This place is nothing special, but I think it's perfect for business lunches or work gatherings. When my company visited we had a spacious area upstairs and excellent service. (Let's not discuss the fact that I threw up on the Red Line after one too many Petron margaritas on this occasion.) The appetizers were tasty but pricey, at least for my standards. On my second visit I had the delicious grilled vegetable salad and my mom had the grilled cheese, bacon and tomato, which was amazing. Once again, overpriced for my small salary, but if you're using your corporate Amex then who cares! Our waiter was great again; I noticed that they made a special point to ask if anyone at the table had food allergies, which I thought was a sign of their superior service. The atmosphere is cookie-cutter "antique" Chicago posters and photographs, but at least there's a nice view. It gets a little too dark in the evenings though, so if you're going on a date with a two-face then maybe this is the place for you.
(3)
Jo Jo B.
If you want a sterile yuppie place to go to then this is the place for you. I went here the other night because it is in my neighbourhood and I wanted somewhere local where I could meet a client. This place really is a business place and I did not dig it even for my purpose of my meeting. We sat near the window, and throughout my time there I was bloody freezing! I was not the only one who was complaining they were cold either. Staff were attentive and friendly, but rightly so, when they are getting tipped on top of the prices they charge here. A glass of wine is approx $11 and up and the selection for a glass is very limited. Of course they have quite a selection by the bottle. I wonder why? I ordered a Cavattapi dish with artichokes and tomatoes, something I thought would be fairly tasty. This dish came out so bland, I was getting concerned about my sodium intake in order to make it palatable. Seriously when you have great ingredients in a dish, (especially tomatoes) NO dish should lack flavour like this did. My clients Ceaser Salad was so so, I tried it and it was a bit blah to say the least. This place is expensive for what they offer. It is convenient for locals and business people to hang out but as far as good food goes, I would pass. They have flat screens so you can catch up on a game and sometimes it can get a bit noisy to have a conversation here. BTW parking around here is insane unless you valet or park at Millennium Park. Add that to your bill and you could easily have spent $70 for a basic experience. Try Subway, it has more character and is a lot tastier. :O(
(1)
Joanne C.
Can't beat the location of this place. I came into the city to see the Grant Park Symphony one weekend and Avenue Q another. It is very convenient. The food is good, not fantastic. Portions are HUGE. And the staff is very nice. My sandwich was so big I couldn't finish it and the waiter offered to put the other half in the fridge so I could pick it up after the show on my way back to the car. The crab appetizer was very good. I had the club sandwich that I'm surprised for a restaurant like this was processed meat and not fresh. It tasted fine but nothing special. The whipped potato casserole was good but was cold.
(3)
CJ J.
Just went there for the first time and I must have got there when the wait staff was changing shifts because there seemed to be a lot of confusion on who would be waiting on us, Dirty Martini was fantastic but the chopped salad (which I had heard really good things about....) was not. I will go back though, as it's close to where I live and the martini was worth a second visit!
(2)
Jill S.
Four of us had an early dinner on a hot night, looking for light, seasonal, simply prepared dishes. We ordered a variety of starters and salads. The water was tepid, no ice. The waitress took orders for Prosecco and then said, "Oh, wait, we don't have Prosecco." The only dish that was right was the steamed mussels. The Farmer's Trio of chalky, bland chicken liver pate, "roasted garlic" puree that was mostly chickpeas, with no hint of garlic, and so-so eggplant dip was mediocre at best. The French onion soup was all wrong--why have it on the menu if you don't know how to make it? The side salad was limp lettuce topped with a tangle of gummy onions. The heirloom tomato caprese features chunks of underripe tomatoes topped by a blob of untangy, unfresh mozzarella. We tried to like it, but really--for the price, it was a disgrace. And there is no excuse. All these dishes can be made ahead and held and be delicious. Although the Alsatian Pinot Gris was nice, the wines by the glass were unappealing and overpriced. Pedestrian fare, with no heart and no soul, at premium prices.
(2)
Eugene E.
Always have a great experience here! Genuine service. The dinner food I've received a mixed bag of responses. From really well prepared to not so great, but they are attentive enough to make any change you may request. The do however have excellent desserts. The brownie is pretty on-point. To the credit of the physical location, a nice view. Also, be weary of the "tomato soup" - it is not vegeterian. They make it with chicken broth.
(3)
Joscelyn M.
I end up going here more than I could care to because I work in the building. Everything is just OK, but prices are a bit much. Good wine selection and the food is decent. Service is pretty slow.
(3)
Scott S.
A taste of suburbia in downtown Chicago. The dark bread is pretty good, but I'm pretty sure the culinary practice here is the same as it is when I cook at home: taking something out of the freezer, making it hot, putting it on a plate. The food here is about as innovative as the Catholic Church. But the weirdest part is the background music. It's all stuff from the 10 free CDs you got from Columbia House when you signed up back in 1994. If everything else in the neighborhood is closed and you're in the mood for a drink and a sandwich and your favorite color is brown, then come on down to Tavern at the Park.
(1)
Manda H.
I really enjoyed the bar post work. The bartenders were quick and really nice and my drink was the perfect strength. It can be a little bit pricey but I have to say I am not complaining on this one. Tried a few appetizers, nothing too special. Duck was an interesting choice. This place is huge, I like that there are a few private areas to have a smaller gathering. I don't know why I haven't checked this place out before.
(4)
Ali K.
This restaurant was okay, but nothing special. We were in Chicago for a few days and this was the first place we tried for lunch one day. After having a couple other meals in town (on recommendations), I wish I could take this one back to do something "more local". This felt a little like a chain restaurant. I had the Southwestern Chicken sandwich which was alright, but again, there are better places around if you're only in town for a short period of time. I'm sure if you live in Chicago and don't need to do the touristy places, it would be just fine. We also just had sandwiches; some of the entrees did sound pretty good and I will say, the service was pretty good.
(2)
Dan N.
We went to see the bean in our last trip to attend our daughter's graduation and happened to come here for lunch since it's next to the park. The food was mediocre at best (the service was okay) and the host was extremely rude (it was a hot day in june and we dressed casually for sight-seeing). Avoid even if you have to walk further out to find some food.
(1)
S S.
I recently met 7 of my former colleagues here for a "going away" dinner. We were seated in a private room, just off the main entrance. The privacy was nice, but the food was the star. We split appetizers at the table - though I didn't sample, so I can't comment - everyone gave a thumb's up to the calimari. For dinner, I had the Chicken Pot Pie (made with fresh veggies, tender chicken, pitch-perfect sauce and a beautiful pastry shell). We split a large order of the Fondue for dessert, and all went away happy. Overall, service was great, and my meal was perfect -even if it was an American classic. (Yes, you can screw up a pot pie with too much cream and overcooked veggies - they didn't do that here). Perhaps the winner, though, was the Mint #2 Drink that I had (well, two of them) at the bar after dinner. Pomegranate, Effen Cranberry Vodka, and some other delish combinations in a nice, large glass would be my after-work drink of choice if I worked nearby. Delish. Great food, great service. Reasonable prices. Something on the menu for everyone. I'll be back.
(4)
Karen L.
I would give this a 2.5 stars. Really, the food was ok but not great. It was a lot fancier and pricier than what I was expecting, but then again, it is right across the street from Millenium Park. I only ate some appetizers there and I will have to say that the portions are pretty generous. The menu actually looks better than what you get. It seems like really fancy, innovative dishes, but when you taste it, it is just ok. It is a convenient location, right downtown, so if I end up going there again I would probably just go for drinks and apps again.
(2)
Kevin C.
Hmmm....Tavern on the Park.....where do I start? First off, I personally like the decor . The interior is done in a warm mahogany finish and is dimly lit, my sort of place! Second, the service was decent though our waitress seemed inexperienced but there was another server watching over to ensure that she was doing her job correctly. Third, the food was decent but a little pricey for the money. Overall, I would come here for drinks and people watching rather than for the food.
(3)
Jeanine S.
Meh. I met with family and their friends visiting from out of town. It was a great location, but that about all that I loved. The food was very good, but unmemorable and could have been eaten anywhere. service was slow and unattentive. We had a large group, but the place didn't seem very busy for a Friday night, so I feel we were a bit neglected. My dessert of bread pudding with blueberries and apples was enough to share with the entire table and still take some home (although it took 3 requests with 2 servers to have it wrapped to accomplish just that.) The size somehow made the treat less special though. The prices were a bit on the high side for the quality, wine nothing too out of the ordinary. Overall, I felt that the location beckons to visitors to our beautiful city, but that it is a shame that it doesn't represent our diverse and fantatic foods here in Chicago, nor did it represent our friendly and knowledgeable people.
(3)
Sam S.
On a Monday night, my 10 year-old son and I were looking for a place to get carry-out to take back to the lawn at the Pritzker Pavilion during a concert. We took a chance and went into Tavern at the Park. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, I fully expected to be rushed out of there. On the contrary, the host and hostess could not have been nicer. My son and I sat there and took our time coming up with a list of food to buy. They accommodated everything we ordered, and the host was very careful to make sure he understood everything and any special requests (eg. plain hamburgers for the kids, cut in half). Everything was prepared quickly and packaged up nicely into two shopping bags. The good was really good. I was most impressed with the care and attention that was given to the careful packaging of the food and all the extra items, so that there was nothing missing (utensils, napkins, condiments, etc.). They really did a fantastic job. My wife and I are looking forward to returning to dine in-house.
(5)
RJ W.
It is obvious the rating from Bobby S is a fake. I just wanted to make things balance out
(1)
Mike R.
I've dined here on more than one occasion, and I have never been disappointed. The food is excellent and the location is even better. The staff is very knowledgeable and the management is hilarious. I think some of the poor reviews given to this restaurant are from people who are expecting something out of the ordinary and contemporary. The reason for this is because many of the people who rate this restaurant are from out of town and have expectations for a Chicago restaurant based on what they see on TV. Tavern is not going to go out of its way to be famously artistic with the dishes; from my experience, they concentrate on comfort food cooked to perfection. They pull this off better than any other restaurant that is trying fit this same genre (i.e. Table 52). Try the Double-Cut pork chop, which is always a crowd pleaser. As is the chicken and fontina fondue. I've never been a fan of their chop salad so probably steer away from that, but I have enjoyed the grilled vegetable salad, which is fantastic and different. Like I said, don't come here if you want a menu that has been overhauled to squeeze in items such as "black truffle foam, creme fraiche coulis, duck confit-stuffed rack of lamb with a roasted puree of pequin capon," because you're not going to find that. Tavern will give you great dishes that you grew up with, incorporate a cool twist, and cook it to perfection (i.e. Ashley's Mac & Cheese, Coca-cola BBQ sauce, Prime Rib Sandwich). Enjoy it for what it is and you will truly enjoy your food experience. If you expect every restaurant in Chicago to be cookie-cutter uber-chic joints, then you will be disappointed.
(5)
Katee C.
Yum yum yum! I was searching for a somewhat affordable place to take a friend from out of town while staying at the Palmer House and this was suggested. It was a nice walk from the Palmer House and, with reservations, we were taken right to our seats. It's a beautiful view and we enjoyed the time there. First of all, our waiter was great. Super personable and gave us plenty of time. There's nothing worse than feeling like you're rushed and that didn't happen here! We had the calamari for an appetizer. It was good, but nothing super exciting. My friend had the Chicken Piccata and loved it. I had the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich and OH MY GOD. It was so incredibly good. Great cut of meet, onion strings, truffle aoli, whiskey butter, toasted pretzel roll ... mmmmmmmmm. It was very rich so I could only eat half but I wanted to marry the other half. If only it were legal! :) There was also about a pound of very good fries. I will definitely go here again. A great all-around experience!
(5)
paul z.
Great dinner tonight. Crab cakes/sole wonderful. Lobster mac and cheese also great. Chicken Noodle/Matza Ball soup is the best. Big thanks to whoever found my cell phone left on the table and chased me down for a block to give it back...how good is that. They could have just waited for lost and found. Don't know who you are, but, thank you, thank you. Good food and customer service makes you very special.
(5)
Daniel T.
I had heard such great things about this place that I had higher hopes. Perhaps this was a problem. Had dinner there late after an evening in Grant Park. The atmosphere is dark and not very warm. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was very helpful in recommending some items. The food was decent, but way too pricey. Nothing exceptional. Doubt I'll go back.
(3)
Aimee C.
hmmmm, i love the slider plate, i attempted to order three pulled pork sandwiches, but then at the last minute decided to mix it up and get one of each, prime rib and cheeseburger slider... and boy was I pleased.. the pulled pork was my least favorite... and i'm a girl that has a soft spot for shoestring fries... (note: aimee can be bribbed with fries) any day or night a restaurant that can make a great shoestring is A+ in my book. I was meeting up with friends for a birthday drink but ended up staying for dinner.. was quite pleased for a tuesday night, it was pleasantly filled with people/travelers/businessmen and of course, us crazy kids... The one part that I will say I disliked the most was the slowness of our "new" server.. I hope that he will be up to par on the next trip.. and where, oh where is the bathroom, all the way upstairs in the back behind the curve.. i thought I was in an endless labyrinth.. luckily I was only on the pursuit of washing my hands... Note to self: remember to be prepared to make the venture way before it's needed. enjoy.. i know I did.
(3)
Beth O.
For what it is (downtown, thus frequented by working stiffs and tourists) the Tavern is great. Must dos include the chicken flatbread pizza. Although my drinks were ridiculously expensive, the flatbread was cheap, tasty and huge thus kept the tab down for a night out on the town with a friend.
(3)
Jen F.
I'm really not sure why I don't just trust the yelp reviews. This place is next to my apartment for my 2 months in chicago. Once I read the reviews and factored in the proximity, I figured I would give it a chance. It was pretty busy at 9 when I arrived, so I stole a place at the bar. Bad choice. I was next to two drunk women, on of which was describing her sex life in way too much detail. I ordered the rib eye and the creamed spinach. The spinach was very creamy and cheesy, way too cheesy. I ordered the rib eye black and blue, the bartender even verified exactly how I wanted it, too bad the kitchen didn't pay attention. The key to a black and blue is the black part, and my steak was missing the char. Once I got my food and my last glass of wine the bartender forgot about me completely. (pretty sure no one would care if I left without paying) The food, still in front of me, is a cold mess. Even my wine glass is empty. The annoying woman next to me finally realized that the guy she is sleeping with is married to someone else and her friend stumbled trashed out to a cab. This entire experience has been a waste (ok, the chili was pretty good and that warranted the one star.
(1)
Rachelle T.
Went here for a work lunch meeting and had a good experience. The decor and ambience is great (love the blue glasses and water pitcher) and it has an upscale feel without being stuffy or uninviting. The menu was decent and even the strict vegetarian/vegan with us was able to find an entree without too many problems. I knocked them down a star because I will say the shrimp on my salad was overcooked and for an $18 caesar salad that shouldn't happen. But overall I was pleased and will definitely go back again!
(4)
Kodey F.
The girlfriend and I were walking through Grant Park one Saturday evening, and we decided to walk by, thinking it would be crazy busy and not even worth waiting. We were surprised to see that they had inside seating available. We were outside all day so we just wanted some air conditioning, but I can see how nice it would be to sit outside on a nice day/night. The place is very nice looking, but still has TVs playing the cubs game over the bar, so don't feel bad coming here in jeans. The service was suberb. The wine list had a good mix of inexpensive and expensive wines. I ordered the Lobster ravioli and it was one of the best I've ever had. Girlfriend had the caprese salad, and it was plentiful; big chunks of mozzarella and large fresh tomato slices. We were too stuffed to dessert, maybe next time. some of the dishes are a little on the expensive side, but for dining steps from Michigan Avenue, it seems rather reasonable. We definitely will go back, and might even pick up carryout sometime.
(5)
Heather H.
I had excellent service and a great meal when I was here, and the drinks were a strong pour. I took my mother for her birthday dinner, and she thoroughly enjoyed everything including the great dessert the waiter gave us compliments of the kitchen for her birthday. The waiter made modifications to my moms meal graciously and I would absolutely go back.
(4)
James W.
My wife and I have been in Chicago for a few days seeing the sights. Today we had a great meal at Millers Pub on the loop (Best Prime Rib in a LONG Time), took a nice river cruise, and were walking and thought we would stop for a beer. It had been raining today and we were both wearing a ball cap. The gentleman at the door welcomed us in and told us to have a seat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and we were thinking we had walked into another cool Chicago establishment. We began talking to some others on vacation and we are all planning on spending some time and chatting with the locals. Then a real butt head came up and acted like we had pissed on his floor and was a complete jerk about our caps. Not sorry, and won't be back! No signs posted and our caps did not seem to be bothering others in the establishment. So, the six of us (four wearing caps) that were thinking on drinking left and found another friendlier establishment just down the street and once again were appreciated. Oh, and the caps on our heads was a problem, but the zombies sitting in there were OK.
(1)
David K.
I was very pleased with this place. I took my wife for her birthday dinner. One of the owners (Donnie) gave us a table that I requested and made sure to say happy birthday to my wiife. I really appreciated that. Great food. The fondue app is very good. Wife had a filet that she liked. Great night, we will be back
(5)
Joy K.
I went to Tavern At The Park awhile ago with a friend. She ordered the Chopped Salad and I order some monstrous burger. I definitely regretted ordering the burger. It was bigger than I imagined and I gave up trying to eat it a quarter of the way through. Also, I was bent of having dessert so I decidedly took most of my entree home. For dessert she had the Apple Crisp and I ordered the Homemade Brownie Sundae, which was more like a cake than anything else, in size and texture. Overall the food was okay it was nothing to write home about. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. The Host was amazing! We had made a reservation but suddenly decided to eat earlier than planned. I called and the host was extremely accommodating. When we got to the restaurant he greeted us warmly and immediately had us seated. Tavern At The Park has very low lighting and a mellow atmosphere in the dining room, but the bar seemed like it was fairly ruckus for a Thursday night. Although, it's kind of an inconvenience to have to take an elevator to the restroom, I felt very chic doing it so it made up for that.The wait-staff, on the other hand, is okay. I wasn't impressed. Our waiter seemed as if he would have rather been somewhere else. Perhaps he was having an off night... Who knows? Nevertheless, the food is ok at best but the portions are huge so bring your appetite with you. The atmosphere is appealing for a large group or an intimate dinner. (I saw both taking place while I was there and neither seemed out of place.) In the end, if you are near Millennium Park and don't feel like walking in the freezing cold to get a bite to eat elsewhere, stop here. You won't be raving about this place, but you won't be disappointed with your experience either.
(3)
Carlo S.
Stopped by for a midday bite. French onion soup was top 5 I've ever had. Ate at the bar...as an out of towner bartender was very helpful with city tips!
(4)
Kelli W.
We stopped in for a cocktail after walking from the Natural History Museum. I would love to say that it was bad, but we didn't even get acknowledged by any of the 3 bartenders. One of the bartenders picked up two cocktail napkins, looked at us, then put them back down. I felt that we weren't served because we were wearing jeans that day. After waiting for about 10 minutes for eye contact from someone, we decided to take ourselves elsewhere.
(1)
Thomas W.
Initially the service was great. I got greeted by a nice man who showed me through the restaurant which had a nice atmosphere and ambiance to it. Upon sitting down and waiting several minutes the waitress greeted us by saying, "What can i start you off with?" Not even an introduction, no name, no specials of the night, nothing. I did not receive her name the whole night. A man (assuming it was a manager) came to the table and asked if the food was satisfactory and our table replied with a yes. He then walked away swiftly without any introduction of any sort. The food was mediocre and the menu sounds a lot better that the actual food you receive. I would not go back to this restaurant.
(2)
Heather G.
We went to this restaurant on a Friday night with reservations and we were seated right away. The bread that came before the meal was great and we ate several baskets while we waited for the entrees. I had the grilled vegetable salad which was really unique. It was good and much more than I could finish. The self-proclaimed "chicken expert" that went with me found the roast chicken to be one of the best he's ever had. We shared a side of fries that were also fantastic especially considering I don't usually like the shoestring variety. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a quiet, nicer but less expensive night out. This dinner for two cost less than $50 even including wine.
(4)
Anne M.
Technically, I'd give this place 3.7. The food was good, not OMG (I know, is there an echo here?), the portions are biblical (and this is a NEGATIVE to me, but welcome to America), BUT the chef very kindly prepared a single order entree chicken potpie and made it in 2 small dishes. Potpie was OK. They have some good gin for martinis (Hendricks and North Shore). The waitstaff and floor mgr were very friendly and accommodating and let us drink/dine at our lengthy pace. It's a good option when it's 3 degrees outside and you're very, very hungry at Milennium Park.
(3)
murray r.
Love this place, take many clients, staff is great, food better..
(4)
Nancy M.
I like the food here. As others have stated, the Saturday night prime rib is a good deal. But, it was a bit salty. I usually sit at the bar and grab a bite before ballet or opera. Wines by the glass are a good bet.
(4)
Sam W.
After hearing Food Network Star Robert Irvine had dined here recently, I had to make a reservation and try it for myself. I made a 5:30pm "reso" on a Thursday and it was packed the second we got there. Granted, there was a large party occupying the entire upstairs room, but this place was still hopping all night long. My mom and I started off with the Blackened Ahi Tuna appetizer, and it was average at best. It had some type of green sauce that made it taste better, but the tuna itself was simply average and not spicy at all. For our entrees, I ordered the Marinated BBQ Chicken Sandwich, which came smothered in cherry-cola BBQ sauce that was honestly the greatest BBQ sauce I'd ever tasted. The chicken was thin and grilled to perfection. I had a giant baked potato with it, and I promise you, it was the size of a football, but I somehow finished the whole thing. My mom ordered the Filet with Lobster crust, and the bite that I got of it was super moist. For dessert, we shared the Fried Banana Split, which is basically two medium banana's coated in frosted flakes and deep fried. Then place them on top of two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzle it with chocolate and caramel sauce, along with a cherry and some whipped cream, and you have the ultimate dessert! This was fantastic and the sweet crusted banana paired with the ice cream was the perfect match. The service here was even better than the food. Nilo, are server, was so incredibly fast with our drinks, food, and was always willing to get whatever we needed. When I told him how much I enjoyed the BBQ sauce on my sandwich, he ran back to the kitchen and brought out a huge bowl of it for me to layer on. He also was relaxed, calm, and funny at the same time, never phased by the incredibly packed bar and ongoing demand of his tables. We rewarded him for all his hard work. Overall, Tavern at the Park is a must see place with amazing service and extremely flavorful food. Second Visit: This place was way less appealing the second time around. I went in there with two of my friends at around 4:00pm, with the entire restaurant empty. Our waiter was either high or really dumb because he seemed to have trouble talking. When he did, he spoke so softly we couldn't understand him. And remember, we couldn't hear him despite no one in the restaurant. Anyway, we ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it actually was pretty good, and the spicy dipping sauce was a good compliment. I ordered the Cherry Cola BBQ Chicken Sandwich again and this time it was so average I felt like they stole my $14. There was like a hint of BBQ sauce, and I would've asked for more, but knew our dumb waiter was unable to do much. My friends ordered the Whole Wheat Pasta and the Lobster Crusted Filet and both ate most of their food. We all shared the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert, and again this was a disappointment with the lack of strawberries and the over dose of tasteless pound cake and unbelievably heavy cream that had the effect of your gut expanding on the spot! Try this place once, come when its busy so you can be seen, but don't expect much else.
(3)
Bobby S.
This place is awesome. It's a block away from my work, so I go there for lunch a lot. The food is really good and at an average price for the location. The Management is really nice and always come by and make sure everything is fine.
(5)
K M.
Headline, great location, service, and atmosphere, downside being the food and the cost. It's clear that what you are paying for is the location. This is not to say the food isn't good. It's just fine, simple even. It's not great tasting. We went here this weekend and were immediately seated for our reservation. It was filled and the overall feel is a great place to take out of towners, family, groups, but maybe not a quiet date unless you go upstairs. The bar downstairs is large and I'd go back and entertain a drink or four there (on someone's else dime). We sat upstairs and we're treated to some tasty bread which was refilled when empty. We ordered course by course, which wasn't our goal, but I guess it was our waiters. I had many many raspberry mojitos and ended up rather drunk, but still recall the meal with indifference to disappointment. We had the crab dip appetizer, which was hot, crabby, and the best part of our meal. Then I had the Asian Shrimp Salad, which was huge, filled with chopped lettuce, and had weak dressing flavor and starchy cold hard shrimp. He had the grilled cheese sandwich and fries. Our meal with one appetizer, an entree salad and sandwich/fries, 5 drinks came to $130. Ouch.
(3)
Oona B.
it's a nice place for lunch/after work in the loop area.
(3)
Amanda L.
We stopped here for after work appetizers and cocktails. The chicken fondue, crab au gratin and grilled artichoke were all delicious. They have a great wine selection and the space has a warm lodge like feel to it. Everyone that worked there was friendly and warm and the server didn't skip a beat. This is a great place I plan to frequent a lot.
(5)
Mary C.
I have been here several times for casual drinks & apps at the bar, dinner in the dining room, and I even spent part of NYE here too. I have always been impressed by the service and atmosphere. It's elegant and comfortable. The grilled vegetable salad is a favorite (always enough to either share or take home), and the soup selections are always great. I'm a soup whore, so that is important to me.... random factoid: the French judge a chef on how they make eggs and soup. Mmmmm soup. I digress. The prices are a little steep, but so is everything in that area, unless you want to go to Bennigans. I do not recommend the soup there. Also, I hear Tavern might be adding an outdoor patio upstairs, which would make for killer views of Millennium Park.
(5)
Tim M.
The Tavern is a long over due addition to the dining scene in this part of the city particularly for business lunches. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and a bit "clubby" depending where you sit. I find the place very relaxing and if you get a seat with a view outside it's fun to watch the traffic on Randolph St. Service is attentive though not polished but this is a tavern and it is more than acceptable. Portions are more than generous and I have not been disappointed yet. Of course some things are better than others. They always push the Tavern Teasers but these 3 small sandwiches are not that great. The full size version of each of these is much better for a meal though these are fine for a snack. The chicken soup is outstanding, the tomato a bit too rich. The seafood has always been very good, I was surprised to see skate on the specials one day and I was very pleased with it. Highly recommended especially for business events.
(4)
Meredith K.
They have Templeton Rye so that's good! I've been here for lunch a few times and its always been solid. Kind of on the pricey side esp for a salad but all in all good. I took my parents here for dinner before a show at the CSO. The dinner menu is different and more expensive than the lunch menu (of course!) I had the black truffle chicken hash which was good but big. I took half of it home w/ me. Everyone else enjoyed their meals. My only gripe was the brownie sundae. The brownie was not good. Dry, not rich, just blah! I'd skip dessert next time although my boyfriend is bummed that we didn't get the family style banana creme pie.
(3)
Jamal T.
Nice ambiance and impeccable service. Brisket was tender too
(4)
Aaron L.
We had a group of 7 for drinks and apps. They were very accommodating (we asked for the private room) and service was excellent. The apps were also very good.
(4)
Richard S.
This place is great! The food is awesome and the service is great - very upscale. It is conveniently located to the Illinois Center so we often bring associates and customers to enjoy the experience. For visitors, this is a place that will always delight and usually have no wait to get a seat. The bar is phenomenal and the restaurant even has a roof top deck that overlooks Millennium Park (for the warmer evenings).
(5)
Shoesoffnrun R.
Stopped in here for lunch while away on business. The food was good, and the bartender was friendly. Nothing amazing, or to write home about.
(3)
Gary M.
We had a pleasant experience. I will give our server five stars -- absolutely the best! The food was delicious, but was fairly standard fare. If anything, the portions were too large, so we left feeling full and wishing we didn't have a starter.
(4)
Justin Z.
The food was very good and moderately priced. I had the brick chicken and it was quite nice.
(4)
Laila P.
The food here is decent. The wine list is fabulous! The building and location are beautiful and the bathrooms were awesome. I found the service to be top-notch. I would probably try someplace else before I would come back here. But we did have a nice experience.
(3)
Sarah G.
Stumbled upon this fantastic rooftop patio on a recent business trip to Chicago. Great view of the city, friendly, attentive staff, and overall, a fun (yet touristy) place to hang out and enjoy cocktails and dinner. The food could have been more interesting & inspiring for the caliber design & atmosphere, but the cocktails were delicious. The one other drawback is exceptionally poor wifi...with the super comfy seating in the Treehouse (w tvs) overlooking the park, you've gotta have wifi too!
(4)
Nathan C.
such a waste of fantastic location. apparently this place has some kind of grandfather law protection... food is mediocre at best. beer selection is bad. service is hit and miss. atmosphere is a toss up. prices are an absolute joke. unfortunately ive been here probably a dozen times due to proximity to my office. if youre in the area, hit the Gage or Henri instead. prices are similar but least you get an incredible meal.
(2)
Maxxy C.
This has become one of my favorite restaurants. I dine here several times a year. It is very accessible with public transportation. The service is excellent and the venue / atmosphere is wonderful. The food and cocktails are outstanding!
(5)
Cam C.
We have ordered take out since we live next door. The food was scolded hot when we get back to our apartment . The prime rib sliders was amazing. The wings was a nice surprise but the best was the ribeye. It was executed very well. Looking forward to try other dishes and dessert.
(5)
Jen H.
I have seen Tavern a million times but never scrambled in because I was too afraid it was overly touristy- I was wrong! It was beautiful... everyone from the waitress to the host to the owner was so, so nice and went out of their way to say hello and check on us. It is pricey- but the food is amazing. I never mind paying a lot when the food is that good. No raspberry cosmo on the menu- no problem... they made SUCH a delicious version and I loved it!! Don't feel that it will be a tourist trap... it is just as much for us regulars as anyone else and delicious. I will be back. Every week.
(4)
Jen H.
We were looking for "bar food" and someone recommended this. Probably not the best fit of a rec on their part. This is more upscale than what we were wanting. Our food was decent, but for what you pay to eat here you can do much better in Chicago (my bbq chicken was $22 a la carte). You are probably just paying for the location as it is right across from Millennium Park. Our services was great service, but I don't think we'll be back unless we're in a pinch.
(3)
Jon-David J.
This is one of those places that you forget to go back to because you put it in the "just for tourists" category. But the food and service is great and it's right there in the park. Great pours!
(4)
Rhonda G.
Ah...nothing is better than when happy HOUR turns into happy HOURS. Pretty friendly, attentive staff. Some drinks are kind of on the pricey side but I kind of expected that going in. Mixture of the after work crowd and the cargo short and sun visor wearing tourists. Pretty decent wine list but the martini selection is pretty minimal. Worth checking out.
(4)
Beth C.
I enjoyed my Grilled Vegetarian Dagwood, but I will not return because a waiter was making a rude comment about customers who were in the dining room. I, of course, after hearing the remark, couldn't resist my teacher stare at the unprofessional waiter who quickly made a hasty retreat. I understand needing to blow off steam, but not on the floor where service is paramount. I'm even willing to overlook the kitchen errors with our food, but not blatant disrespect by staff.
(1)
John T.
I went with a small group of friends after the Taste of Chicago and had a nice time. I didn't think that it was at all expensive, nor did I think thtat the service was bad. I had a solid experience here. The crowd was very mixed as it was after the Taste and this place is close by. I would be interested to see what the usual crowd is like on a typical weekend. Look to spend around $5 for a beer, so very average.
(4)
Natalia S.
we go there to enjoy the rooftop and the view! appetizers are great too (have not tried the fool dining yet)
(5)
Desirae K.
Let down. I live in the neighborhood for over a year and always walked by this place but never checked it out. Now that I've visited, I MIGHT go back for a drink, but probably not the food. (-) Slow Roasted Prime Rib .... Avoid. Ordered medium rare, it came out a strange shade of red that made me think it was medium rare at first. Nope. It was brown all the way through and tough. When I flipped it over to check out the other side it was completely brown. Told my server it wasn't prepared medium rare as I ordered it. Rather than taking it right away she said she'd have a manager come over, the manager just walked by the table and swooped up the plate, not a word to me. The next prime rib they brought out was exactly the same and tasted like garbage.* (NOTE: after writing this review, I was contacted by the owner who let me know that their Prime Rib is prepared in-house and not pre-made/packaged prime rib, so I'm not sure why it came out incorrectly prepared) (+) Heirloom Caprese Salad .... really good, but not worth $13 (+/-) French Onion Soup Gratinee .... I've had better Service was nothing to write home about.
(2)
Annette M.
A place that doesn't disappoint, always consistent. One of my favorite lunch places.
(4)
Dan R.
Very nice. I was pleasantly surprised because I never really noticed this place or put much thought to it even though it is next to my work. Lots of seating on two levels and well staffed. It's a good place for a business meeting or a quiet meal. The fish I ordered for lunch was very good. Other than that I really can't say much more as that is the limit of my experience there. I will definitely go back for the convenience, dining room setting and the food.
(4)
Casey B.
Went there cause it was close. The food was good the drinks were better. The wait staff was absolutely amazing. They were very helpful with everything.
(4)
julie q.
Atmosphere = cozy, woodsy, and nice Servie = slow and unattentive for most of the night Appetizer = Duck Egg Rolls = meh. Entree = Chicken breast lightly breaded and stuffed w/mushrooms, proscuitto, sun dried tomatoes, shallots, mozzerella, garlic and served over bucatini = for the price, not bad at all. Dessert = strawberry shortcake that should be illegal and senteneced to jail Side order my friend had = mashed potatoes = they were the same kind I got in middle and high school in the cafeteria. For a pricey $7, they should have been whipped with cream and butter and real potatoes Wine = $30 per bottle and it was good I think for such an expesive bill, sans wine, i expected a helluva lot better for the $$$$. Will I be back? Only if someone else is paying.
(2)
Doug B.
Overall it was just OK. The service was relatively good. The food was hit or miss. The steak sandwich was great. The steak Diane was good but ridiculously small portion.The chicken hash was just poor.Great location across from Millenium Park but the dining room has no windows and no view.
(3)
Burak G.
Had lunch there with my two little kids. Staff was super nice and accomodating. Server was excellent. Food was superb. I asked for fast service, and food arrived within five minutes.
(5)
Luke D.
Tavern at the Park Feels like a chain restaurant Unmemorable If you are entertaining someone who loves leather seating and lousy food, Tavern at the Park is the place to see and be seen. This restaurant is like Bennigan's or Ruby Tuesday in an upscale setting. Among other miscues, the bread service at Tavern at the Park is notably abysmal. Another Yelper compared this place's bread to rolls from Jewel and that is probably being generous. It only gets worse from there. In a city with a million awesome restaurants, why anyone would eat here is beyond me.
(1)
Mark K.
Had dinner here tonight with a small group of work colleagues. Ordered the prime rib. A little chewy, and a bit undercooked. The server said it was their specialty. Not impressed by any means. Service was good and a great location which is why I give it 3 stars. Will come back for cocktails only.
(3)
Pete B.
We went there for lunch because the place we wanted to go originally was already closed. The restaurant was relatively nice in a good location, but the food was just okay/nothing special. It's a little pricey for lunch ($15+ for lunch entree), but the portion was huge, so I guess that justified the price. Service was lacking since I had to stop and ask the waitress to refill my water after waiting for a long time for her to come over even though there were only 3 other tables besides us. Why go here when there are better restaurants in Chicago?
(3)
Ebonie T.
I took my husband to The Tavern for Sweetest Day. Very expensive for a below average experience. I ventured out for a dish I'd never tasted. The menu name escapes me, but it was a sliced beef served with coleslaw and mac and cheese. I hated all of it. I even tasted my hubby's steak and potatoes and even they left a nasty after taste in my mouth. Our waiter was awesome. I believe his name was Gary? Very bubbly and informed. He even assured us that our water was "triple filtered." He knew a lot about the chef, the restaurant's history and how all of the food is made. All and all, I've had better meals for a fraction of the price.
(2)
Jacque R.
I went with a group of co-workers one cold day after work. I really liked the cozy atmosphere.There were many people there, but didn't feel like it. The have a great rye bread with fruit....so yummy! I ate light and got the house salad with mussels and they were both great! The salad had celery, tomato, and cucumbers with a light champagne vinaigrette. The mussels were topped with tomatoes- which I loved. My co-workers liked their meals, but didn't rave about them (Pork Chop special, steak and Rotisserie Amish Chicken) I highly recommend the 2009 Les Fontanelles Pinot- inexpensive but smooth and really nice!
(3)
Syngin A.
I'm ashamed to say I've lived in Chicago for the last 16 years, have walked past this restaurant for almost 2 decades and never went in. Since my SO was working in the Aon Center and we were meeting for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, I thought I would finally try Tavern at the Park out since we make it a point to eat everywhere in the neighborhood at least once. Lunch is such a wonderful time to try out a restaurant like this because 1) it's not busy and crowded 2) you get attentive service 3) you are not in a hurry to get to a play, symphony, or other event and 4) lunch menus are cheaper and a good indicator of whether you really want to spend more for dinner on another night. The entrees are truly wonderful, creative and very affordable for this class of restaurants. My black truffle chicken was divine and $21.00. Truthfully, it was enough to feed two people, but I gorged myself silly. I simply loved, loved, loved the Irish Potato Cake. It's like someone shaped grits and cheese into a biscuit. The poached egg on top of the ensemble seems like the new trendy thing to do with burgers, but there it was on my black truffle chicken. It was like have breakfast and dinner combined. I also had their fired banana split dessert. That was ingenious frying the banana in what I assume is cornflakes! My SO loved his hamburger. The interior was more casual than I assumed from looking at the outside, but maybe that's because we were seated downstairs across from the bar. Perfect for lunch and a great, first introduction to Tavern at the Park.
(4)
Milind B.
I had been here twice before an year or two ago and it had been okay, so last Wednesday (Sep 4, 2013), a friend and I decided to go get a couple of cocktails late in the evening. We went, asked if there was a place, we were given a table on the roof, by the edge and then the wait began. We waited for 30 minutes or so without a single person asking for us. Nothing at all. We tried to catch people's eyes, they didn't respond. It was terrible. We finally got frustrated and decided to head out. We also decided to post a complaint to the concierge at the front, for which the response was "okay" that's it and she went back to looking at whatever piece of paper she had in front of her. For a place that boasts such decor and location, it was pathetic service. For any place which calls itself belonging to the hospitality industry, it was pathetic service.
(1)
Tiffany H.
Amazing location! Super trendy type of restaurant and bar on the rooftop of a building overlooking Millenium Park. The location and view is 5 stars but the food was just ok. The rooftop isn't very large so when we visited it on a whim looking for a place to grab dinner, we anticipated a wait. However, when we checked in with the hostess, she couldn't and wouldn't tell us how long the wait was which is quite odd and poor customer service. She said we could wait at the bar but she said she had no idea when she could seat us at a regular table (maybe an 1 hr, maybe more, maybe shorter). With that vagueness, we opted to eat our dinner at the bar which was ok but not ideal. For the venue and the price, I would anticipate the food to be a little better.
(3)
amy z.
service is great but food is sub par.
(2)
Bill R.
Since everyone else chose alfresco dining, we asked to be seated indoors. Therefore it was pretty wide open. We got put off in a corner, near the kitchen entrance and an elevator door. We were told "no one uses the elevator", until everyone did. My beef is with the shaky table. I personally got on my knees to fix this in full view of management, servers and bus staff. Every time a server set something down, the table lurched, yet did nothing. Table presence in general is poor. Glassware piled up on the table. We gathered bread plates for some time but were never offered bread. With our appetizer, the plates were badly chipped. Too bad, this is all a deal breaker, because the food is good. Everyone had a seafood dish that drew compliments. My wife complained on getting a lot of scales on her snapper. My observation was with the "flatbread". I imagine flatbread to have a thin, cracker-like, crispy crust. Instead it was thick and doughy. One half of the crust was burnt, the other half, under-cooked. Call it "Pizza", because this isn't flatbread. First impressions are everything. If you can't enjoy your meal, because you need to keep you feet firmly planted on one end of the table base so no one spills their wine, you are dining at an establishment that just doesn't care.
(1)
Adriana F.
Good food, good location.
(3)
Sally V.
Nice outdoor seating. The food was good. Nothing spectacular.
(4)
Kelsey R.
Best food and service that I encountered in Chicago. The strawberry chicken salad was amazing.. Tons of chicken and fried goat cheese. Fresh fruit on it was delicious. Luisa took care of us and was outstanding.
(5)
Phil L.
Went to Tavern last night. It's got a pretty good location, but we weren't able to sit upstairs due to a private party like we wanted. We sat at the bar for a bit, but seating was limited- another party was going on downstairs. We finally got seated outside (downstairs) with about a half hour of the restaurant staying open. Wish it stayed open later. That, along with access to the upstairs, would increase my rating.
(3)
Hoang L.
I went here a few months ago and I ordered a filet mignon with lobster crust and a loaded baked potato for lunch. This might sound foolish, but I had to load the potato myself! You come to a nice restaurant like this, you would expect to have the food ready to eat. The filet mignon was tough to eat and I usually order medium (occasionally medium rare). You can see how burnt the piece of meat was from the picture I uploaded. I won't be coming back here, even if the lunch was paid by my company.
(2)
J and S.
My fiance and I went last night for the first time (eventhough we live about 2 miles away). We had a reservation, and upon entering we were asked if we wanted to sit in the bar area or the dining room. We were seated at the first table when you walk in (the host said he suggested the bar area because there was more going on). I would like to check out the dining room, and I will definitely be back when the weather isn't stupidly terrible (when we originally planned for a date night I figured, Mid-May- sit outside and overlook the park... not so much). Star 1- I appreciated the Host providing his suggestion for seating. Star 2- I ordered a glass of wine and my fiance got a whiskey on the rocks (quite a generous pour!). Drinks were large and reasonably priced! Star 3- Service. Geremy was our server and she was fantastic! She was there when we wanted her, she was not overbearing, she was super friendly and seemed like she truly enjoyed her job. She gave great recommendations and comments on the food- she knew the menu well. It was honestly the best service I have had in along time! Star 4- The Food. The prices arent cheap, you should know that going into your evening, but its worth it. I ordered the bookmaker steak sandwich ($22). I am not a huge steak fan. And this is only the 2nd steak sandwich I have ordered from a restaurant. I eat steak probably twice a year at Ruth's Chris, and the only other steak sandwich- Morton's. This was DELICIOUS. I ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. Why was it $22? Well... there was a TON of meat. It comes with a delicious truffle aioli that melts in your mouth- and is delicious with the crispy onion strings. I am currently fighting to finish this sandwich for lunch the day after (I was full for HOURS after 1/2 of it). It comes with about 5 servings of fries. I normally am not a fry person, but these were good!. We ordered a side of creamed spinach- I could do without it, but it was pretty good. Next time I will order an appetizer or dessert instead of a side! My fiance had the Lobster Ravioli (our server suggested that over the Lobster Mac n Cheese... but it was a close call). Not only was the ravioli stuffed with Lobster, there were large chunks throughout. I'm allergic, so I cant tell you how it tasted, but he was very pleased. The dish was $34, but the amount of lobster I could see made the price extremely reasonable. All in all it was delicious and we will definitely be back! Next time when its nice and we can sit outside with a beautiful view, have a few drinks and the Duck eggroll and fig & prosciutto flatbread appetizers! Why no 5 stars? I was still sad about not being able to sit outside and there were some d-bags running between the upstairs area and the bar downstairs that annoyed me (not the restaurants fault, and it wouldn't have been that way in the dining area!) oh and I am so not a fan of having to go upstairs to use the restroom. Other than that... great experience!
(4)
Stephen C.
little bit too long in between courses but all in all very good
(4)
Sara B.
This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice afternoon or a clear evening. The views are stunning and the cocktails are delicious - unique yet easy to enjoy. The music selection was great too - sounded like they had bogarted our Pandora station! We stopped by here randomly and decided to come back again the next afternoon because of the views. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Carol T.
We went here for dinner after going to the theater, and sadly could not get reservations at my preferred restaurant. I thought that Tavern At The Park was good, but I wasn't blown away. The food was good, and we had a fantastic server. They also had a decent wine selection with reasonable prices. However, I took one star off for the food prices, which were really high even for Chicago, and particularly so for the quality of the food (good, but not amazing). I took another star off for the portion sizes, which were ridiculously large. I ordered the Black Truffle Chicken Hash, and I could probably have fed a family of 5 with it, and certainly couldn't finish it all. Again, it tasted just fine, so if enormous portion sizes are your thing, or if you really like being able to take home leftovers, then I would recommend this place.
(3)
Stephen R.
Service here is always great Staff is very friendly Bar area is the best part Food is above average Service, Service, Service is really well done here. Great place in the warmer weather.
(4)
Christina M.
Great location, salads, baked potatoes, and wine selection. My bf and I live pretty close to this restaurant so we frequent it often. He really likes all of the meat sandwiches, and I think all of the vegetarian options are good. Overall, nice place to meet someone for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Michelle P.
My parents I and stumbled across this place last year when they came to visit (I avoid downtown as much as I can since I work downtown.) We weren't going to go in until a guy walking by said you have to try it. So we did and feel in love. We recently went again for my moms birthday and again the food and service was amazing. If you are visiting Chicago this place is a NICE change from the typical places people usually visit. Enjoy!
(5)
Amy L.
Great location. Upscale atmosphere. Inside and outside dining. Very nice. Food was excellent, however I ordered what the server called "flatbread" and it came out as a pizza. :/ The restaurant is huge. Everyone else was satisified with their food. I would recommend this place. We even drank at the bar after dinner, when the place was closing and the staff was super cool.
(4)
Heather S.
Delicious meal and great service! The Tavern at the Park has a great atmosphere! Whether you are here for a business lunch or stop in after touring the local attractions, it is a welcoming place to get a spectacular meal & refreshing drink.
I went here with my sister and my dad when our flight to NYC was cancelled. First time in Chicago and ended up at Tavern. Ambiance is so classy and cozy. Our service this night, which was a Saturday night, was fantastic. Our server, a girl new to the area, was so sweet and really friendly. She helped us out with the menu and recommendations. FIG & PROSCIUTTO FLATBREAD is a must! I love the blue tinted glass that the water was served in. The bread basket was also amazing. I had the steak sandwich with the onion straws on top- delish. My dad ordered a fish which was awesome- can't remember which one. And he also got the tomato bisque which was pretty good. I am surprised at some of the negative reviews here, but then again, I'm not a local so I don't have any other comparisons in the area. Excellent place in my book! ...and definitely more like a $$$ if you are planning on eating a full meal and having any alcohol at all. $$ is more for one drink and appetizer.
(4)
Marc W.
Enjoyed the wedge salad; refreshing and quite large. The signature Tavern steak (16oz) was one of the better prepared cuts I've had in a while; medium with incredible flavor and tenderness. Just what I was craving. 3 stars for the service/cost...quality was there with the food, but the service was average and cost expensive.
(3)
Kyle N.
The food here was excellent, but the service was even better. We had a fantastic waitress who was very attentive and helpful to our rowdy group of family who hadn't seen each other in quite a while. We were seated at a large round table in a private room at the front of the restaurant. There was a door to our room, so we could close it and tell as many stories and laugh as loud as we wanted -- it was great! The food just kept coming (probably because we kept ordering since it was soooo good). Between the five of us we got the lobster mac&cheese, the pork roast, the spaghetti & meatballs, and a couple other dishes that I can't recall for our entrees. As for appetizers, the waitress helped steer us towards the bread pudding and the pizza with bleu cheese, figs, bacon and an amazing sauce on it -- it was DELICIOUS. After the appetizers, many of us got soup and/or salad which were all delicious as well -- especially the tomato basil bisque and the french onion soup...YUM! We were all stuffed when it came time for dessert, but my aunt decided we needed to see the menu anyway. We ended up ordering the two LARGEST desserts on their menu: the carrot cake and the berry tart (i forget the real name). Both were monstrous and delicious. I'm pretty sure we spent 3+ hours eating, talking and carrying on and we closed that place down on the Thursday night we were there, but the staff was incredibly friendly and didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, the manager visited our dinner room during the evening to make sure everything was going well. Over all a great place to eat and enjoy yourself! Ask for the private room if you can -- it made all the difference in our dining experience here.
(5)
Adam K.
Took my cousin here, she was very impressed and so was I. The host told us a 20 min wait but we decided to eat at the bar. Pulled up and ordered a Matilda, my lady got Put Your Honey Where Your Mouth Is which made me cringe to order but when it came out she was enthralled, I took a sip and yeah, it was pretty girly, but good! Next round was "Left at Albuquerque" which I wanted to get cuz I am huge Bugs Bunny fan. and also because it featured a "home-made jalapeno syrup" which sounded intriguing. This drink was amazing. I highly recommend it. Tasted NOTHING like booze but i was fully fershnickered after 2. To eat I got: Salmon and Tuna tartar - Shredded Horseradish, Toast Points, Rice Crackers & Wonton Crisp. nothing to write home about except for the weird butter sauce, that they dont even mention in the descrip. WOW this stuff was like crack. I scooped it all up. Bookmaker Steak Sandwich - Sliced Filet Mignon, Crispy Onion Straws, Truffle Aioli & Whiskey Butter On A Pretzel Roll. Ummm yeah, home run for me, altough i ordered it medium rare, which i know is a relative measurement but it was a bit on the rare side for me. Which i do not mind. I am not that guy who stands up and says "ExxCUUUSE ME WAITER, THIS IS RARE, I ORDERED MEDIUMMM!!!" I hate that person. It was really tasty however, and I will get it again but order it medium. I think maybe the whiskey butter added to my fershnickeredness. Baked Whipped Potato Casserole - Holy dear lord they give a lot of potatoes for six bucks. I could not even finish it all, so tasty. After we were done it started storming so we hung out for awhile, we did not feel rushed or bullied as we were just chillin. That was nice. The ambiance gets 5 stars, service 5 stars and date night factor...5 stars. So why did I not give the venue 5 stars? Its not the kind of place I would rush back to to eat again. I wanted to try Gage but the wait was an hour and ten mins and it was SOOOO noisy in there. Here the noise level was perfect and the patrons seemed way less snobby.
(4)
Shradha A.
My eternal search in Chicago is for vegetarian-friendly restaurants where we can host clients. I'm yet to find that place that works out - in terms of quiet environment where business can be talked, good food can be ordered and enjoyed, the service can be relied on and the bill doesn't burn a hole in a startup pocket. We tried Tavern at the Park today - the one catch is they open at 2pm on Saturdays (yes, we were doing business on the weekend). The atmosphere is great - not very dark or loud, the menu had some good options for salads that could easily be turned vegetarian, and the service was sharp and attentive. The chopped salad and the wedge salad were both good. Soups are all made in chicken broth though... Definitely on the shortlist, because of the lack of choices otherwise. P.S. Open to new suggestions for business meals (brunch and dinner)!
(4)
Reuben H.
Wonderful space, not so wonderful food, and the service we got was downright creepy. Not sure if the guy was drunk/high or socially retarded, but he was really just overbearing and stared and lingered for way too long. Food was nothing to write home about, in fact for the prices charged- the food was bad. The space itself is really very nice. Plus with it's location so close to so many downtown business buildings and directly across Randolph from Millennium Park- it has great potential to be a good spot for a nice bite to eat and a drink. Next time, I will stick to drinks. Besides, I don't think Mr. Creepy is a bartender there.
(2)
Ronald C.
I'm a longtime customer of the former Chicago Bar & Grill, which now calls itself Tavern At the Park, dating back nearly 30 years now. Owing to its intimacy, quality, location and the ability to always get a comfortable seat within seconds, it has stood for decades as the ideal place to go for dinner and/or drinks after work, for quick business meetings, after taking in social functions, entertainment, shopping, ice skating or whatever. You can rest assured, however, that after my experience there last night I will never set foot inside the place again, and I will admonish my friends and professional colleagues to avoid this establishment as well. Several news stories have been written and published in local mainstream media over the past couple of weeks detailing how suburban whites are now eschewing the suburbs they ran to more than 40 years ago, and are returning to reside in the downtown Chicago area--like it's a good thing. What not one of those articles has emphasized is the African American populace that they are displacing, and the attitude, arrogance and sense of entitlementment that some of these "newly urban" white transplants are bringing with them to the city. A female colleague of mine and I decided to meet at Tavern On the Park last night just to catch up on things, and enjoy some cocktails. She arrived minutes before I did, and was asked by the metrosexual white, male host to stand by because there was a "45-minutes-to-an-hour wait" for a table (we are both African American). Once I walked in, my friend informed me of the situation and we stood off to the side, but watched intently as at least three non-African American guests and their parties were very warmly greeted by the host, who proceeded to assure them that "whatever table opened up next was definitely theirs." He repeated this audibly, three times, almost as if he was determined that we heard him. My friend then simply walked over to the desk to ask about our place on the list, and out of nowhere was rudely, verbally assaulted by this blonde, pompous, male (expletive omitted) like I have never heard a woman addressed before. Then, he calmy turned back to his white guests, smiled like a Cheshire cat and said, "now, how can I be of service to you?" This person has no idea how very close he came to a physical confrontation with me for insulting a black woman and friend of mine like that, but we just determined that it wasn't worth it, and that after three decades Tavern At the Park no longer deserves our money. It's like these days, so long as most downtown Chicago establishments are packed to the rafters with white, college-aged kids freely spending mommy and daddy's money and chasing butt, proprietors feel like they can address and treat black patrons any kind of way because serving people who look just like them is what they prefer. Handing downtown over to white, former suburbanites may be a cash cow for merchants, but that's not Chicago. Character is no more. It's essentially a college town after 5:00 p.m. People of color, if you're in search of an establishment where you'll be respected, Tavern At the Park is not it, and it starts right at the door with the so-called "host" that they have in place. How very disappointing with an accomplished restaurateur like Peter de Castro, Jr. as the owner.
(1)
Fleet H.
Reviews of blue cheese bread pudding are right on: awesome appy. Whiskey sour: who'd a thunk they were so good!?
(4)
Dustin H.
The filet was awesome! Somewhat pricey but I think it was worth it.
(5)
Jessica C.
Excellent service, great atmosphere, high prices...very average food. The place is really cute inside, well lit -- lots of windows, letting the sunlight in, nice hard wood floors. The servers are cute and very nice, very friendly, super attentive. The menu is full of things that sound amazing. Sadly though.... No. I ordered the seared ahi appetizer -- it came with a weird chopped mix of vegetables (peppers, celery, onions), which looked interesting, but wasn't. The tuna itself was tasteless, and had a green drizzle on it that also added zero flavor. None -- I still am confused as to what ingredients you could possibly mix together to get something that void of taste. I was hoping that was a fluke, and thought maybe my taste buds were just hungover, like i was. But that wasn't the case -- my taste buds are one sense that never let me down. I ordered the wheat penne -- it sounded amazing -- white wine sauce, portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts...but it was a major let down. It was way too creamy, oily, lacked flavor, and the noodles were soft and mushy. My boss and I both left more than half of our food on our plates...knowing that we might not get another chance to eat until dinner. Knowing that we (I mean HE) spent over $70 on this lackluster lunch...but we didn't care. We just booked it to the airport so that we would have time to get something more edible there.
(2)
Kristen H.
We had an engagement party here last weekend. It was amazing, Lacey did a fantastic job, she was around before, during and after the party, we never had to hunt her down for anything. We had a last minute change on the wine and she managed to get what we wanted. The staff was fantastic, they were also always around and had awesome attitudes. Which makes for a fun party! Our food was really great, people had the choice of chicken or steak. The chicken was amazing. I have to say that this is the place to have a party, we had a really hard time finding a place that was reasonably priced and that wasn't in the basement of a restaurant Tavern at the Park ended up being perfect. The whole party sat upstairs and we had an amazing view of the lights from millennium park. I really, cant say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Ron E.
Great food. Great service. Will definitely return.
(5)
Farrah D.
Perfectly fine place to eat--Americana food, but it's not an exciting experience or anything. Good for groups--went here with some friends from out of town. It was close to the parks, but on the corner of a busy intersection. I could see these place better suited for a business dinner or something to that effect. The food was great, the service was great, the drinks were great--you get what you pay for--a little pricey. I had some nice ravioli, and my husband said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had.
(3)
Hannah A.
We had a great table on the second floor, and after a night of eatting in a crowded resteraunt, it was cozy, yet spacious. Its also on the north side of Millenium Park, so its very convienent. My family ordered a bottle of Hess wine, which was quite good, and skipped appetizers to go straight to the main course. My family had prim-rib and 9 ox. filets, while I had the prichutto wrapped sea scallops. I should have gotten the filet. The scallops were typical yet good, but nothing compared to the perfectness of the filet. My father's was parmesan encrusted and it was amazing. Remeber though, that the dishes are a la carte, so it's recommended that you order some sides. Their shoestring fries are pretty good, but I definately recomend the baked mashed potatoes and the creamed spinach. I could of just had those for dinner and I would have been perfectly content. The service is pretty good as well. It was efficent and timely. Nothing too bad, but nothing amazing either. Seriously though, its almost worth going just for the dessert! They have an amazing brownie with homemade carmel ice cream that will knock your socks off! I always share it with someone, so that I can eat the ice cream! I recomend it for a dinner before a play, or a perfect place for a business dinner.
(3)
Linda N.
A long-time-no-see friend and I came here for lunch Friday noon. I felt bad for our server, who I thought was extremely patient with us, as we took a fair amount of time to catch up before even opening our menus. During our chitchat, my friend reminded me it was meatless Lenten Friday. That meant no Chopped Steak Burgers for either of us. *shakes fist* Started with the New England Clam Chowder which was on the lunch specialty menu. Creamy with a hefty portion of unshelled clams. I settled for the Lobster Roll on a brioche hot dog bun, which was undeniably delicious. Large chunks of lobster with hardly any fillers. My friend chose the Fish and Chips. How can you go wrong with beer batter? With Fat Tire beer batter, you can't. Great service, did I already thank our server for being patient with us?
(4)
Leann W.
We went here on a whim a few weeks ago and it was one of the best dinners I've ever had!! The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We both had the Black Truffle Chicken Hash and it seriously was the best entree I've ever had. Although it was 1386 calories, it was worth every single bite ( we asked for the calorie count to enter it into our MyFitnessPal app. Lol) Only disappointing part was the rooftop wasn't open yet. But we definitely be going back! Make sure you check it out too!
(5)
Angela J.
I think Tavern At The Park is good for happy hour or later night drinks if you're in the area. The location is fantastic, the drinks too expensive for what they are-- but what did you expect, YOU ARE BEING LAZY! The restaurant is full of huge booths that fit an average of 8 normal sized humans (you can use that metric to do skinny girl/basketball player math depending on your friend's sizes)-- either way it's ideal for group drinks. Have the duck flatbread, a couple cocktails and go have dinner somewhere else.
(3)
Max M.
I don't have a lot to say about the Tavern, except that the "Chopped Steak Cheeseburger" was likely the best damn burger i've ever eaten! Perfectly seasoned, perfectly juicy, perfect buttery bun, cheese melted perfectly... just perfect. And it was HUGE! What was that?... 3/4 lb?! Well, maybe it was only a 1/2 lb, but it was big enuf that i ate half for dinner, and then next half for lunch... and i can eat! This burger was so good i ordered it twice during my week-long stay in Chicago. I really loved this meal b/c i really don't care for Chicago food in general. Also those complimentary buttery buns w/ the parmesan cheese on top were absolutely phenomenal as well... I also got the Irish Potato Cakes, which is something i'd never had before... they were like mashed potatoes fried crispy on the outside like hash browns, and they were huger than the burger... and there were two of 'em!... Way too much to eat... Pretty impressive! I can't wait to try more items here the next time i visit Chicago!
(5)
J T.
Great location - right next to Millennium Park and walking distance to business district and major shopping - all good. The food and prices for it; adequate. Know what I really really really like about this place? OK, I'll tell you...We told the waiter we had a meeting and needed be in and out quickly - and he totally delivered. Lunch was before us in less than 10 minutes and the bill was delivered at the same time as the food - no waiting or asking for it. We had time to enjoy our meal and make the appointment without being rushed. That type of speed almost never happens - anywhere.
(4)
S G.
Went here for dinner before a show. Overall service was good. The bread was warm and yummy. I had pasta primavera -eh. Too watery. My husband had halibut and liked the butter sauce. Friends had the fillet - they said it was ok. Pretty good wine and beer menu.
(3)
Bridget G.
Good, not great. I went once before about a year ago and just tried it again with the same result. I feel it's a little pricey for just OK food. Last time I got pasta and this time I got the chopped salad (no chicken or bacon). The dressing for the salad was more on the kind of bitter side of tangy. Interesting. I gave the leftovers to a homeless man on my way home. Location is great, right by millennium park, which is I'm sure why their prices are inflated. Two other things that have zero impact on my rating: 1) there was this woman in the bar on Friday afternoon who was absolutely screeching like a banshee. Cringeworthy. 2) My mom cannot get the name of this place right. She keeps calling it Tavern at the Green, Park on the Tavern, and so on. This amuses me.
(3)
Beth A.
my rating is being upped to a *3.5* because this afternoon i received an email from the owner of tavern regarding my previous review he took a moment to offer an explanation of the dish i had eaten that i hadnt been 100% thrilled with (thou it was tasty) and even offered me a drink on the house during my next visit...it was nice to see how invested he is with his business and it has been noted :)
(3)
Crystal O.
It was a Valentine's day. Just us both, my lovely girl friend and I:) I suggested this place because it was only a 5 minute work from my workplace in downtown and there was really no need to walk in the cold searching for food unless you live in the suburbs. heh. We had early dinner there around 5pm so thankfully we got to skipped the long queue and sat right down:) The servers were extremely polite and helpful. They were always on standby to take our plates, refill our drinks, replenish the breads, and asking us how we were doing every couple of minutes. I can't say for sure if they were exceptionally nice because it was a special day or they've always displayed such great mannerisms. I gave it only 3 star just because I wasn't all that impressed with their meals. There was nothing exceptionally special about it as it tasted like any other American restaurants that serve similar burgers, ahi tuna and the usual appetizers.
(3)
Dustin G.
I'm never disappointed! I've dined here many times and I always leave happy and full. Tavern is actually one of the first restaurants I dined at in Chicago. Their tomato basil soup is the best I've ever eaten and it simply cannot be beat on a chilly day. Their cocktails are always liquid perfection. I usually order a martini, the soup and the fig and prosciutto flatbread. I've tried other dishes but those are my favorites and I've never been able to pass them up. Every time guests come in from out of town I take them to Tavern and they always love it and and go on about how good everything is. It's great for a night with friends but it's also intimate and perfect for a romantic evening. Go for lunch and save a little money. Oh, and the wait staff is amazing and friendly. One more thing, their water glasses and bottles are really cool. I always think about stealing one...joke.
(5)
Collin M.
This is a very convenient stop for lunch if you need to catch a train at Millenium. The prime rib lunch sandwich with five cheese fondue was outstanding. They come served as three sliders (I hesitate to call them sliders because they are loaded with shaved meet and melted cheese - they are not small) and are delicious. The rest of the massive plate is loaded with their tasty french fries. This place is a little on the pricey side, but the portions are very large and the quality is there.
(4)
Ian B.
Visited the Tavern in a Private group of about 35 people sat in a side room upstairs, appetizers came around and were tasty, especially the bacon wrapped scallops. Service was friendly and attentive, meal portions were rather large - unusual for a place at this price point, atmosphere was comfortable and not pretentious. We didn't feel rushed as you sometimes do in a large group, everyone had a good time.
(4)
C W.
We've only been here once, but it was impressively good. I think I should try it again soon. It might be worthy of another star. The food was interesting with bold favors. Wish I would have known there was a rooftop.
(4)
Joan M.
Actually a 4.5 star rating! My husband and I were visiting for the Chicago marathon - We ended up eating here twice because the food and service were phenomenal We would have had every meal here because it was so good, but being in such a rich restaurant town we thought we'd better try others. We're almost sorry we did that because Tavern at the Park was the best of all of them! They were accommodating to our off the menu requests. The food on and off the menu was great! Very tasty and fresh - and portions were very filling. Chefs, servers, assistants and host staff were very friendly! We'd eat here again - and definitely recommend it to others - local and those visiting. The ambiance was very nice - you could request a table outside, inside the bar area, or in the dining area - choices for all, FYI, the only reason that we deducted a half star was because our dog wasn't allowed out on the patio....Maybe that's Chicago laws...but....I'm just sayin'... PS: Just like Liz K. there was SO much chicken added, my doggy ended up getting an awesome meal too!!!
(4)
Boyd K.
I've eaten here a number of times. I love the service and the food here. The Chicken pot pie is a favorite. I took two of my teenagers here this past weekend - picky eaters - and they both loved their meals - one had a london broil and the other prime rib. Our waiter was very patient and answered their questions and was very helpful with one who had a peanut allergy. I always enjoy their specialty cocktails.
(4)
Z Z.
I suppose it would be my own fault for falling into the tourist trap restaurant.. but hey, the menu looked decent, a few reviews were pleasant..so why not? Our waiter was very very very nice - let me give him a little credit. The food? awful. Maybe my taste buds are tainted from the delish-ness had while in San Francisco and my new favorite in Milwaukee - Allium.. but honestly not good. I had a grilled vegetable salad - which was a lunch salad, but they still allowed me to order. Portion was SO large I barely made a dent into it. Husband had chicken caprese salad - it didn't even look as good as it should have by the description. $110 (tip included) later.. (2 drinks a piece, 1 app, 2 salads) I had super bad buyers remorse and longed for a freaking veggie hot dog from American Dogs on State. Probably should have gone with my instinct and stayed away from the tourist trap. bummerrrrrr.
(2)
Steve M.
Went to a nice engagement party here this weekend. Service was excellent, the wine was flowing, and the steak I had was great - chicken was better! I'm glad I didn't see the final bill, but was happy to see Tavern step up it's game for such an important event. One more experience like this, and Tavern is in the 4-5 star range.
(3)
Jackie P.
If I wanted to treat my coworkers to a salt lick then I would take them to the salt lick my parent's have on their 10 acres. At least it would be free and I know the salt would be good. Mom only buys the best for the deer. Some coworkers and I went here for lunch. By the time we got back I felt like I drink have an ocean and two others had horrible stomachaches. The portions are huge and you won't be hungry the rest of the day but that's if you can keep your lunch down. Sadly disappointing when this place had such great potential.
(2)
Rajiv H.
My feelings on Tavern At The Park are very mixed. I give five stars to the service, which includes both our waitress and the host. They were both extremely kind, attentive, and accommodating. Also, you can't beat the location. We sat outdoors on a perfect summer day with a breeze. Then the food and drinks happened. I mean it is a restaurant. My Wife and Mom-In-Law both started with what they claimed was a Cesar salad. These salads were coated with mayo like white on rice. I've never had a Cesar salad this disgusting. I'm not quite sure how you screw up a Cesar salad this bad. It's hard. I mean real hard. I mean this stuff comes in easy to use grocery store kits for lazy bachelors that tastes halfway decent. I did however find it hilarious when the two women started brushing their tongues with the bread to scrape off the mayo taste. We also got a couple glasses of white sangria (no pitchers? no red sangria option even? okay, fine, I'll stop being picky). The glass was about 3/4 ice and only had three berries in it. There were all raspberries. W. T. F. Kids, that stands for Why The Frugality. As you could imagine, we weren't expecting a ton from the main courses at this point. My Mother and I got the Saturday Night Special: a 14 ounce Prime Rib (it's $22, how could we not?). My wife had the Chicken Milanese, and mom-in-law the Veal Chop Marsala. My Prime Rib was excellent. I honestly didn't expect a cut of meat so good for this price from a place like this, but they did well to keep things simple with some horseradish sauce and some au jus. The Chicken Milanese was decent. I have a feeling the balsamic reduction really saved what could have otherwise been a bland dish. The Veal Chop Marasala was too heavily breaded for it's own good. I'd go back to Tavern At The Park for the Prime Rib. The service, weather, and location - right next to Millenium Park - also helped saved the night for me. I can see the place getting way to touristy at times, but on our Saturday night it seemed just fine.
(2)
W P.
This place suffers from pride of location. What a shame, as it could be Chicago's 'Tavern Under The Bean". Spotty (but well intentioned) service. There was something wrong with every course, which was corrected by an embarrassed manager. There was a huge noisy party (25 people) seated adjacent to our table and any chance of having a conversation was lost. Won't be going back - rather eat at the ear shattering Gage across the street - the food is better.
(2)
Leah C.
inconsistent and never great... i only go here once i've exhausted other options for lunch outings. i always order the same thing - the grilled veggie salad (note: not on their website). it has either been inedible or just "good enough". nothing ever above that. when in the "inedible" state - it's soggy (who likes soggy lettuce?), salty and void of many of the listed ingredients. i will give this place 5 stars though for the excellent service. they know how to handle a lunch rush.
(2)
Keri K.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday, we love close by and have always wanted to try it. I always walk past and the food looks to die for. Which turns out, it is. My vegetarian pasta was AMAZING I dream of it. My boyfriend had steak and he seemed to really enjoy it. I like the atmosphere, though it smelled a little weird inside. We had drinks on the roof after dinner which was very nice as well. I would definitely come back here and I recommend you should try it too.
(4)
Charlie J.
you know what? for what could very easily be an over-hyped over-priced joint, this one actually passes the muster. i eat here all the time - lunch only, though. i'm telling you the lobster roll has to be one of the most authentic...and probably one of the best...west of Maine. and the service is really very attentive. maybe annoyingly so. but attentive none the less. enjoy.
(4)
Eduardo M.
Went here for an office thing, so I didn't have pay for anything. Best kind of lunch/drinks opportunity. The food was tasty, although the sandwich breads seemed a tad too salty for my taste, others in the group didn't seem to mind too much. Also, the drinks were well made and service was friendly and prompt. I'd say I'll come back, but I never seem to find myself in the loop nowadays.
(3)
Keara K.
We had a very nice dinner at Tavern at the Park. Hubby and I shared the Fontina and Chicken Fondue, we both ordered the 14oz Prime Rib with Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes, and finished with the Key Lime Brulee. Everything was very good (although I'd like to have seen more fruits with the fondue, as it was very bread heavy, and some of the breads paired a little strangely with the fondue), the prime rib cooked to perfection, and the dessert, while simple, was fantastic. And for the person compaining about the flatbread looking like a pizza- that's what flatbreads basically are at any fine dining restaurant-- fancy wording for foo-foo pizza. We came on a fairly busy evening, and the service was pretty good. Our server was being held up by a very high-matinence (ie. 6 crabby old people) table, so he understandably was a bit absent towards the end of our meal. But if I had to deal with those people, I'd be too busy running around to be found too. I liked Tavern, I'd even reccomend it. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I thought it was pretty good! :)
(4)
SM J.
I was there in July for a corporate work function. My company rented the entire patio for dinner and I cannot begin to describe how wonderful our evening was. The service was AMAZING. Every little need that we had, the staff catered to immediately, sometimes without us even saying anything. They were so incredibly accommodating. The food was to die for. A special shout out to a server named AJ who went above and beyond to give us 5 Star service. He was so sweet and worked his butt off!!
(5)
JV L.
This was a great place for me b/c I needed: --a place near Millennium Park --pasta options with chicken --nicer than fast food, but not necessarily fine dining Tavern at the Park is a bit pricey, but I figured you pay for the location. And my chicken parmesan entree was enough for three meals, so the price didn't bother me too much afterward. This probably wouldn't be the first place I would recommend, just b/c Chicago has way too many other awesome restaurants. But, if you're near Millennium Park and want good food, a nice atmosphere and excellent service, this is the place. It also seems like a good restaurant to take picky eaters or to celebrate a semi-special occasion.
(3)
Louise S.
I have never written a YELP review before but I was so taken aback by the service I received I had to write this one. I made a reservation at least 21/2 weeks prior to my lunch appointment last Tuesday. I specifically picked this restaurant because I rarely can eat outside and I wanted to have their grilled vegetable salad on a warm summer day. I scheduled my appointment for 1p instead of the noon hour in hopes that I would be able to get a table outside. I realize that I only made a "request" for the outdoor seating but clearly they don't even pretend to honor those requests. There was no, "we know you requested an outdoor table and you will get the next one available" or "now that you are here, we have put you at the top of the list" or anything like that. I purposely got there a few minutes early and told the man at the host stand that I had made the reservation requesting outdoor seating and the reply was, "there are two parties ahead of you and it would be about 30 minutes for outdoor seating." When I asked if there was any preference for reservations, he replied, "we only have (7) tables". I don't know many business people that can wait 30 minutes for a table during the lunch hour? That is why you make a reservation. When my lunch companion arrived a few minutes later I told him the situation. He knew I had picked this restaurant in hopes of eating outside so he suggested we go elsewhere. Now, we could have just left, but I was courteous enough to let him know I would no longer need the reservation as I really wanted to eat outside and unfortunately I could not wait 30 minutes. We then proceeded to go around the turnstile on the revolving door and I noticed two tables; one leaving and one getting their check. I literally did not leave the revolving door and went back to the man behind the counter and asked how long it would be as two tables were leaving? He said; well now there are three parties ahead of you as someone was asking him about a table as I walked up. I said, "you are kidding me, I had a reservation" and his smart ass reply was "you're going to my competition, now it is three". I would not have been so angry if the man behind the counter was not so obviously one of the managers if not the owner. I own and operate a conference center located within a two minute walk of this restaurant. Unbeknownst to them, I have referred hundreds of people to this restaurant over the years. It is no longer on our recommended restaurant listing. I would never recommend somewhere where I did not receive good service and this manager /owner did more than just not provide service he was extremely rude!
(1)
Karyn K.
We had a really nice dinner at Tavern at the Park, except that I couldn't quite people watch from our booth! We started with the polenta--YUM. For dinner I had the Chicken Milanese--amazing!! Other people had veal and beef dishes, which were enjoyed by all. The entrees are huge and we probably should have split them. We also got a side of mashed potatoes and a side of green beans--also delicious. Every time I've walked by this place, I've wanted to stop in. And I'm glad that I did. Good service, good wines, good food.
(4)
Jean Z.
Been to this location several times. The food was great, and the service was great each and every time. From happy hour, to lunch with friends, to a nice dinner after touristing around michigan avenue.
(5)
Jenny S.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Due to rain and cab messiness, two of us were very late but the waiter was awesome and took our orders as soon as we showed up and then brought everyone's food out at the same time. I ordered the chicken pot pie which was flakey and delicious. The waiter was extremely attentive and two of the managers also visited our table to make sure everything was going well. I will certainly be going back again. The restaurant wasn't very crowded and I hope that's because it's very new. It pains me that people will wait for an hour to eat at Grand Luxe when there's an even better restaurant down Michigan avenue with no wait at all.
(5)
Kevin S.
We've been here twice now and both times my impression is the same: this place skates by on its location, but the food and service is sub-par at best. This last time I ordered the mahi mahi special; the fish was very fishy smelling. My wife has a very good nose, and she could smell it from across the table. We sent it back and the waiter relayed that the chef said all the mahi probably would smell the same (WTF?) so I ordered the Chicken Milanese. It was just OK; the tomatoes that came with it were clearly the hothouse, flavorless kind. My wife's rack of lamb also was just ok, there was a lot of fat on it. They were slow to clear dishes, and when I asked to take part of my meal home, the bus person misunderstood and threw it away. The noise from the bar can intrude to the dining room. Nice location, nice view of the city - that's about it.
(2)
Mandy S.
This place has a great look to it, and amazing location and view. They did a good job of playing upon that with the design. I will say I've been meaning to try this place for awhile now and was curious as to what it was about. Went on Friday night with a group of four. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. In fact, we were one of the only people in the place. This always kind of irks me. When I go to a restaurant and a reasonable hour for dinner (8 pm) and it is quite empty. It just doesn't feel as festive to me and I feel kind of jipped. Plus I wonder what other people know that I don't. Fortunately my group of friends is a complete riot and we were able to keep ourselved entertained for the meal. I had the salmon entree and it was amazing. It came with no sides, but did come with a starter salad. For the price of the entree, I think a side would be in order. Everyone else was pleased with their meals: lobster ravioli, the tuna, the chicken milanese--aside from one guest who was confused and upset as to why a pile of cabbage was placed on top of his... Overall, it was a good experience. I'd rec to anyone looking for a group friendly atmopshere with a central location who doesn't mind spending a bit extra money. For anyone with an out of town guest, it's a nice place to bring them, but so is Park Grill and the Gage nearby, really. I'd probably go back to either of those places before I came back here. If someone else was footing the bill, however, I'd come back!
(3)
Shelley A. D.
I really like this place. The staff is polished and attentive. The location is perfect for pre or post theater and/or for lunch between business meetings. The food is high quality and fresh. The portions are generous. The wine pours and drinks are also abundant. I should mention that it is best classified as a steakhouse. As a non-red meat eater I usually have a soup and salad. As unfortunately the menu is pretty slim on seafood options. That said Tavern is still it is worth visiting if you have business or pleasure in the area.
(4)
Shanti N.
Yay! They have Gnarly Head Zin-- my fav-- by the glass, to boot! I came here twice-- once for a cocktail, and once for dinner (bar and booth, respectively)-- and was impressed by the solid service both times. Prices are reasonable, particularly for the dinner specials (including choice of soup or salad). As I had eaten a later lunch the evening I came here, I opted for the soup/salad. My dinner companion ordered the prosciutto-wrapped scallops, and we ordered the calamari to start. The calamari was a bit rubbery, which the breading more than made up for. Recommend the signature bee's knees cocktail-- bourbon, organically milled honey, and a few squeezes of lime-- for a dose of elegant simplicity and antidote to mojito malaise.
(4)
Casandra G.
Dropped in for cocktails and appetizers, 3rd of july. Classy, clean place with high cielings and big windows, looking out toward millenium park. Prompt seating, polite and helpful servers. Artfully prepared (read: very pretty) cocktails that get the job done and are not much more expensive than those of other bars downtown. The food, unfortunately, was a bit underwhelming. For example: seared scallops on a risotto bed. Superb scallops, but a bitter, slimy risotto. Bottom line? Come for drinks in a pretty setting. After you eat somewhere else.
(3)
Kelsey P.
I went here with 7 coworkers while in Chicago for a business convention. At 7:30ish on a Saturday it wasn't too busy, but our server was slooooooooow...I'm pretty sure we didn't leave till almost 11. Since our company got the tab, we didn't hold back in ordering several appetizers for the table -- most involved meat/seafood and I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try any, but everyone else seemed to enjoy them. I also appreciated that there were several interesting vegetarian options on the menu. What I didn't appreciate so much was that my swiss chard ravioli seemed like it had been doused with salt :( Maybe there were too many capers? Either way, yuck. The somewhat veg-friendly menu warrants 3 stars (there was also vegetable lasagna, a few appetizers, and lots of hearty sides) -- otherwise, this restaurant's nothing special.
(3)
Kate C.
I went to go watch Ellen film a special show from Chicago at the bean last night and my friend and I were so cold (it was snowing!) and hungry after the filming that we decided to go to the nearest place to warm and and get a bite to eat. Tavern at the Park was the first place we saw and I am so glad we decided to go there. Next time I will probably sit at the bar instead of the dining room but the whole atmosphere is very nice, relaxing and upscale. Our waiter and the entire waitstaff were all friendly and got things taken care of right away for us. We split a bottle of wine and had the Tavern Teasers as an app. Ask for a plate with one of each kind on it, each one comes with a variety of sauces too. I had the chicken pot pie and my friend had the lobster ravioli. There was a lot of large pieces of lobster in the ravioli which was good and the chicken pot pie was so large that I barely made it through half of it. We got the brownie sundae for dessert. It is definitely shareable, the brownie was one of the biggest I have ever seen. Overall, it was a great place to go. Kind of expensive if you are just looking for a casual dinner but would be a great place for a drink after work or a party. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Mike D.
We went into this place after a great experience at the Gage and wanted something similar while trying something new. This place was GOOD but it was just lacking something in the air. Although it was a casual lunch spot, it just seemed too nice to feel ultra relaxed and comfortable. The service at the bar was very good and my chicken salad was honestly way better than I expected it to be. The food got great reviews from the other two people I was with but there was definitely something lacking here. I cannot say anything bad about this place, the food was great, the service was good, but like some movies I have seen in the past, you know they were "good" but you just weren't into them. That's the best way to describe this place but maybe you will have a different experience!
(3)
Chris R.
Have eaten here twice now. First time we sat at the bar, had excellent food and great service. Second time was yesterday and food was equally as good (except cheese on top of French onion soup was not brown AT ALL, my pet peeve) but service was iffy at best. If you have longer than an hour for lunch, I recommend sitting in the restaurant. Otherwise, ask to sit at the bar. But I will be back for the excellent salads, burgers and veggie lasagna.
(3)
Nicolas H.
Been here a couple times now for lunch and I have to say its pretty darn good. At first I didn't want to like it because it seemed like they were trying too hard to be fancy, but the lunch options definitely aren't that way. The chopped steak burger is exactly what you'd think. It's large and served on a great bun. But even better are the tavern tasters: your choice of three mini burgers with their awesome french fries. The prime rib was great, served with a nice au jus. The buffalo chicken mini was nice and spicy, served with a side of blue cheese dressing. The salmon burger left a lot to be desired though, so next time i'd get the regular burger instead of going the fish route. The service was good and fast and the french fries are definitely not to be missed...
(4)
Janet I.
My husband and I finally tried Tavern at the Park today after living in the area for a few years. We assumed it was more of a tourist stop due to it's location adjacent to Millenium Park, but we were pleasantly surprised. Very nice atmosphere inside with outdoor dining available also. Service was very good along with our entrees. I had the Vegetable Lasagna, which was wonderful, and my husband had the Chicken Milanese - very good also. It was nice to discover another quality restaurant in our neighborhood. We will definitely try it again.
(4)
Leah L.
Great private room as you enter, great outdoor area in the summer, great food
(4)
Michael M.
We went for lunch the other day and we did make a reservation. The hostess was very friendly and led us to a table upstairs which was very pleasant. The music could be heard from downstairs but that in no way impeded our conversation. My mother had the tomato basil soup and a lobster roll. The soup was thick, rich and delicious. I had the ahi tuna appetizer and a lobster roll (it was Ash Wednesday). The tuna was beautiful with the greens that it came with. The lobster roll was full of lobster meat all the way through it didn't seem as they were skimping at all. We barely had room for dessert but we attempted it anyway. My mother had the fried banana split which was large, unique, and delicious. I had the chocolate chip cookie sandwich which was two large chocolate chip cookies that had crispy edges yet slightly soft in the middle- perfect for me. A generous helping of mint choc. chip ice cream in the middle and the whole thing is drenched in a rich hot fudge sauce. I couldn't finish it but I gave it the old college try. Now on to service-- our server Lauren was, for lack of a better word, OUTSTANDING!!! She was on top of things without being intrusive. She has a wonderful sense of humor and was very engaging. She even asked at the beginning if either one of us had any allergies the kitchen should know about. We don't- but my son does so now I know I can take him here and he'll be safe. I wish all restaurants did that. The drink list had some very unique combinations that I will have to get back to try soon as I understand the mixologist tries to keep things seasonal. Overall a great lunch with outstanding service.
(4)
Steve P.
Exceptional visit to the roof deck for dinner on a lovely, warm summer night. Nice music/vibe, well dressed crowd, incredible views of the city. Great burger, chop salad, sparkling rose. Portion sizes very generous and pricing appropriate for the city. Service was attentive and friendly. Kitchen was incredibly accommodating to special orders and allergy concerns. Highly recommended for a casual, relaxed eating experience.
(5)
Abhay S.
Came here for lunch today with a visiting co-worker. We didn't have any reservations, so we ended up sitting at the bar, which was OK with us. I ordered the lobster roll and my co-worker got some sort of flatbread with sausage deal. Hers came out looking very close to a pizza. (uh, didn't see that in the description) My lobster roll was decent, but the fries were cold. I also would have liked something different than fries, but they offered me any of the sides for half price except for the onion rings which would have cost the same as the given fries. The service was excellent - the waiters always made sure I had a full glass and asked a few times if everything was OK. Two thumbs up to them. The restaurant manager even stopped by to see if everything was OK. Given that I work close to this building, I'll come here again. It's not a bad place when you're looking for a decent sit-down lunch in the east loop.
(3)
Gregg D.
Seated immediately and all the little things were done well. Servers were attentive but not intrusive. Had the filet and it was cooked well. Not the best steak I ever had, but very good. I would come back at any time
(4)
S C.
I keep trying this place again and again because I live so close, but every time I visit I remember why I promised myself I'd never return. Very over priced, and the food (when it's edible) is nothing special. The service is slow and unfriendly, the atmosphere is stuffy and dark, and their food is really not exciting. At all. Here's the breakdown of everything I've eaten there. Appetizers: Duck egg rolls - fine Fig & prosciutto flatbread - too sweet but fine Portugese "style" mussels - incredibly salty and funky Fried calamari - greasy, but not chewy which was good Salads House dinner salad - actually quite good; I like the matchstick potatoes Wedge salad - a wedge is a wedge is a wedge... Chopped salad - enough to serve an army and totally not exciting Entrees Brick chicken - the skin was the only delicious part, nothing else was memorable Seared scallops - absolutely terrible, the mustard tastes poisonous and you cannot taste the scallop at all. Just AWFUL Prime rib - funny color so I didn't even eat it... sent it back Butternut squash ravioli - THE WORST THING I'VE EATEN IN YEARS, the smallest portion of under-cooked pasta, flavorless filling in a bowlful of "pesto" (which should have been called "green oil") Ricotta gnocchi - This was the last straw for me. The gnocchi was tiny and had no flavor, it was covered with two pounds of mozzarella, and there was more of the crappy sauce than there was the crappy gnocchi. NO! Dessert Key lime creme brulee must be the only thing that saves this restaurant; quite good
(1)
Vickie L.
I went with my boyfriend in February after a free day at the Art Institute. This has a great location, wonderful views. Dark tones inside with lots of windows and wood all over. To our surprise it was during Restaurant Week with the 3 courses for $32 yay! My bf got the buffalo chicken sliders for his appetizer - they were just okay, too much bread, not enough chicken. I got duck spring rolls for my appetizer and they were really really good. Very crispy, a good amount of duck, and the mango sauce was very tasty. Main course - I had the brick chicken - wow, it was so tasty and juicy. At first it looked small, but that's because they put the dark meat piece over the white meat piece, after I found that out, it was HUGE! My bf got the prime rib - he ate every last piece, it was cooked very well, very soft and very tasty. Dessert - I had the hot fudge sundae, it was very good, nothing special, but very tasty after that rich meal. My bf got the chocolate mousse, and it was the only bad part of the meal - it was so grainy! Not smooth at all. Our server was really attentive. During dessert she noticed my bf had only eaten a few bites of his mousse and asked what was wrong, so we told her it wasn't very good. She was very apologetic that we did not like the chocolate mousse and offered to give us another sundae. We declined. Service was excellent. Wow what a deal, I'm so glad we happened upon this place during Restaurant Week. The regular menu selection was good, but we thought it was a bit pricey for the type of food offered they offered, nothing was really stand-out as being a specialty, but it IS right across from Millenium Park so you pay for the location.
(4)
#NAME?
Dined here again for the 4th time and as usual it was great-This was the 2nd time dining in the bar area for me, tonight I just wanted something light so I felt appetizers would be perfect- I initially came here to eat the Butternut Squash Ravioli but decided to go outside my comfort zone and try something new, so I had the Scallop Rrisotto-It was very good and just what I was looking for, I didn't know what to expect since the menu said it had strawberries in it, but they fit right in-The risotto is rich so the strawberries provide a nice tart/sweet difference, and I loved the aged balsamic that was drizzeled on the plate-The only thing I noticed was that the scallops probably didn't need to have salt put on them- For dessert I wanted to try the Key Lime Crème Brulee, it was nice and light, slightly chilled and cleaned the palate- Our waiter Tom was professional and very helpful, as is the management and staff at Tavern, I'm just glad it's a 5 minute walk from our place-
(5)
Nancy S.
Location & Dessert = Great! Love the restaurant interior & the strawberry shortcake Service = Went from bad to worse Food = Let's just say...the mashed potatoes were instant
(2)
Kathy S.
This was my first time in Chicago since I was a kid and had no idea where to go. Looked for places around our hotel and we chose Tavern At The Park. We really enjoyed our food (he got the filet sandwich and I had a burger) and the atmosphere was great. It was just my boyfriend and I and it was a great place for our date. Everyone was really friendly and they had a pear cider that I really enjoyed. BF had a few Knob Creeks and Coke. Our bill was not really $$ but it was well worth the extra $.
(4)
Kate C.
We went to this place on a whim when we wanted to take a break from the rain at Gospel Fest. We were seated right away (party of 5) even though it was around 7 on a Saturday night. It seemed like more of a tourist place to me. From a first glance of the menu, it seemed a bit pricey to me. Overall, there was nothing unique or special about the restaurant. The service was good, and it was a quiet place to sit down and take a break. As for the food, it wasn't anything out of this world, though none of us had real entrees. I had the chopped salad, which had a ton of ingredients and was very large. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but again, it was a bit pricey for what it was. I also tried the butternut squash ravioli (delicious) and some of the polenta (also very good). Although I guess I had a decent experience at this restaurant, it just wasn't very unique and had a kind of weird/empty atmosphere. I definitely think there are cuter, more interesting places in Chicago for the money. You can't beat the location though!
(3)
grzesiek k.
I had such a great experience yesterday.2/14/2013. Took my Girlfriend out for Valentines day dinner. Fantastic service off the bat. The appetizer , Ahi tuna, was so really good and well prepared. We both had fillet Mignon with different toppings but well done and just perfect. Big juicy full flavor. Had mushrooms and asparagus for our side which also were really tasty. Had key lime pie and New York cheesecake for dessert. A must have! Overall the food was great. Full of flavor, hot and phenomenal taste! Service was great from the door to the table and out. Will definitely go back soon!
(5)
Candace M.
One of my fave spots to sit outside and eat. I only indulge in the Tavern Pleasers, 3 miniature sandwiches (Prime Rib Five Cheese Fondue, Caramelized Onions & Au Jus On Onion Roll; Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Dressing & Creamy Coleslaw On Brioche Bun and/or the Sirloin Burger). What I LOVE most about this restaurant is that they are the only place that I know of that provides my favorite wine, Saracco Moscato. Huge kudos for that alone!!!
(4)
Mary A.
I enjoyed my experience at this restaurant. I ordered short ribs and they were tender and delicious like they should be. The string fries were plentiful and good and we shared a chocolate cake and ice cream dessert. The atmosphere was sleek and modern and intimate. In other words it wasn't noisy like other large city restaurants.
(4)
Barbara S.
We were a party of 8, so I made a reservation. When we arrived, we were escorted to a private room. Perfect! Great food, great conversation, great fun with my family. With so many people, we were able to try a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and one dessert. Everything.was wonderful; lots of choices, unique food combinations, the servings were plentiful, and the prices were reasonable. The strawberry shortcake was so large that we could all share it. When in Chicago, the Tavern at the Park is a must!
(5)
Hope G.
I walked past this restaurant everyday on my way home and surprised to say that I've only been twice. Even though the food both times was satisfying and tasty, I have almost no desire to return. It's nice, but just not memorable. I went on a thursday night after the happy hour rush and the dark interior was quiet and a good place to talk. The service was nice. I ordered the Tavern Teasers - and had a sirloin slider, roast beef slider, and a buffalo slider. They were all really tasty - no more than three small bites though, so you find your mouth wishing there was more on the way! I like that they have great appetizer options, so I have yet to sample their entree menu. While I certainly would never avoid eating here, I am not climbing all over myself to get back!
(3)
Jim W.
The Saturday prime rib special is well worth it! It's a large slab of meat, tastier than Lawrys (Bev Hills), but imo not as good as House of Prime Rib (SF). The horse radish needed to be spicier and chunky, but aside from that, I was satisfied. The lobster mac was also really delicious and the french onion soup, satisfying. Sitting outside is a nice touch, but not really much of a vibe at Tavern..the crowd really ebbs and flows. I had booked a reservation on open table, but pretty much any time was available. The restaurant was busier when we left at 945p than when we arrived at 815p, and the upstairs was completely empty. Service was a bit bumbled. Couldn't tell if it was a case of the waitress (it seemed like her 2nd day, she misheard, didn't hear orders) or if it's the place in general. I felt prices were fair, in general, considering it's a Millenium Park restaurant.
(3)
Amelia B.
Tonight was fabulous (Monday night at 7). Sat in a booth at the bar with a fantastic music selection. Wonderful ambiance. Wait staff was terrific - manager came by to check in on us (3 college age gals). Food - soooo good. Had a salad, Mac and cheese, chicken pacatta, and chicken hash -- all were excellent. Wonderful overall. Would highly, highly recommend.
(5)
Melissa C.
We had our wedding reception at Tavern at the Park. The food, service and ambiance were AMAZING. Our guests continue to rave about it. Alyssa coordinated the event and did a fabulous job.
(5)
Daniel S.
This establishment is in the lobby of my building so I pass by daily. It is usually always full, but I am not sure if that is such a good barometer as that crusty Bennigan's is always full too. But really, Tavern at the Park is far better than Bennigan's. I have dined there twice since it opened several years back. I would say this falls within the unspectacular genre embodied by Catch 35, Capitol Grille etc. There is a fairly large menu, and my favorite item is the polenta. It is seared to creamy perfection. They have an ample wine list, and I hear they make a respectable cocktail. In short, this is not like a Rick Bayless restaurant, but few are so maybe that's not an equitable measurement. It is respectable though, and the service is amiable.
(3)
Ben B.
The view is very good and the atmosphere seemed both upscale and comfortable to me, but the food was nothing special. The menu items look like they would be great, but most things seem to have too much salt. My wife and I had the butternut squash ravioli and scallop appetizers. The scallops were too salty for me - I found myself scraping part of the top of mine off - but the ravioli was very good. The salads that came with dinner are just greens, cherry tomatoes, and your choice of dressing, which was overly simple for me. I did like the prawn risotto, although my wife was unimpressed by the salmon. As another reviewer mentioned, the music is a bit out of place. I honestly felt that I might fall asleep a couple of times, even though it was 7:00. Overall, I think the appetizers were the best part and that there are better places to eat for the price.
(2)
adam C.
The Good: The leather tablecloths are really nice, and the service is quite fast. I ate here before the opera on Friday night. The first thing my wife and I were impressed by was the clean well done design inside. Our next impression was made by our waiter, a clean cut, attentive guy with a bit of an "american psycho" vibe to him. Great service, but something about his near-musical vocal delivery and his movement made us think that we were dealing with someone who kills men for sport. The Prime Rib, with Gorgonzola mashed potatos was prepared well, but nothing seemed to be big on flavor. At best, flavor was mild, but it did approach bland. This may be due to them trying to cater to the older opera crowd that the restaurant probably relies on. We both enjoyed our french onion soups, and portions all around were well sized.
(3)
Ginny D.
I don't know if they are under new management but I've visited twice - the first time was awful and now 2 years later on my second visit - WOW! Great food, great ambiance, new management perhaps? It still took a while to get a table but much better the second time around! The service was more attentive and helpful and the food was great! Note: get the fries!!! The portions were huge, my clients were thrilled at the "American" fare and I was pleasantly surprised! You bested Park Grill for sure!
(4)
Connie W.
A little pricy but the service and food is always good.
(4)
Kat P.
We were in town on a Friday before 5 looking to have a cocktail to celebrate the beginning of a mini vacation and to catch up on the Masters. We did not eat dinner, but had an appetizer (meatballs) and a cocktail. Both my husband and I found the drink sizes relative to the price (granted it is Chicago) to be pretty generous. Also, they had a nice wine selection. The appetizer was good, however, I felt a little pressure from the server to either eat a meal or get out of his section as there wasn't any additional space available at the bar. I'd grab a drink here next time I'm in town, and probably give the food a try.
(4)
Norbert W.
was there for lunch at an off hour, meaning not crowded and no tourists. depending on that, the rating could plummet. I'd bet it's a very good 3.5, somewhere between three and four) Server was really cool. Was able to work with our quirky humor and hopefully enjoyed in the fun, as he was very welcome! Appetizers: chicken liver was terrific. Very smooth. Good flavor. The greens and bacon that accompanied it were also excellent Baked goat cheese: not too shabby. Fulfills expectations. Entree: I had the Max Burger. Was between that and the one with foie on it. (next time.) cooked just right. The beef patties are very thin cuz there's so much going on with it otherwise. Fries were crisp and not salted, yay! (IOW: they know how to make them. Getting salted fries ruins the effect - that's a "do it yourself" mineral) buddy had the scallops. looked good with good presentation. He wasn't expecting that much garlic, which didn't dampen the flavors! Since it was his birthday, they brought out a chocolate cake with an excellent ice cream with it (maybe caramel. possibly homemade) Someone ordered THAT martini. it was an excellent time. no restaurant newbies within earshot going on about this and that with the meal. good stuff. And they played some Styx on the system. heh! NA bier selection not that good. Caliber, or whatever the Guinness one is. It's the NA equivalent of having 'Bass, Harp, crap" on tap, but oh well. (yes, you cannot get pejorative enough for those "biers")
(4)
Sheila G.
This is a great place for a quick bite if at Millennium Park - the appetizers are especially good. Try the Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread. The main entrees and specialty cocktails weren't as impressive. I think they have Happy Hour specials on the apps on certain days too.
(3)
T C.
Fantastic restaurant, one of my favorite places for lunch, or drinks after work. The service is superlative, the atmosphere is energizing, the food is wonderful, and the owners are always at the front door shaking hands and assuring that all of the customers are well taken care of. Three of my favorite menu items are the Chopped Salad, the Strawberry Salad, and the hamburger. The prime rib sandwich is pretty fantastic as well. I highly recommend Tavern at the Park.
(5)
Curt E.
So my wife, my sister-in-law, and her boyfriend were looking a place to eat and heard good things about this place so we thought we would give it a go. I definitely liked the ambiance of the place. We had made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. We were promptly greeted by our server Quinton who was very prompt and attentive throughout our meal. I will say that I'm not always adventurous in my choices and thought I would love to have a good piece of prime rib. While texture was there, there was very little flavor. All it needed was some garlic and some herbs and it could take it from $35 for this!?!?? To, Yum! Who cares how much it is?? Additionally I ordered the potato cakes which were good I must say but a huuuuge portion for one person as a side. My wife ordered the rotisserie chicken which she enjoyed but I felt was rather dry when I tasted it. I wasn't impressed with the barbecue either. Overall it was a good experience but when something so simple and pricey is screwed up it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended) . I would go back but more than likely choose another item from the menu.
(3)
anthony t.
NIce staff, solid food selections with some of my favorites being the peppered wings and the short rib sandwich which is absolutely delicious. Great vibe at happy hour and I can't wait for the rooftop patio.
(5)
Alyssa S.
Three stars because it's simply not as good as its neighbors, The Gage and The Park Grill. We did have a very nice work lunch here - excellent service. I thought the menu was a bit spare on options. I finally settled on a parmesan crusted Chicken Caprese that was good, but I usually don't get chicken at restaurants and only did so here because the rest of the menu options were kind of blah to me. My co-workers had salads that were gigantic! They seemed to like them a lot. As for atmosphere - it's a little weird that they didn't make more of the view. On the upper floor, you're sitting on a balcony with barely a view of the park. Again. the service was great, we never had to ask for anything. A little bit more creativity on the menu could raise this place up.
(3)
Michelle M.
My office is on the same block as Tavern at the Park. I stopped in for the first time last night and now I know what I have been missing. The specialty cocktails were amazing. One of them tasted just like sipping the holiday season...served up in an extra-chilled martini glass. For dinner I had the gem-colored roasted beets salad and fig and prosciutto flatbread. Both were outstanding. The service was impeccable as well. I will be back, repeatedly.
(5)
cos f.
i really want to love this place ... the proximity to the park and michigan avenue is terrific...outdoor space upstairs and down... it is a big restaurant... great bar...and good drinks... but the food? meh.... just so so... i had this chicken hash, described wonderfully on the menu, but really roughly chopped vegetables and left over chicken ...the eggs were poached perfectly...but there was a stew of juice overwhelming my plate... it would have been nice if it were a sauce... they had told us 3 times there was bread coming and until we asked again they brought it with our meal... i will go for a cocktail but not much else...
(2)
Heather K.
Went to Tavern for an office party, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. I went with the horseradish-crusted filet (the smaller portion), and it was cooked perfectly. Since the steaks don't come with sides, we split a bunch for the table - green beans and mashed potatoes ("whipped potato casserole," I mean) were excellent. For reference, each side dish was approx. 2 servings. The entree salads were gigantic, too. Since we were a large group, my brilliant boss made the decision to get one of each dessert at the end of the meal. Wow, I was in heaven. I'm a chocolate lover so I gravitated towards the brownie, but the bread pudding was also very tasty. Due to the location, Tavern definitely has a business/corporate crowd atmosphere - even though I freakin' love filet mignon, I wouldn't suggest this restaurant for a family function, or a date, etc. But for biz lunches or dinners I can see how this would be an excellent option.
(4)
Mari B.
Nice restaurant in a good location. Ordered at chopped salad that was decent, but had too many blue cheese crumbles and they forgot the chicken. When I asked the waitress (Margaret) if it was supposed to come with chicken (as it said on the menu)she was rude in return and made the whole situation awkward. She responded "Well I don't see why it wouldn't" and "it doesnt have chicken on there?" My plate was right infront of her so I'm not sure why she couldn't see that there was no chicken. I told her I didn't taste chicken or see it in my meal. She said she would check with the kitchen then came back to the table with a cup of chicken and said "heres some chicken just in case they didnt put any in there". Not sure who would eat all their chicken then lie about not having any ust to get more but it seemed like thats what she thought I did. She tops my list of rude waitresses and I would not return or reccommend this place because of her. The salad was $13 and app size.
(2)
Scott S.
Had service outside on the upstairs patio. Extremely disappointing. Good atmosphere but poor service. Portions were miniscule. Had halibut which was salty and drowning in cream and butter. Gave only 6 small pieces of asparagus. Unaccommodating to special requests. Completely overpriced including their drinks. For a hamburger, they gave hard chips as a side. They serve overpriced wine from screw top bottles. Your just paying top dollar to be outside overlooking the park. Not worth it!
(1)
Kristin V.
I think this restaurant is okay. We have had several work dinners here, but mostly because it is close to the office. The crusted fillets are pretty good and the desserts are huge, so share. The service when dining is pretty good. I have also had drinks at the bar, but don't do that, the bar tenders are not pleasant. Overall, this place is nothing special.
(3)
The Hungry American E.
Food was standard. Layout is nice. The service was excellent and the place is clean. I had a sandwhich that was nothing to write home about. Little pricey. Visited in 6/09
(2)
Jeanne K.
Although the view from the rooftop bar is worth a visit, the service was deplorable, except for Mary, who saved our experience. We live in the city and wanted a drink after a movie...since it was such a gorgeous night, we decided to finally stop in and have a drink after reading so much about this establishment. Thomas, our first waiter, could not be bothered with us after we informed him that we weren't having anything to eat. The TWO bartenders...not even busy, as there was a small crowd...stood around talikng to one another...and when my husband asked for a glass for his beer, you would have thought he asked for a kidney for a transplant. Thomas never returned to ask if I wanted another glass of wine...really?...do the owners want to make a buck?...and when I simply asked for another glass of water...he replied, "Uhhhh, sure"....great service, huh?? If it wasn't for the view, we would never go back.
(2)
Oscar the Death Cat B.
I have mixed feelings about Tavern at the Park. It's a nice looking place, and apparently pretty popular - though it has a very spacious two-level dining area with plenty of tables, there was already a 1-hour wait for a table at 11:30 the morning our group visited for lunch. Fortunately, we had a reservation, though the host initially claimed that he could not "find" our name on the reservation list (another reviewer mentioned this same issue, perhaps the host is overdue for a new prescription on his eyeglasses?) The menu featured just a few lunch-y type items, but I think the cheapest was an $11 burger. Aside from a few sandwiches and regular entrees, they had some "lunch" specials that were more like dinner entrees when it came to price ($20 -$25 each). So this is definitely more of a business meeting/special occasion place to lunch. The food was a mixed bag - appetizers such as calamari were excellent, as were the fries. A couple of us ordered the prime rib, was supposed to be prepared medium but what we received was very pink & bloody & I swear I could hear mine making moo-ing sounds as I cut into it. Another person who had ordered the same dish sent it back to be cooked more, to the credit of the staff they gave her a whole new entree without a hassle. Everything is served in generous portions, if you still have room in your belly, they have a few good desserts - sharing is recommended as most desserts are enormous. In summary, service was very good but the food was a bit heavy and pricey just for lunch. I may have enjoyed my visit more if it had been dinner rather than lunch. I might come back to this place again some day - as long as someone else is buying.
(3)
Chester R.
my advice for ownership: 1. your bar is facing the wrong way ! you are on one of the best corners in all of chicago....overlooking grant park....why is my back facing it ?? 2. i needed a guide to find the bathroom. maybe we put one on the bar level?? 3. the position of the tv's above the bar almost caused me to break my neck looking up to try and watch them. perhaps we revisit their location as well?? nice atmosphere, great service....and really expensive.
(3)
Jims L.
Just went in because I pass by the place everyday. Better to sit at the bar than to stay for dinner. Unforunate that the service is really great, because the food is nothing special. Crossed off the list now and will probably never return!
(2)
Dani J.
Good food, good ambiance, great location! I had the butternut squash ravioli which was excellent and my man had the prime rib sandwich, which was literally a slab of prime rib on bread that had to be eaten with a knife and fork- delicious! My only issue here is the to $$ rating as far as price goes here on yelp. With local delights such as Panda Express and Quiznos being one $, I did not anticipate the prices at Tavern at the Park to be so high on their two $$ rating, however I suppose for the area, the prices were reasonable. Be warned to my frugal friends who pay attention to those $$$$$ markers :)
(3)
Adam S.
Great service. Good drinks. FRIENDLY crowd. Good quality food. The place is consistent and the owners REALLY care about keeping clients happy. They make me WANT to give them more stars but if you see the others restaurants in my list, you will understand why 3 is "pretty darn good" on my scale. Go here for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed. You won't be blown away, but I have never had bad food here.
(3)
Tammy Q.
I don't think I'd ever come here for "fun" -- been here twice, both for business meetings. The chicken with applewood bacon and bbq sauce sandwich was not too shabby. I love fries. I love fries that are fat. This place has the skinny shoestring fries that were not bad at all. I totally dogged it. The prices are a bit much for contemporary American fare -- but the location is great. Get seated upstairs to look over Grant Park. In the summer, the rooftop deck should be happening happy hour time.
(3)
Andy G.
Yesterday I took my team at work to Tavern at the Park for our annual holiday lunch. I hadn't tried it and was very excited to go, since I pass it on a regular basis. The entire experience started out on a sour note. When I arrived I checked with the host he mentioned I did not "see" my reservation and asked if it could be under another name. I had made the reservation weeks ago and asked for a table with a veiw of the park. I saw my name on the computer screen and told him it was the last name on his screen before he said, "Oh - I thought it looked like something else on the sheet." Sure. Anyway, we were seated at a table (without a view) in the downstairs portion of the restaurant. The service was adequate, but not overly friendly. The place was packed, but still, we didn't feel welcome the entire time we dined. The food was not the best I've ever had - but it wasn't terrible, either. It was pretty common, actually, nothing exciting on the menu and the prices were high for what we got. All in all, I'd probably go back again and give it another shot, but I won't be in any hurry. It's a good addition to the neighborhood, but nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)
Tuya S.
The three stars are really for the food not for the location and neither for interior decor. Should probably include the remarks that doorman made to my date for wearing his Burberry cap inside the dining area. Therefore, no hats, no designer fancy shmancy hot and trendy. Uptight and smart is the motto! or at least, it must appear so. . . The wine selection was not far distinct and even satisfying. If you want upscale-ish atmosphere and definitely not out-of college crowd, this is the place to stop by.
(3)
Quantas G.
I will give this place credit for having a great view from the second floor. You can see portions of Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue outside of the window. But the prices definitely don't match the quality if the food. Maybe it was my fault for ordering a lobster roll this far west of the Atlantic. But $20 is way too much to charge for the sandwich and fries I was served. The sandwich was like a lackluster seafood salad sandwich I could have picked up from Subway. The ambiance was nice so I guess that is what I was paying for but I would rather have better food at a lower price for my next Loop lunch.
(2)
Amy C.
We went here for lunch and the food was good but not great. I had the tomato bisque and it was delicious but my prime rib sliders were a little disappointing. It was not flavorful and was a bit cold. I had lots of fries so that was good. Overall, the food is nothing special...
(3)
Dane K.
Went here for a kind of late lunch... The place was fairly empty (maybe 2 other tables eating in the whole place?). With that in mind I'd call the service spotty. And it's a bit on the expensive side... It's clearly a business-expense-account oriented type place. I ordered a French Dip sandwich... which was $17. $17!!! that's f'kin crazy. it's a roll, beef, some cheese... and au jus. The sandwich was pretty good, though. Most of the other sandwiches were in the $15 range, and I don't think there was anything less than $12 on the menu. The appetizers were mostly in the $10-12 range. We ordered an appetizer and entrees... the appetizer came in a timely manner (10 minutes or so), but then I swear there was another 20 or 25 minutes at least before our entree came, which is just puzzling given that we had ordered it at the same time as the appetizer, the place was nearly empty, and we had both ordered sandwiches. Other than the slow food delivery the service wasn't overly impressive, I felt like I was eating at the bar with the bartender taking my order (though I wasn't). I work in Prudential Plaza, so I was hoping when they opened it would be a good place to go for an occasional somewhat splurgy lunch or a good business lunch... Apparently the place is very busy and you pretty much need a reservation to get a lunch table here (unless you're OK with eating at 2pm...). So that's a strike in my book, but I guess you can't fault them for success (or at least temporary rush success). It would be nice if they'd have a late afternoon special or something to get in more people, aka me. Given the extremely slow service and what not, we were there long enough to find that the place started really packing them in to the bar after 4. For fun, read the martini menu... there's a $199 martini on there, which includes "something special" from your favorite jeweler. Whatever that means. (And totally a copy off of some manhattanesque bar) ..The space itself is nice. I guess there's some sort of upstairs area too, which probably have decent views of... the street and the sculptures across the street. And let me throw in the cliched "really a 3.5 star"..
(3)
Michelle E.
There really isn't anything wrong with Tavern at the Park. But there really isn't anything phenomenal about it either. Perfectly acceptable food, a good place to go after work, or even for a work function. Or, in this case, a good place to meet the parental units for dinner! The one thing I found interesting was that the bar was packed with corporate guys in suits! So this is where they have all been hiding! I personally LOVE a man in a suit, and it depresses me that most companies now have a casual dress code. This place is actually pretty big, they have 2 floors of dining rooms. The night I was there the 2nd floor was closed for a private event, so consequently the 1st floor was a bit more crowded than usual. One thing that I thought was a nice touch was that each table gets its own bottle of water. One of my pet peeves is an empty water glass. I'm not saying you have to buy water either, you can have your very own pretty blue glass bottle of tap water on your table! The menu had quite a few sandwiches on it, which I found a bit surprising. We started with the sticky fried shrimp, which was fine. I decided to try the chicken milanese for my entree, which was GIANT! Giant and good. My dad had the double pork chop with the cherry cola BBQ sauce. The pork chop was also giant, I swear it had to be 3 inches thick! The BBQ sauce was super tasty. My mom had the fish of the day, which was nice. We had the triple chocolate cake for dessert, which was also good. Really, I can't complain about anything, perse. Everything was good. But nothing was mind-blowing, or anything that I would HAVE to have again. I wouldn't mind going back to try the filet mignon, as you can choose from several different kinds of crust, ie parmesan or blue cheese. But then again, would I go Tavern at the Park just for a steak? Not likely.
(3)
EV G.
Great location, overlooking Millennium Park. The food is really forgettable - not horrible, not wonderful, not interesting. But if you are looking for a place to have a business lunch, this is not a bad choice. Service was fine, prices for a sit down lunch are pretty average for the location. The same folks run Keefer's where the food is much better so maybe they just need some time to get their act together. Here is an arcane tidbit about this place - if you are wearing black pants, you can get a black cloth napkin so if any fibers rub off, they will not show up on your clothes. Just in case you are wondering why there are black and white napkins (as I was - OK so I am a freak for weird details).
(3)
Agnes F.
slight improvement from last time i visited i came here with a colleague and we shared the fried calamari appetizer, the breading was too heavy and calamari was not very meaty had the salmon for main course and it was ok, little flavor and slightly overcooked, my friend had the burger and she didn't say much about it so all in all, haven't changed my view about the place for a quick business lunch this is ok but i won't come back for anything else
(2)
Scott T.
Better than you would expect for a Millenium Park hub, their waitstaff is very friendly and attentive and the food has improved quite drastically over the years. Make sure you don't fill up on bread, however tempted you are. Drinks are portioned well, wine is cheap and plentiful, however they could use more local options for beers on tap (look into Half Acre, please!). A downtown staple that won't disappoint, expect a business-heavy crowd for lunch on weekdays and note that they're closed on Sundays.
(4)
Dan R.
This was a really great lunch. I got the lunch special, Chicken Caprese, and it was delicious. Chicken encrusted in Parmesan and breadcrumbs topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar drizzle. Yummola, as Rachel Ray would say. Only thing that was weird was the table cloth. It was vinyl. This place is classier than vinyl table cloth--- get it together Tavern.
(4)
John Z.
This is my favorite lunch and dinner spot in the loop! They have the best lobster roll west of boston and their meat is always cooked to perfection. The drinks are killer too, my girlfriend is in love with the martinis.
(5)
Christiana S.
This restaurant reminds me of this accountant I used to date. He was really cute, made a ton of money, extremely intelligent, and most importantly, crazy about me. I should have been head over heels about him, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Something was just....... off. Tavern at the Park is like that accountant. It's a good-looking restaurant (if I were rating it based on looks alone, it would get five stars) in a great location with menu items that sound delicious. Unfortunately, I left dinner vaguely disappointed. While there wasn't one big glaring problem, I thought there were lots of little ones. Service gets an A for effort, but a C for execution. Our waiter was friendly, but struck me as inexperienced. I mean, who doesn't know that a chilled white wine gets placed in a bucket of ice once it's brought to the table? (Not that it mattered too much, since we polished off the bottle pretty quickly.) As far as the food is concerned, it was not promising when the bread basket arrived with store-bought dinner rolls (these were seriously awful........ not even Jewel-quality) and cold butter. While it's a minor detail, this should be one of the easiest things for a restaurant (especially one that is attempting to come across as upscale) to get right and they didn't. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, which was cooked and seasoned perfectly, yet slightly overpriced at $18. Entrees are served a la carte here, so I had to shell out another $5 to get some broccoli (which was also cooked and seasoned perfectly). My boyfriend had a club sandwich and macaroni and cheese, both of which he seemed to enjoy immensely. (Of course, he'll eat anything, but I suppose that's beside the point.) We ordered the cookies and cream fondue for dessert, which was yet another part of this dining experience that was great in theory but not in practice. I think white chocolate is really too thin for fondue, especially if the point is to incorporate something like bits of Oreo cookie; the mixture didn't really stick well to anything. It should also be noted that the rice krispie treats and marshmallows were vaguely stale, and that green apple, white chocolate and Oreo cookie crumbs is not a good flavor combination. And yes, I know it seems as though I am being really picky, but I am a detail-oriented person. So there. However, much like my tumultous relationship with the accountant, I will give this place another try because I really do want things to work out (also, it's in close proximity to my office).
(2)
Giovanni M.
Excellent experience: great drink menu (and dining menu) and courteous, talented bar staff. I enjoyed the atmosphere when I had dinner at the bar, it was happy hour, so the place was fairly busy, but I wasn't lost in the shuffle or jostled by the crowd. I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Chicago. If you happen to meet Donnie (owner/manager?), you're in for a treat, he's really smart, funny guy with a wealth of knowledge and humor.
(4)
Ed B.
Great food. Excellent service. Steep prices. Try there custom brewed beer (excellent!)
(4)
Bobs C.
Tavern is an awesome place. The location is absolutely phenomenal. I took my gf there and we ordered the filet mignon and the chopped steak burger. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection and is easily the top 3 filet in the city The chopped burger was awesome. Very flavorful and would order again.
(5)
Pat K.
Food was good, but our credit card was hacked. Our server took our credit card to pay our bill and a few minutes after that, over $700 in purchases (that we did not make) was charged to our account. Our credit card company picked up suspicious activity and stopped further charges. We called the restaurant and talked to the manager. He did not seem to care. He never even asked for the server's name. We will not be going back to this restaurant and warn you to pay with cash here or not go at all.
We absolutely loved everything about it! The best salmon I've ever eaten! Prime rib outstanding also. Beautiful place! Great service! Wonderful location! Wirth every cent! Will definitely return!
(5)
Chicago B.
Excellent food, excellent service, and a great place to go for any business deal meeting anytime. I was there for lunch last Friday, and even though it was the start of a holiday weekend the restaurant served up the same great meal with impeccable service that I have grown to expect and respect time after time. This is an awesome place to get an unbelievable meal.
(4)
Steven E.
I was in town for a conference and found this place a walk down from my hotel. I was greeted by a racist yuppie whom promptly passed me off to the next available server. I opted to sit at the bar. Bartender was cordial and quick to meet my needs. Book makers sandwich was great. Beer selection was limited and under stocked. Would visit again for the sandwich. However, I have a small tolerance for racism; as that is the lowest form of ignorance. Not to typecast of course.
(1)
Linda F.
This restaurant is at the corner of Randolph and Michigan Avenue, across the street from Millennium Park. It couldn't be more convenient. I've been here several times and have to say that it doesn't disappoint. The food is consistently good. Try the chili or the chili, especially on a cold evening. Those at our table had fish and chips, chopped salad, and the cheeseburger. All of these meals got good reviews. It appeared that our waiter was new on the job. He had a few challenges and had to correct bringing the wrong soup to the table. Service was a little slow but this was very busy place to be since it was dinner time.
(3)
Jennifer A.
First, I will say that the food was very good and the ambiance was just right. We made reservations for our family of 6 (siblings and spouses) and asked for a 'good table' and they gave us a private room circular table, which was fantastic. I am only giving it 2 stars because the service was TERRIBLE. We waited about 10 minutes at our table without anyone greeting us or taking a drink order. We went and spoke to the concierge who would 'take care of it' and that is when he sent in 'David', our waiter. We were happy to see him and joked that we 'only waited about 2 hours for someone to come say hi'. He said in response 'well, then, you can wait 2 more hours and walked out of the room! He didn't come back for about 3 minutes to which he said, 'I hope you learned your lesson'. We apologized and told him that we were just joking and he said 'well, it wasn't funny'. That moment set a very somber tone for the rest of the evening and it was very tense in the room any time he walked in. A few days later we called the restaurant to speak to the manager (as I think they would want to know about this rude wait staff person) and the manager was 'too busy to talk'. We asked if he could call us back and the reply was 'no, you can just continue to call and maybe one of the times you call he will be available'. We told the person on the phone that we would rather talk about what happened on the phone rather than on yelp, Trip Advisor, etc., to which he replied "you have to do what you have to do". So that is what I'm doing. It is a restaurant in a great location with really good food, but I don't think anyone needs to be treated like we were treated when spending over $300 for a meal.
(2)
Chris A.
Food was decent, but nothing that would have us recommending this to our friends who visit the Windy City. We both got steaks, and they were seasoned alright. Nothing was particularly wrong with our meal, just nothing stuck out to us and made us think that we should come back. The location is a big plus, although we did not have a view in the room we ate. Also had no trouble making a reservation just a few hours before dining.
(3)
Illinois C.
We arrived for our 6:45 reservation an hour early and immediately found a seat at the bar. Good thing... Because this place became very lively quickly. A couple martinis later we were seated at a window booth. Fantastic wine selection and excellent service! I had the Halibut over asparagus with a lemon cream sauce and my husband had the Blackened Grouper over sauteed spinach. Both dishes arrived hot and were gobbled up in no time. So goooood!! We were seeing a performance at the Harris Theater across the street at 8:00 and got there right on time. Wonderful dining experience! The owner of the restaurant even checked up on us to make sure everything was perfect. We will be back!
(5)
Lin C.
I had been here about 5 years ago while on business. This was a trip to the Windy City with my Dad and surprisingly I remembered the name of it and how to get to it! I guess it was because this place is a gem. It's spendy for sure, but the service is fabulous and the food is fantastic. We started with what my Dad thought would be the grossest appetizer on the menu....the fig proscuitto flatbread. He reluctantly tried it and ate half of it....he loved it! We then had their slider sampler...turkey, beef and I forget the other type of burger- i just remember that they were all very good. I was disappointed as they no longer have fat tire beer (New belgium beer isn't available in Ma) but the server helped us select some other brews....he made great recommendations. (we went with their private label goose island) Make this a stop when you visit Chicago!
(5)
Mallorie R.
Wonderful! Came here for a bachelorette party. We got perfect seats with a window view of the city. Their cocktails are creative and delicious. The food was incredible. Service was excellent. Very attentive and fun. Highly recommended.
(5)
Kassie D.
Stopped by for lunch on a Monday; the service was very attentive, and large portions of tasty food. Seemed a favourite place for a business lunch. I liked the layout and decor of the place, and with reasonable prices. Ideal place for a great meal with friends without being overly expensive.
(5)
MoMo K.
the environment is really nice but the service isn't the best. we had to ask our Waiter three times for bread. and we ran out of water, but waiter didn't refill it. she was more occupied with the other tables with older folks. it was probably because she wanted to get their tip money and thought we wouldn't tip well because we are college students. And it took forever to get our food! at least 35 minutes. Also, if you want to sit on rooftop on a busy night, you need to get there an hour ahead an pit yourself on waiting list. The view from the rooftop is AMAZING! I went in on a Saturday night.
(3)
Melanie S.
With its proximity to Millennium Park, you'd probably think Tavern at the Park would be a bona-fide tourist trap. And you'd be right. The food actually isn't bad; it's just completely overpriced for the portion sizes. The menu is full of "safe" choices meant to appeal to those with an unsophisticated palate. This isn't necessarily meant to sound derisive; sometimes I rather enjoy "plain" food (for lack of a better word) and I certainly don't mind spending money if food is tasty, well-prepared and fills my stomach. The latter is the biggest issue I have with TatP. Today, for instance, I ordered a grilled vegetable salad. For $14, I expect it to fill me up. Now granted, I did not add on a protein to the salad (mainly because it would have turned into a $20 entree), but I foolishly thought a salad with grilled zucchini, peppers, corn, and tomatoes would suffice. My friend's caesar salad, to which she added salmon, came with a hefty price tag of $21, and it was the teensiest piece of salmon I've seen. Ridiculous. My salad was fine, but the portion made it look more like a "side" salad than one meant to, I don't know, actually fill me up. I'm back in the office after lunch and I feel as if I didn't eat anything. I'm on the verge of breaking my cardinal rule of scrounging in the office kitchen looking for whatever leftover food there might be from one of the lunch meetings we always seem to have. Normally, the thought of that horrifies me, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Service is perfectly fine. It's efficient and professional; no complaints there. They have a nice rooftop area to sit when the weather cooperates. That's pretty much all of the positives I can come up with at the moment. You could do worse. But you definitely can do better.
(2)
Amy Z.
Great service, though we were seated in a fishbowl type room. We had requested patio space but they were unable to accommodate the request. It was understandable since we were a rather large group (6 total) and it was beautiful out on a Friday afternoon. The special of fish tacos was okay. The breading was slightly off-putting and strangely crunchy. Another member of my party ordered the buffalo mac and cheese, which did not include buffalo sauce mixed in as expected. It was a few peices of buffalo chicken strips over mac and cheese. She indicated it was good, but unexpected.
(4)
Megha S.
Our second visit to the Tavern with an international guest was a complete embarrassment. Drinks were ok but came in as slow as 20 monocytes after order was placed couple times. Food was worse than what I can get at one of the Italian chains-watery chicken and the pasta dish were just bad. Worst $130.00 spent
(2)
Jackie K.
Tourist in Chicago, end up hungry, must have food, end up here and annoyed. Most expensive cappacino in the world (more than nyc) and the food was only okay. Service was great---we sat at the bar and he was available but not hovering. Food was not that good which is surprising because I was so hungry so I cannot image what would have happened if I wasn't starving. I would never come back.
(2)
Publius K.
In the tradition of a 1920s speakeasy run by soulless gangsters, this boisterously crass establishment excels at rolling the drunks, short changing the chumps, and shearing the tourist sheep who have the misfortune of being steered here by complicit huckster concierges at the nearby hotels. Their glorified pub grubby burgers at a Jackson per cheap smeared bun are cynically crafted to club you into a food coma while rolling you pickled and salty over a barrel with the stingiest pours of mediocre California wines I have seen anywhere, ever, in a lifetime of travel. You can feel yourself being brutally ravaged into parched penury milliliter by milliliter, as you watch your wine grudgingly dribbled from a small flask into large glasses as if to mock you, the victim, with your debauched and masochistic consent. Definitely for a boorish younger set that will burn through piles of money for the merest of satisfactions, indeed out of feckless self-indulgence when little or no satisfaction is to be had. The help seemed as brutalized as their clientele were indifferent, while wolfish managers stood watch like gangster thugs. Not Chicago at its best, more like a stockyard brothel, and you, my meaty tourist friend, are the one on the menu.
(1)
Brian K.
We had a work function here and had half the terrace reserved so I don't know if this is the best review to describe Tavern at the Park for individual outings. Service was good and overall, an enjoyable place for good conversation with a great view. "The Park" being Mil. Park. The food wasn't impressive but then again, we weren't there to eat but to catch up and network.
(3)
Brandon L.
Met for a Saturday night dinner, did make reservations, but found out that we could have just showed up. She had a steak and I had halibut. The steak came out smaller than expected, but was good and the halibut was great. The wait staff was attentive almost to a fault. For dessert we shared a piece of bread pudding, which was huge. It was a bit drier than I like, but still good. All in all it was a great place to eat and talk.
(4)
Justin B.
Tavern on the Park, located right across from Millenium Park, offers a great location for business lunches, client dinners, or after work cocktails with friends. Serves an array of contemporary American dishes, I love their French onion soup, which you can get in a cup (even though a bowl is the only thing listed on the menu), and their bookmaker steak sandwich. The goat cheese salad is also a nice weekday lunch entree. I, and everyone I know that's eaten here, consider this a "very good place" to dine. Service has been pretty top notch. Each time I go, it's been good. The bar can get pretty crowded, so don't expect to get in and out quickly. And, this place gets pretty crowded just about every weekday. Lunch reservations are HIGHLY recommended. They also have one private room, which seats a max of seven (?), and can be reserved. Be sure to check out their rooftop deck! It's a great place to show off the city while enjoying a dirty martini! A lunch for two without cocktails can run about $40-50. Televisions are at the bar only. (If you're looking for a sports bar, this is not the place.)
Ive been a here few times for cocktails on the rooftop and it was a decent time. We went for lunch today as our office is close by and it was a great meal. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very prompt and knowledge about the menu. Gave us some good suggestions on what to order. My glass of water was never empty. The food was really good and a generous portion for what we ordered. Will definitely be back!
(5)
Daniel M.
This review is for the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I went to check out the rooftop but was denied entry. My boyfriend and I were dressed in formal wear. The hostess was very rude and simple said we couldn't go up there even though the whole place was empty. I asked if there was a private party and they said no. I feel like they discriminated against us or at the very least were giving us the shaft. I understand if you want to make your place exclusive and high end but this establishment is not at that level. Furthermore, both of us were dressed in formal wear and dress shoes. I will never return to this place because there are so many other bars in the city that provide respectful service, better views, and actual high end services.
(1)
Scott J.
So we read that this place was good so we stopped in on our way to The Bean... It was very upscale inside without being pretentious...and I have to admit that although my fish and chips had a great batter, my date's Shrimp Louie looked phenomena!! We enjoyed good drinks and great service!!! A great place for a solid meal when touring the park/shopping!
(4)
Janette W.
All I did all week was read reviews and see signs for this new Treehouse rooftop bar at Tavern. Sadly, it was closed for the day when I went by! We opted to pop inside for a quick drink. A little corporate but not a bad choice.
(3)
Brittany Y.
The food: I ordered the dinner salad and swapped out the vinaigrette for blue cheese dressing and I got the Ashely's mac and cheese. My salad was a decent sized portion for 7 dollars, bueno. The mac and cheese though looked delicious "looked"...it was bland though. My sister had the chopped steak burger, she also said her food was bland. My mother had the smoked pepper wings and the ice berg wedge salad. She said her wings were awesome but....she has lost her sense of smell so smell and taste go hand in hand. The iceberg wedge was ginormous but, it's iceberg, I personally don't eat iceberg but if you want to get full from eating salad that's the ticket. The Staff: From the reviews I was kind of worried. I was expecting to run into some snobby waiters/waitresses with horrible attitudes. Complete opposite bro. Our server, Jimmy, was probably one of the nicest, friendliest and most helpful waiters I have ever had in my entire life! He was super attentive and he kept bringing us refills *without us having to ask* and pouring my water for me. The hostesses were very kind as well. Even other people's waiters were nice to me. I think about 5 of the other staff came to tell me happy birthday and they gave me a ballon when I turned down the birthday dessert *I was stuffed*. The interior: Those carpeted stairs won my heart! I had on the most slippery shoes and I was horrified when I saw we had to use the stairs but they were covered by nice plushy carpet...praise Yoda. The booths are nice and big. I'm tall and sitting in a little booth makes me feel awkward so that was great. And there were mirrors everywhere I looked...AWESOME!
(4)
Beau E.
What a great place to hang out, enjoy some people-watching, and have some of the best food and beers in the area! I tried the wings, which were excellent. They smoke them and then bake them, so they are lighter and crispier than fried wings. Then we moved on to the Bookmaker steak sandwich, and it was fantastic! Truffle oil, steak, and onion straws on a pretzel bun. Best steak sandwich in Chicago! Best rooftop in the area as well. Great view of the park so go around sunset and enjoy this awesome spot!
(5)
Jazmyne M.
I made a reservation for my birthday and had to wait a couple minutes but that was okay because the wait was over an for those who didn't! The food was AMAZING! I had the warm goat cheese and butternut squash ravioli ! So yummy! Our waiter Cory was excellent as well!
(5)
D B.
Had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport and stumbled into this spot with the help of Yelp. Was a beautiful fall day so I sat on the sidewalk patio in the sun. Was just in for lunch so I didn't get a whole lot. I ordered a steak salad that was delicious and served with plenty of steak. Others eating around all had good looking meals on their plates.
(4)
Tim R.
Food = decent. Service = meh. And meh is being nice Wanted to take out a group from my team including out of country guests to see Chicago and picked a restaurant that I hoped would have a view. Got to the restaurant and was unsympathetically (I'll stop short of saying rudely, but it was close) that while we had a reservation which in the comments asked for outside or nice view, they do not take reservations for outside seating and we were out of luck. We were told to enjoy our viewless crappy table by the bar. (Since the Blackhawks were on and it was near a TV we stayed, otherwise would of bolted). I was told that this is clearly stated in Opentable and when I said no its not I was rudely (I will now say it was rude) told I was wrong. Except when I explained you do not see this warning when you book open table from yelp, then the host had nothing to say. No apology, no offer to do anything to make us have a pleaseant experience, or any care to fix said issue. (So yep reader beware) Big fail as any attempt to make us feel better will be welcome. I entertain a lot of clients downtown and this would of been a great option for the future. After last night, no thanks. Waaaaay to many other nice restaurants in Chicago who would like my business and would not let a simple misunderstanding hurt the customer's experience. The original misunderstanding was a chance to do something to win us back. They failed. I will say the food was good, though. I enjoyed the halibut and most of guest liked the food. Beer selection was okay enough to find some options. Service was ok. Our server was training another server. I am not sure who was the trainee and the experienced. They were not rude, just neither added much to the experience and they where clumsy on the script. (Like at the last minuted remembered there were specials on the table , but not understanding of what they were or what they recommended) It a shame because the location is awesome (well, not our cramped viewless corner table, but other seat locations and the roof) and the food was more than decent. Other's be warned your better off NOT having a reservation and putting your name is early, kill some time at the park, and come back if you want a view. If the restaurant would like more details, I am glad to share. I am an honest reviewer and rarely post negative comments but in this case, yelp readers need to be aware.
(2)
Amelia D.
Mediocre and greasy food. The chicken wings were decent but everything else we ordered was pretty subpar. Booked the reservation mostly for the view... Which unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy because it was raining out.
(2)
Mark H.
I was in Chicago for a conference and didn't want to stray far from my hotel one evening so we walked to Tavern on the Park. Aki was our server and he was fantastic and certainly did his part to make the meal very good. I ordered a seared scallop salad and it was absolutely fantastic! The scallops were fresh and cooked to perfection. Presentation was also done very well. Cocktails weren't under poured and they had fantastic blue cheese stuffed Olives for our Martinis. I was really impressed here and didn't expect to be. Nice surprise and I'll certainly be back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)
Caitlin G.
There didn't really seem to be anything special about this place. The food was good, but not great and the atmosphere was nice, but nothing special. It's a pretty great location though, across from the park and ideal if you're headed out to a show later on.
(3)
Michelle F.
Yum, Yum, Triple Yum!! My friend has a condo right down the street, and when he asked if we had ever been to Tavern at The Park, we said no. He was delighted to bring us, and we were delighted to be eating/drinking there. WOW, was this place fantastic!! Our server was attentive, fast, and the drinks were very strong :) We ordered a round of wine and my husband loved that they had his coveted Matilda! My moscato was delightful! I know it's technically a "dessert wine" but I like to consider moscato to be an "anytime wine". I also had a martini on their specials list--it was cinnamon something. It was strong!! So don't be the DD after drinking here! Now onto the food! My friend had the chicken picatta--I didn't try it, but he said it was amazing! My husband ordered the Max Burger. DO NOT ORDER THIS IF YOU ARE SMALL. Seriously, the thing was bigger than his outstretched hands (go look at the picture if you don't believe me!) and the fries it came with were delicious, too! I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. It was good, but I don't really know why they were called "crispy" meatballs. There really wasn't anything crispy about them...I mean don't get me wrong, they were really good, but not crispy. But the sauce was good, and the noodles were al dente which I really liked! For dessert, my friends ordered the fried bananas, and my husband and I ordered the carrot cake that was on the specials menu. The fried banana was cool and different, but the carrot cake is the BEST carrot cake I have EVER had!! And it was HUGE!! I wish I had a picture of it! But I was too busy nomming on it to grab the camera :)
(5)
Jacques M.
After my previous review one of the mangers reached out to me, in order to better explain the situation. Our room was not in fact sold to another client, despite my previous understanding. To the best of my knowledge, you can comfortably reserve a private room at TATP. That being said if your unable to get a private room for your party (I'm talking about 20 or more people here, not small groups) , I wouldn't recommend trying to hold a private party in the bar area for some of the reason previously stated. Again, the service was excellent and the food was good also. The manager reaching out showed me they do care about feedback from the customers.
(3)
Drea K.
We chose Tavern at the Park for our Wedding Rehearsal dinner and were thrilled with the results. Their mid-sized private dining room is very nice and accommodated our party of 40+ well. We chose the family style dinner, starting with caesar salad, prime rib and whitefish paired with green beans and mac n'cheese and had the carmel apple dessert. Everything was sensational! Truly, all of our guests were chatting about how great the food was. Additionally the staff during planning and on the night of our rehearsal dinner were all attentive, efficient, and very easy to work with. The staff on the night of was great in terms of making sure that everyone had drinks, that everyone was eating at the same time, etc. We were very, very pleased and would absolutely recommend this as a spot for large party dinner.
(5)
Jeb B.
The shrimp Louie is a mess. Overall subpar for the price. Nice location and decent service.
(2)
Lawrence C.
Tuna taco appetizer is great! Grouper was great and the service was outstanding. This was a month ago but I do know I said I would go back.
(4)
Melanie V.
Best service EVER. The bf picked Tavern at the Park for Vday 'cuz he saw that they extended their Restaurant Week menu. We had a little bit of a fail for Restaurant Week, so he thought this might make up for it. First off, service was incredible. For this location, I assumed that we would be dealing with snobbiness all night, but I was really wrong. Everyone was really friendly, especially our darling waiter. We were seated in one of the large booths (which was perfect for sharing convo AND people watching). For the Restaurant Week menu, I choose to the duck confit flatbread and the bf ordered the crab stuffed artichoke. We ended up swapping apps, though, as we liked each other's picks better. The flatbread was good, but I really liked the crab/artchoke combo. My main entree was the sea bass which came with this apple hash, rice and amazingly addictive spicy sauce. I have no idea what that suace was, but it pretty much made the dish. The bf ordered the beef medallions, so when they brought out this huge piece of beef, I thought to myself, "Wow, they don't really skimp on the portions here." If you know me, you know that I have no clue about steak/prime rib/cuts of beef, so I didn't realize that they brought out the wrong thing. Neither did my bf, apparently. When the waiter came by, he was absolutely appalled that they brought out the wrong dish. A couple minutes later, when my bf was mid-bite, one of the managers came around with the dish he actually ordered. I thought they were just going to swap out the items, but the manager actually wrapped up the initial dish for us to take home! Amazing! I was pretty food coma'ing at this point, but I couldn't refuse taking a few bites of the fantastic banana cream pie. It was probably the hugest slice of pie I've ever seen. Since my bf wanted an after dinner sip of something (and I did NOT want scotch), the waiter suggested Frangelico. When I admitted that I've had grappa and limoncello, but never frangelico, the waiter offered to bring me out a sample so I could figure out if I liked it. It was honestly the best thing ever (and I started wondering how I've never had it!) and it was the perfect way to cap off the meal! Lovely. So lovely.
I love the atmosphere here. This is the second time I've been here for lunch around the holidays. I don't remember what I had last year, but this year I ordered the chopped salad. I came with few co workers, and we shared two appetizers. One was the onion straws and the other was fried calamari. Both was delicious! My chopped salad was good. I asked the rest of my co workers what they thought of their food, and they all loved it. Always heard good reviews about this place. The only thing that does stop me from coming here always is the price. It is relatively expensive, but the food is good. Inside the restaurant it's very warm and cozy..and since it's the holidays they put up Christmas lights and other decors. Our servers have always been nice :)
(4)
Nick T.
Was visiting Chicago recently and hung out at The Plaza at Park Grill. A couple we met there recommended we try the Tavern, and while The Plaza was great, I wish i had saved more of my appetite for the Tavern! First and foremost, the smoked chicken wings were the best wings I've ever tasted anywhere, and I'm no stranger to wings. These alone could have garnered the Tavern a 5-star review, but everything else was great as well. They came with tradition hot sauce as well as a cherry cola BBQ, but they were so good plain I was neglecting the sauces. I paired the wings with a Kentucky Bourbon Ale, which was as flavorful as it was smooth. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding (made with apples, blueberries, and lemon curd sauce) and a drink called The Peach Around. I'm not usually a fan of peaches or baked apple, but both were great and they paired fantastically. The bread pudding must have the size and weight of a cinder block, I've seen mixed reviews regarding the service, but I had no complaints. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were knowledgeable, jovial, and welcoming. While the atmosphere is definitely more upscale, I never felt out of place despite the fact that I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Will definitely be returning the next time I'm in the area.
(5)
Susan S.
Service is great, but food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the most recommended bookmaker burger but it's just so-so. And the risotto is very different from what I had at other Italian restaurants. I don't like it very much.
(2)
Andrea H.
I went here with my work team for lunch. This place has good and bad qualities, which is why I am giving it 3 stars. The venue is great, as you would expect for the trendy location (right across from Millennium Park.) Upscale atmosphere and nicely decorated. Out of six people, our lunches were all huge portion sizes and all consistently mediocre. The food was underwhelming in terms of freshness, flavor, and presentation. I got the Louis salad with shrimp and it was two days worth of lunches for me for a pretty reasonable $14. The shrimp was huge but smelled fishy, which to me says "Not Fresh". The girl who ordered fish tacos got tons of bland fried fish in a soft shell taco. Um, yuck. The sausage pizza looked really tasty though, and the pot pie was good, hard-core comfort food. Everyone agreed the best part of the entire meal was desert, which was a freshly baked chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. It was the size of a truck but since it was feeding six people, that was ok! I would come here again for drinks aand an appetizer (ie the sausage pizza) and desert.
(3)
Tim O.
Unbeatable location and great atmosphere. Service was exceptionally friendly. My guest and I both had steak sandwiches which were $25 each. The meat was indeed actually steak and it was cooked correctly. A little pricey for a "Tavern", but most definitely not a tourist trap.
(4)
Sherri K.
This is one of those places where, traditionally, you know you are going to get great service and great food. Presentation is important and the staff works hard to maintain the integrity of the establishment. My dining partner had some gluten free restrictions and the waiter went above and beyond to confirm what dishes she could eat or not (even down to the teriyaki sauce). We enjoyed a couple appetizers - the dry wings were a little crispy for my taste, but the flavor was well done. The ahi tuna was perfect and the petite side salad that came with it not only offered a little color on the plate but was delicious and fresh as well. I also enjoyed the french onion soup which had an amazing cheese top, perfectly cooked onions and a tasty bread. It is the kind of onion soup I expect every time I think about and order onion soup. Great wine list! On point service! Bravo!
(5)
Leang E.
We came here for a coworker's birthday lunch in addition to it being Administrative Professionals Day, and I believe our little lady felt extremely special as we were seated at a table for 7 in a private room. It was so incredibly nice, and I didn't even mention an occasion. I love the little touches they do here. The manager had also come in to check on us and see how things were going. The waiter made sure our water was filled to the top of our glasses. I had the Chicken Hash that was recommended by our server and it was pretty good. I think if the dish blew me away and we got our food a little quicker I would have given the place the 5th start. The portions are huge here, and the service was outstanding. The prices are comparable for downtown, and I'd love to come back and try other dishes.
(4)
Leslie K.
Looking for a safe gluten free meal, go somewhere else. Party of three, one gluten free. Ordered a short rib burger without the bun, but romaine lettuce to make a wrap. Was served a different burger with a bun on it. Sent it back, got the short rib burger with no bun visible. When I picked some of the meat up to put it in a lettuce leaf I found that the bottom of the bun it had been on was still there. This is spite of making it very clear that gluten/wheat/bread was a huge allergy problem. Sent it back. In the meantime the rest of the party was served their entrees 10 minutes apart so that the tree of us all had to eat a different times. A wholly unsatisfactory experience even after the manager got involved. Will never go back. One star for location, negative stars for attention to allergies.
(1)
Julee W.
Our food was not good Our service was mediocre Our cocktails were watery Our wine had turned Even after saying the wine was bad the server kept asking us what we want to do. So awkward, no one even apologized to us and we had to pay way more for a not spoiled bottle??? The brisket was hard and overcooked. The snapper was served in an overly acidic sauce.... Everything was bland. The only good thing about this place (not the seven TVs glaring in your face) is the location.
(1)
Rose T.
We came here for a little break from the art museum. It is a really beautiful restaurant. We usually prefer a bar top, but we randomly decided to get a table. This is the only negative part about our visit because we sat in a booth right behind the host stand. Our server Marc and the busser were great, very professional and helpful. We never needed anything and timing was great. Our food was cooked to perfection.
(4)
Eric B.
Don't eat here. But they have Templeton Rye and make reasonably good Manhattans . . . Don't eat here. But they have Domaine Dupage and Dead Guy by the bottle . . . Don't eat here. But they have New York Strip specials and cook a fine rare steak . . . Don't eat here. But, but, but . . . When your steak arrives and you want to wash it down with a lovely Malbec, your waitress will not bring it out to you, because you haven't finished your Manhattan. Your waitress will refer to some nonexistent city statute she isn't intelligent enough to cite, which states you can't have two drinks in front of you at once, and you must finish your cocktail, which you wanted to save for after your dinner, before you'll get your wine with dinner. This sort of nonsense is why the terrorists are winning. Pink Floyd would not stand for this nonsense and neither should you. Don't eat here.
(1)
Kristy A.
The view was pretty awesome - the service not so much. I showed up pretty early having heard that the place gets busy. There's a hostess (gatekeeper) at the entrance downstairs, who needs a walkie talkie to know what's going on upstairs. She didn't bother to ask me whether I wanted inside or outside seating and I didn't know to specify, so I ended up at the outdoor bar rather than being sat inside by the hostess at the top of the stairs. The only seat available was the one next to the service bar - not something I usually mind, except that I spent the entire time listening to the servers bitch and complain about their customers. Another patron at the bar (a regular) recommended that I didn't eat there (not a good sign) and I was annoyed with the servers, so I left after one drink and went elsewhere for dinner.
(2)
Samantha H.
I was in need of a pre theater dinner and you can only go to Petterinos and Atwood so many times so I decided to check this out. As expected, tons of tourists and suburbanites on a Friday, but that is due to the location. I actually really liked the ambiance in there. I expected it to me more bland and touristy but it was quite charming. They have a huge menu, which I am actually not a fan of but if you like that sort of thing, plenty to choose from here. Kudos for having Pride Merlot on the wine list. The food was okay. I got the scallops, which were supposed to come with habenero but I got no spice. They were decent though. My husband got the French dip. The bread was massive. Again, it was okay. Nothing special but not bad either. The fries were the same. The real star was Nicholas, our server. Very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Not a place I'd go out of my way to get to but decent if you're in the neighborhood and ask to sit in Nicholas' section.
(3)
Victor P.
Post SAIC Graduation dinner. We were very hungry after a long day but I also wanted it to be a great dining experience. Was not disappointed. Alright it is on the expensive side but the food and service was worth it. The graduate had the sliced Ahi Tuna..."cooked" to perfection. I had the Filet. Also perfect. Wife had the roasted beet salad. Another winner. Hummus and pizza were the starters. Great. All food was tasty and satisfied my desire for a grand dinner. Which was aided by great service. I recommend the Tavern, but don't forget a large roll of cash (of course they accept plastic) but well worth the expense.
(5)
Julie D.
Came in without a reservation on a Thursday night with no issues. We were seated outside where we had a view of the tour buses in front of Millennium park. The free bread was really good -- a raisin bread and some sort of garlic roll with whipped butter. We ordered one of their specials, a smoked salmon flatbread appetizer. It was basically like a salmon pizza without the tomato sauce. It was REALLY good... had to contain myself because I still had an entree coming. I got the Lake Superior whitefish since it was something I couldn't get very fresh in California. The fish was very tender and plentiful (couldn't finish it). It came on delicious whipped potatoes and some sort of ragu which was flavorful but sort of weird with the fish. My fiance got the little steak dollars, or whatever they are called, with whipped potatoes. The meat looked well-cooked. The final damage was about $100.
(4)
Christine M.
While on Michigan Avenue shopping (Saturday afternoon) three of us decided to stop and eat (walking makes you sooo hungry). The food was GREAT, service was GREAT - the only downfall was outside seating only had like 5 tables and the upper outside seating "doesn't open till 4p....otherwise we were all VERY HAPPY. Be prepared for a wait approx. 20-30 min BUT well worth it!
(5)
Grace E.
I had a lovely dining experience at Tavern at the Park. Before catching a 7:00 show at the Oriental Theater, I sat out on the patio at 5:30pm to enjoy a glass of wine, side salad, and Halibut entree. The service was polite and courteous, and I really enjoyed watching tourists walking to and from Millennium Park. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was pleasant and left me content. For its price point, there are certainly better places to dine in the city, but for the convenience of location, patio view, and service, Tavern gets 4 stars from me.
(4)
Alicia C.
Visited the restaurant on a whim after a walk in the loop on a Friday afternoon. They have prime real estate to capture all the tourists coming out of art institute and millennium park. Great outdoor seating --- street and rooftop available although good luck getting it on a nice day. We had a very solicitous waiter and seemed well trained in the necessary chit chat. Took the payment before my partner was done with his beer. Poor form. Food: The bread tastes very processed--- and it was the kind of warm where they let it stand around and get cold and stuck it in the oven for a minute before it was served. It was also really shiny--ie greasy? Kind of scary when my bread is shinier than the bald head of the guy sitting one table over. I had the black truffle chicken hash while my partner had the chicken pot Pie. We also shared a calamari appetizer. Food was very bland -- especially my chicken hash. Calamari was a bit too greasy for my taste although I did appreciate that they fried the spices with the squid. Pot pie was probably the best item we ordered although it wasn't the kind of creamy pie I was expecting. Everything felt very greasy-- and not sure why it all had to be. I would say this place is pretty standard in the restaurant desert of southern Michigan Av. I think it tries to go for atmosphere more than food. And unless you are a tourist wanting a close place to eat, not worth it.
(3)
Lauren F.
To start on a good note, the bread and service were impeccable. The ambience is nice and it's in a convenient location. Unfortunately, this place lacks a good dose of originality. Most of the drinks on the menu looked appealing, but none were creative. I decided on a drink that is normally served with a $200 necklace (though I went sans Tiffany). It was pleasant enough, but it was on the flat side. The house infused pair of vodka used in the drink, however, was tasty. The food menu went the same way. Everything that was on the menu I have seen a dozen times at other restaurants. We ordered an appetizer, which was presented very well, but it wasn't special enough to convince us to stick around for the main course. Overall, a solid restaurant with no pizzazz.
(2)
Jennifer M.
Great location as they are right across from the park and near many theaters. Perfect for dinner before the show. I ordered the blackened grouper which was delish and not too heavy. I don't know if there was anything that truly standout about my experience, but I would go back when I'm in the area.
(4)
Lily N.
We stopped by to grab a drink and some appetizers after visiting the CloudGate (Bean). Our waitress, Louisa, was awesome! She was nice and gave her honest opinion. It wasn't hard as the food is quite good. We ordered the Fried Calamari and Warm Goat Cheese. The latter was delicious! I had to slow down to ensure I didn't eat it all. The goat cheese flavor was not overpowering. Plus it was a great vegan option. (The word gravy had us uncertain). The Calamari was just so-so. It included the tentacles (Warning!). So if you are not a fan, specify. The reason for the 3 stars was the texture. Somehow it tasted almost soggy with oil. The flavor was a good balance of lemon, but the oily taste/texture made me unhappy. Then the dip was not anything special. It didn't offset the oil. Maybe marinara would have been better. The drinks: was great!!!!!! We ordered the breast cancer special and the cloudgate without the jewelry. (Tiffany's bean) definitely going back for that!
(3)
Jennifer S.
Lobster and salmon and ribs...oh my! On a recent Saturday evening, I had the pleasure of experiencing dinner at Tavern At The Park for the very first time. It was magical like The Wizard of Oz! My party arrived before I did. When I walked in, I was led through a gorgeous dining room. Warm, dark woods. Interesting wall art. Large booths. And...wait for it...comfortable chairs! I sat in one of those for quite a while over a leisurely dinner with family and friends. We started with crispy meatballs and smokey chicken wings. The meatballs definitely were the real deal! Crispy on the outside. Soft and moist on the inside. Expertly combined with a rich Sunday gravy (like Grandpa C. used to make). The wings really surprised me. See, the apps were ordered before I arrived. Honestly, I never would have ordered these. I would have missed this life-changing experience had it not been for my dining companions. Thanks folks! The side sauces were fantastic, but almost unnecessary. Don't misunderstand me. The sauces were spot on, but those wings were seasoned beautifully and the smokiness had me eating every single bite and maybe even licking my fingers. ...Allegedly. ;-) Don't skip the bread and butter. This is very important, so I will say it again. Do not skip the bread and butter. There was a variety of choices available. My favorite? The pull-apart rolls with a bit of cheese melted on top. I indulged in the broiled king salmon. This was the most memorable entree that I have eaten in years. Literally. The cherry and apple glaze on this huge piece of salmon was light, but definitely present. This was served on top of a crispy hashbrown, an onion chutney and a fabulous sauce. I ate every single bite. I'll share a secret with you. I took one of those crazy good rolls and basically wiped my plate clean. I'm not ashamed. There was no way that I could waste a single morsel of that yummy goodness! I nibbled on a little of almost everything that hit our table. I was in heaven. Smokey ribs (another finger lickin' good dish). I had a lobster ravioli. The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente. The sauce was unique in the most deliciously memorable sort of way. Then, the desserts arrived. We tried three of the most luscious sweet treats I have ever laid a fork on before. I can't even tell you which one to order because I would probably want a bite of all three again. First, was a blueberry bread pudding. Fresh blueberries among perfectly executed bread pudding. Not overly sweet. The perfect temperature. Fantastic! Next, there was a slab of carrot cake with caramel sauce. I should use a word other than slab to describe it, but it was a huge piece! How about hunk? Aw, forget it. This carrot cake had the best surprise throughout. Pineapple chunks! Perfect bites of fruit helped to keep the cake moist. The frosting was a cream cheese base with a hint of something else that I couldn't put my finger on. Good? Understatement! If I hadn't been so full at that point, I probably could have eaten a bowl of that frosting. Finally we had a strawberry blues. Imagine blueberry scones (really they are hoecakes, but it was just like a scone), with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. Fantastic textures had my mouth dancing for joy! Service was delightful! Our server was helpful, courteous and on top of everything that we needed before we needed it. The manager stopped by a few times over the course of the (leisurely) evening to check on things. He had his eye on every detail and really seems to keep the operation in check. One of the owners also stopped by. He was friendly and down to earth. Obviously attentive to his guests' needs. I waited a couple days to make sure that I wasn't dreaming this whole amazing experience up in my head. I wasn't. I'd like to go back right now. In fact, I'm going to grab my ruby slippers... There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park...
(5)
Tricia D.
"Burger, get in my belly!" - my conscience to myself during dinner last week If you're going to have a burger with foie gras, duck confit, bacon, and cheese, what can you expect? To pay a lot ($21), to leave with a food baby (check), and to not crave a burger for a while (maybe). The pretzel bun was a great call, and you'll get more fries than you could ever want with this! My burger was prepared medium, like I requested but the bf's Max burger (like breakfast on a burger - fried egg, bacon, sausage patty, cheese atop TWO patties) was a preparation fail. He ordered it well done, and it came out pinker than mine. The manager came by to apologize, the kitchen redid it, and the burger and our (read: my) choice of dessert was comp'ed. If the prices weren't quite as high as they are, I'd dine here more often.
(3)
Candia M.
Nice mix of teenager friendly pasta and mom friendly seafood on the dinner menu. Collin is a friendly and knowledgable waiter. The blueberry bread pudding is enough for a party of four.
(4)
Belinda A.
My new favorite downtown Chicago rooftop restaurant. The halibut was out of this world and the strawberry breeze dessert left me speechless. Great service and prices are well worth it.
(4)
Teresa L.
We were staying at the Hyatt nearby, saw the reviews, and decided to walk over and try it. So glad we did. The ambiance, service and food were fantastic. Would definitely visit again.
(5)
Belle L.
Absinthe in Escargot! The only one in Chicago. Absinthe cuts the butter and garlic a bit. Woo hoo! Do request extra bread for dipping. The string fries can be a bit more crispy, but still addictive. Excellent service as we were never rushed even though its last call for the kitchen. Takes initiative. Knowledgeable between the Tavern's Lemonade versus Minute Maid Lemonade.
(5)
dean d.
Fancy-pants lunch spot: make sure someone else is picking up the tab then enjoy. I had the Chopped Steak CheeseBurger and asked for Brie (you can pick any cheese you want: loved it.
(4)
Dallas M.
This is my favorite place to go after work. Friendly, attentive and professional bartenders. Food is excellent. Wine selection is fantastic. Management is spot on. Try the lobster roll. One of the best I've had outside of Maine. It's the size of your head!
(5)
Randolph W.
Excellent filet (lots of garlic butter on it so beware), awesome fries (shoestring style). Excellent service and atmosphere.
(5)
Casey M.
Stopped in after a day of shopping and wandering around Millennium Park. Definitely a tourist trap considering the prices you pay for the quality of food. Don't get me wrong, the food is good (not great), but not worth the price. Try the hummus, the fried calamari, and the rotisserie chicken and you will be satisfied. Our waiter, Michael, was nice. Would probably return if someone else was paying (haha), or just for drinks and appetizers. I hear they have beautiful rooftop seating.
(3)
Valerie W.
Very cool outdoor patio area that has a great view of the city scape. Service here is friendly and the drinks are good. Can't review the food, but the evening was pleasent and it is certainly a hot spot. Only sad part is that it started to rain on us right when we were finishing our drinks. No biggie, but it was a mad dash to the inside!
(4)
Cheryl R.
OMG. We ate here New Year's Eve.. early before the crowds, and sat in the bar with a window seat overlooking a beautiful Chicago view. Our party had the Ashley's mac n cheese. Which was made with a sharp cheddar, and had the option of adding chicken, meatballs, mushrooms, shrimp, beef tenderlion, etc... simply amazing! Also we had the blackened grouper w sauteed spinach, cooked to perfection.. The most amazing burger was the Road house BbQ burger. .. crazy good, and the Book Maker Steak Sandwich was pure heaven. You can't go wrong here people. This will definitely stay on my list of favorites. The service was impeccable! Thanks to Collin for an amazing experience!
(5)
Stephanie L.
Went today for lunch. Great ambiance food and staff. Our waiter AJ was great. Definitely coming back!
(5)
Rachel S.
Very beautiful inside but wish I would have sat in the upper area outside with the view of the park. Sat at the bar. I ordered "Nectar? Damn near killed her?". Was effing delicious - kind of a gingery taste served with a black cherry. Date ordered a margarita on the rocks and that was very good as well.
(4)
Veronica Z.
The roof top is cozy classy just right for a Chicago summer afternoon and evening. Food is fantastic ceviche was DELICIOUS and I am picky when it comes to that dish. Most of all the service, staff and Manager Peter especially makes us feel welcome ALWAYS!! I LOVE THIS PLACE* Great date spot or just to hang out in our beautiful city*
(5)
Band E.
Only giving 4 stars because our server (young kid who traveled a lot and had been in the restaurant biz since he was 10) was great. Knew a lot about the food and was able to work it in to the conversation. Had the Portuguese mussels (fantastic). Had the lobster ravioli which, while had plenty of what looked like langostines, was a little heavy and needed seasoning. Kind of bland. Had trouble getting a last minute reservation before a concert but this place had plenty of room, good ambiance, lots of attentive help. Would definitely go back.
(4)
Jonathan K.
I went to this place with good hopes, and happily had those hopes met. I figured any place that had half of the venue closed off for a private party for the Chicago Bears wouldn't be a bad place to go. I wound up having the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich along side an Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was kind of "meh" but the steak sammich was tasty. It was also huge, and I had to split my method of eating it between fork and knife and squishing it into my mouth.
(4)
Leslie G.
I have been here dozens of times because it's in my office building. The location is a huge plus. Another positive is that I've never had to wait to be seated here--the place is huge and I've rarely seen it full. Normally, I just come here for drinks and an appetizer (usually the calamari, which is delicious every time). I've also been here for business lunches a few times and thought the food was good. However, I recently came here for dinner with a friend and was rather disappointed. I ordered the ricotta gnocci, which turned out to be enough food for about 3 people. I probably ate about a third of it. I guess they're trying to justify the incredibly steep prices by piling on the food, but I would much prefer a normal portion size with a normal price. The gnocci also seemed overcooked to me and the sauce was overwhelming in taste and in quantity. There was probably a pound of sauce alone. If you're looking for a full-fledged meal, I think there are better restaurants around. If you work in the area and want a nice place to have drinks with a few people, this is a good option.
(3)
Christine C.
Checking out the rooftop on a Tuesday after rain and the place was not busy so I thought we would get our appetizer quick. No such luck. Hostess was snobby and every seat was open! Great music and views of Millenium park, but slow bad service. Can't comment on the food yet because it's still not here. Food just got here. BBQ short rib sandwich Is delicious. Ok. Food and cocktails were good.
(2)
Kimberly S.
We went to this place last night for dinner... When we checked and we did not have a reservation and they told us the wait would be very long... However it was only about 15 minutes. We ate on the second level, the balcony was closed because of rain... But, the waitstaff was a little strange. They had a served by three separate waiters one who just had taken her lunch and I don't know how the third one came in, but each one was super nice and very accommodating. The second waiter was named Chris, he was a real nice and funny guy. He gave some really good suggestions and suggested I try the goat cheese salad... Salad is not my favorite thing to order, but sometimes we need to watch what we eat. The appetizer was a fig and prosciutto flatbread.. It could have used a little more fig but it was delicious nonetheless. I also ordered a cup of French onion soup, which was decent. The atmosphere was really nice, and I really liked and enjoyed the food. I would definitely suggest this place for friends, the lounge area was classy and cool.
(4)
Emul M.
Pros: convenient location next to tourist attractions (i.e. Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate etc), service is quick and pleasant, the ambiance is classy but cool, big servings, appetizers are of decent sizes, beer special was awesome, decent pricing Cons: Special request will cost at least $6 and they won't mention it. Their fried chicken special was to die for! It was still tasty the morning after, without being heated. ;)
(4)
Linda H.
The ahi appetizer is fabulous! But the service is mighty slow and mighty surly about it. Our waiter seemed quite put out that we actually wanted to order food. And wanted water. And perhaps some sugar for tea. Don't go if you have a time limit or are terribly hungry.
(2)
Lauren D.
my family and I came here after my younger brothers graduation from Naval bootcamp up at Great Lakes. Firstly we were almost an hour early for our reservation and they still sat us right away and in the private room which was great ! Our Server (eddie) was kind, funny, and knowledgeable and gave GREAT recommendations on what to eat. The food came out fast and tasted AWESOME best steak sandwich id ever eaten and the chicken hash was something I don't normally eat but was glad I did!! After we were all stuffed the Server nicely informed us that my brothers meal was on the house per the management team and sent him great wishes and support on his new military journey. We had to track the manger down and my brother personally thanked him and what a gracious man he was, giving words of encouragement and thanks for his soon to be help to our country. I HIGHLY recommend this great establishment to anyone looking for great food and friendly environment with a great view of the popping Millennium park with a wonderful staff. If ever in the Chicago area again we will for sure be stopping in and giving our business to this great restaurant!
(5)
Megan L.
Great experience at Tavern at the Park! A friend of mine were meeting for dinner before a show at the Harris Theatre, and decided to go here based entirely on location, so I made a reservation and off we went. However, my friend went to Kansas and as such is a HUGE Jayhawks fan and they were playing in the Big 12 tourney last night... something that wasn't scheduled or really even considered when buying the show tickets. What's this got to do with Tavern at the Park, you say? More than you'd expect. We get seated in the back dining area, and to our very pleasant surprise there's a tv near our table! So we ask if they can change the channel to the Kansas game when it comes on and our server very accommodatingly says he'll do so. Unfortunately when he comes back, it turns out they can't change it as it's tied to another tv and people who got there first requested something else. Which would be a huge bummer, except he talked to the manager and it turns out there are also tvs in their upstairs area and there's a free table so we can watch whatever we want if we don't mind moving. Seriously, they would not have been any nicer to us, or more eager to help us watch a basketball game. This, friends, is what customer service is about. WAY TO GO, Tavern at the Park! We ended up with a different server upstairs, but she was just as great - they were also very conscious of the fact that we had tickets to a show and made sure we were all finished up in time to get there. In addition to the service, I have to say that the food was also great. I had chicken piccata, served with angel hair and I loved it. I have absolutely no recollection what my friend had (sorry, it's been a month or so... I'm a little behind on reviews), but I do remember that he was equally pleased with his meal. Definitely worth a return trip, especially in the summer when you can enjoy the upstairs patio - nothing like sitting outside with a drink, overlooking Millenium Park!
(5)
Mark F.
Based off of near-the-theater yelp reviews, we took a chance at this tasty-sounding, food and drink stand. Tavern @ the Park was oh so close to that illustrious 5th star but the really awkward server quickly brought it down a star (so close...) along with a consistent lack in use of salt and pepper. The biggest surprise to me were the prices of the drinks. Incredibly affordable for that area. The beer, cocktail and wine consumed by us was delicious and my wallet only took a paper cut rather than a financial gashing. As for the food, it lacked a sprinkle of pepper and salt. That little shake of s&p could've made the meals amazing. They were, however, quite delicious in my tummy. The pork belly appetizer provided a much larger portion than anticipated for $8. The mustard-vin dressed salad it comes with was the tastiest surprise on that plate (the bread with raisins didn't make any sense). If you like chicken and want something hardy, I recommend the chicken hash. Everything went really well together. It was like having dinner and breakfast all at the same time. My wife had the lamb shank special and though tasty - she craved some good ol salt n peppa. (You can Push It, Tavern, Push It real good). All in all, it was a delightful experience before seeing a show just down the road. It's not too loud, the food's great and everything was very prompt. I'll recommend it and I'll most likely go back again if for nothing else but affordable drinks.
(4)
Brittany L.
Great atmosphere, a lot of business men go here for happy hour and its a good vibe. Their beer and wine selection are phenomenal as well as the friendly staff. I live close by so have been coming here more and more. Definitely would recommend!
(5)
Lexi T.
Would have been five stars but the host and hostess suck! They just stared at me when I walked in, no greeting. They gave us the worst seat in the restaurant, dead center when everyone else was closer to the wall. Didn't even ask us if we wanted to sit outside. The food was amazing, Jose was on point with refilling my water, service was okay
(3)
Elaine D.
They had a special with their brunch items. I didn't really think the brunch item I ordered was that great. This was a month ago, however. It may have gotten better. The atmosphere was a little too stuffy for me as well. I didn't really think the name fit how the place looked inside. I usually think of taverns are more of a casual dining place, but it seemed a bit more on the high end side of things. Then again, it's right on Michigan, so walking inside shouldn't be a surprise to see despite the name of the restaurant. Service was pretty decent.
(3)
Kristin S.
Cool rooftop bar, good food, overall great atmosphere. Great location for a parties and special occasions, with accommodating staff and good service. Really cannot beat the view or the location!
(4)
Michael S.
Went here for dinner on a Saturday night; we made an OpenTable reservation but were informed by the hostess that reservations are not valid for the rooftop and that there was a wait to eat up there. We said that was fine and that we would just wait around the bar area and drink until a table was ready; "No", the hostess said, "there is no room at the bar." We must wait downstairs. Ok...so we waited maybe 20 minutes downstairs until a table was ready. As we enter the rooftop we were expecting it to be mobbed considering the hostess said there were no tables or room at the bar: the rooftop was EMPTY. There were open tables everywhere and the bar was half full. What?? This treatment made a poor first impression, but luckily the service and food the rest of the night made up for it. We had two cocktails that were unique, tasty, and decent pours. For food, the fig & prosciutto flatbread was delicious; highly recommended. Unfortunately, the braised short rib was not good; I have had a lot of short rib in the city and this was below average; it was too chewy and tough (short rib should be tender and rip apart easily; go to Pinstripes for an example of a good short rib); the small piece of polenta that came with it also was underwhelming; short rib should come with mashed potatoes in my opinion. We also had a side of mac 'n cheese which was tasty. Overall, the rooftop really is beautiful; I recommend you go here for good food and drinks (although skip the short rib) and also be prepared to wait 20 minutes to be seated even if the rooftop is empty (I'm not sure what that was all about - let me know if you find out).
(4)
David D.
Came here for lunch. Had a salad that was drenched in oil. So much even that I had to press each bite with my fork against the plate to make it eatable. Barely had any flavor aside from the bitterness of the vinaigrette. Our waitress was very nice and friendly. The burgers looked great but I wouldn't eat here again.
(2)
Anna P.
Nice spot for a business lunch. Service is very attentive and fast, so you can easily get in and out in an hour if necessary. We both had salads that arrived very fast after ordering. I had a grilled veggie salad that was very good, big size, nice grilled chicken and lots of vegetables. They have a rooftop that looks worth checking out sometime as well.
(4)
Katie P.
Nothing special at all. Came here last night for an early dinner before a concert. I had a side salad and the Turkey Burger and both were super mediocre. Our server was very sweet and the service was great but the food was underwhelming.
(2)
Jennifer B.
Came in on a Tuesday, was greeted by warm hosts. We put our name on the wait for outdoor seating in the patio upstairs and had to wait, not a worry because if there is a bar, I am all in there. I got a drink that was their version of a piña colada, cruisin for the infusin'. Such comical names, I love it. man, was that delicious!! I had two and then another drink, which was their version of a margarita..was incomparable to cruisin for the infusin' For dinner I had their seasonal salad! It was to die for!!
(5)
Jennifer C.
I have gone to Tavern at the Park on both of my visits to Chicago - in the summer and the winter. Both times I have been very pleased with the service and quality of food. In the summer, the best way to enjoy an afternoon at Tavern is on their rooftop deck called The Treehouse. It is filled with comfortable tables and lounge chairs, great background music, and provides a great view of Millennium Park. During my summer visit I had their Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread which was absolutely delicious. I'm a sucker for anything with truffle oil, and when you pair it with poached pears, blue cheese, and prosciutto... it's an easy home run. Their Tuna Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, and Shoestring Fries with Truffle Aioli were also very good. I have a major sweet tooth so I went to dessert heaven when I ordered their Warm Apple Blueberry Bread Pudding, New York Style Cheesecake, Key Lime Creme Brulee, and Apple Crumble. The bread pudding is MASSIVE and can easily be shared between 4 or 5 people. The cheesecake and apple crumble were probably my favorite. In the winter, I went to Tavern for a romantic dinner in their Tree House Atrium, which is an enclosed glass section on their deck. Very romantic, quiet, and intimate lounge area. For dinner we had their Wild Mushroom & Truffle Risotto and Lobster Ravioli which were both so, so good! I was so happy we took leftovers back to our hotel so that we could have the next day. The service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and accommodating. I will definitely we returning to Tavern at the Park in my future visits to Chicago.
(4)
Timothy H.
My wife and I enjoyed an early dinner here that has put us in the mood to return very soon. My wife had the steak sandwich, which at $25, had better be amazing. It was. She only gave me a few small bites, but oh man, was that the best steak sandwich I have ever had. It's real steak, not hamburger steak. The aioli and onions on top just made it an out of this world meal. I had the fish n' chips, which was also very good. I found the service to be exceptional. We arrived during a shift change, so we got to experience two servers, and both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, polite, and funny. One of their drink specials was recommended to my wife, but after one sip, she said she just didn't like it. Without hesitation the server (Chris) said he would bring her anything else she wanted and that she wouldn't be charged for the drink she didn't like. That's just great customer service! The atmosphere is very relaxed yet professional. This is not a bar. I would recommend patrons wear something a tad bit nicer than you would if you were going out to Applebee's or TGI Friday's. But if you want to go casual, hey, that's up to you. You're in The Loop, so remember that you will be spending a bit more to eat here. We reported a bill of $89 (including tip), which I thought was pretty good.
(5)
Gerry A.
The BEST wings I have had in some time, including my own. Marinated, smoked, a little char, baked not fried, THREE dipping sauces, about $11 for a dozen. We love the Treehouse, everywhere else is just loud and crowded imo. Opens at 4pm. Drinks are a little pricey. Their weekly specials change all the time and are fantastic if you like to try something a little different. If you come thirsty it's going to cost you. Excellent service and helpful recommendations. Coming back for the Black Truffle Chicken Hash. Beet salad and Blistered beans are a nice healthier cheap appetizer. Ryan was the perfect server tonight.
(4)
Ed A.
Hawks Win! After spending too long waiting for the Hawks to parade past Grant Park, I headed to the nearest place for some grub and alcohol. It was great to see the Hawks parade by. Well, I should say it was cute to see the top 3 inches of their heads. The crowd was stacked, whacked and white teenage suburbanite. No alcohol within sight but ganja was in the air. The restaurant was full of hockey fans. It was pretty cool. There was like a hive of red and black bees. The upper deck was pretty cool with a great view that we were unfortunately too late to get. The food was tremendous. My turkey burger was by far the best I've had. The bun was fantastic and held together, a rarity with huge hamburgers. Most of all, the wine selection was very nice. The first floor is more formal and stuffy, yet still contemporary. I'll be back next year after they repeat. Go Hawks!
Save the drama for your momma. Came in for a conference and was attracted by an open air bar. Being from Colorado I wanted to drink outside. Bartenders seem to have issues with management, patrons or something. Instead of making drinks, a soap opera behind the bar is whats served. Heard nothing but restaurant b.s. which i do not care for. Was going to stay for food but Nick gave me a headache and had to go elsewhere.
The host guy here is a real dick. You seat people for a living, don't act so pompous about your middle wage job filling out seating charts. Your job requires the skill level of a 16 year old girl.
(1)
Jeff L.
Arrogant and Overpriced. ToP's close proximity to Millennium Park should not allow them to provide such poor service. Server 'David' cleared all the fun+energy from our party because HE wanted to be the show.
(1)
Patrick W.
My wife and I visited Tavern at the Park after eating at Wildberry (which was right next door). We had some time to kill and figured we would get a few drinks. When walking in it felt like we needed to be way more dressed up than we were. The place has a very upscale, formal feel to it with the staff in white button downs and a black tie. There was a decent rush on a Monday around lunch time which made a service fairly slow - especially since we were only ordering drinks from the bar. My wife ordered a couple White Sangrias and seemed to really enjoy them. I just ordered a Whiskey/Pepsi which came in a fairly tall glass. The bill was over $50 after tip and just four drinks which was a little surprising. Other than the high cost and slower than average service it was a decent experience.
(3)
Jenn W.
I came here with a few friends and my husband just to grab a few drinks. It has a very upscale look on the inside. I ordered their sangria which is actually a white sangria. It was absolutely delicious! However is was a bit more on the pricey side than I usually care to pay for a beverage. Overall not a bad place at all.
(3)
Jasmine S.
This is mainly a review for the rooftop section of Tavern at the Park. We came on a warm Saturday night around 11, and it was pleasantly not as packed as we had expected. The view is great, the seats are super comfy, and the drinks are delicious though maybe not that strong (about $12 a pop which is very much worth it for the atmosphere and location). PS. they're pretty strict about their last call for food at 11 and last call for drinks at 11:30. They also will make you leave right at midnight. I wish the place was open later!
(5)
Catherine P.
This review is more for The Tavern Tree House above Tavern at the Park... Are you looking for a great spot to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, baptism, or other special occasion and want excellent service with even better food and an amazing view? Look no further. I have been dining at Tavern in the Park for several years and most recently celebrated a baptism at Tavern's Tree House this summer. I couldn't believe the amazing view overlooking Millenium Park and Michigan Avenue. The background for photos was breathtaking. The service here is top notch and I couldn't make food like Tavern if I tried. The Tree House can be completely enclosed in glass and heated during the colder months we experience here in Chicago or they can open it up during the summer temps so you can eat, drink and be merry with the sun on your skin and feel Lake Michigan's breeze upon your face. There is a full service bar, restrooms and kitchen on the same level as their Tree House all of it very well maintained and beautifully designed. Check it out for yourself next time you're in the downtown area and grab a bite while you're there. You won't be sorry!!
(5)
Jake J.
Great food but the service was a tad slow. Nothing terrible, i just thing the waitress had too much going on. All in all.. Would happily go there again.
(4)
Greg S.
Great food and even better service. The place was busy and they made us feel like we were the most important guests in the building. The rotisserie ck was a huge portion and had a nice spice. The braised short rib was tender and juicy.
(5)
Terry L.
Location, Structure and Food! After flowing through my Yelp feed, I stumbled on this place and became very intrigued by the rooftop benefit. This location is directly across from Chicago's Millennium Park and externally is a beautiful building. As per recommendations from Yelpers, I made a reservation and noted that I wanted to be at the rooftop. Upon entering, my reservation was confirmed and coat check was available, as the hostess was about to sit me down at a table, I asked if the rooftop was available - she checked with her manager and it was!!!! I was then led to an elevator and escorted to the infamous rooftop... Unfortunately, due to the weather, the rooftop was enclosed but you still had a view of the park and city, however I was not able to get the same experience that other Yelpers had spoken about (ex: bar area, plush seating, closer views and airiness). I knew exactly what I wanted so I got the following... Smoked Pepper Wings - I asked that these be well done. They came out piping hot and were great! I wouldn't say that these are "jerk" but they are seasoned very well, I have to say that I was surprised with the quantity given... it was a lot... enough to share between 2-3 people. The Traverse City Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce that is givin on the side takes the wings to another level, I could swim in a bowl of it... it's sweet and has a hint of spice, you will enjoy it. The Tavern Steak - A 16oz Prime Ribeye, I ordered this well done, this is a lot of steak, lol, I loved that there was more meat than chewy fat and that it was grilled to perfection. It comes with a house made butter which compliments the steak well. I opted to also get a side of onion straws to place on top of the steak (which IMO should come automatically). I know many have concerns about customer service but I had no issues, in fact, my waitress was on it. She overheard me saying that I needed to be quick as I didn't have much time and came back to check on me as I was waiting on my food to ask if I was OK as she did not want me to be late, she kept my glass full and checked on me throughout the night. I did not encounter any issues with any staff and all requests were answered and accommodated without any attitudes. I will most def be back when I return to Chicago AND the weather permits the rooftop to actually be open in it's true element.
(4)
Jackie C.
This place was great! I met an SMU colleague here for dinner and the service was wonderful. The food was delicious! We will definitely be back for dinner and can't wait to try the rooftop.
(4)
Ed D.
Went here for work lunch. First thought was prices are expensive but on second thought once we got the food was it was worth it. My other co-workers agree. We sat inside but it's in a great area for people watching if you happen to sit outside. The ambiance is ok. The service was great. The waiter sold us on the "best" chicken wings in your life...needless to say they were good but definitely not the best. We also ordered the Flatbread and a bunch of entrees. I picked the ginger shrimp salad and it was delicious and very filling. Very nice place to eat lunch.
(4)
Sonny C.
A dinner that begins with the server support knocking a drink squarely into the lap of a patron may be jinxed from the get-go. In this case the original sin was reaching over the table to pour water rather than coming around to the side of each person. So let's talk about the food. Our table had steak Diane, salmon, chicken and fish & chips. Since veggies were not part of the meal, a side of grilled asparagus provided the one not-buttery vegetable option. All round the food was pretty good so I regret the experience was marred by the spilled drink episode. But since eating out is an entertainment experience, it is not just about the food. It's theater and this was not one of Chicago's better productions. The table was soaked as was my companion as the water pouring from the carafe missed the water glass in the ensuing chaos. The server sprinted away to get help. That took 5 minutes for both server and manager to arrive to assess the situation. We asked for a different table. Rather than just move us immediately to the adjacent 4-top, they disappeared to consult their computers. Now another 5 minutes later we were moved to the adjacent table. My companion is still wet and drying off with table napkins. We got the apology, one fresh drink and an offer of free dessert. Free dessert? Well, thank you, but dessert was not on our agenda. What about an offer to clean the clothes or comp the injured individual's meal? Maybe a round of drinks to lighten the mood? Some gesture other than what we're not going to have. Nevertheless, when the meal ended and, well, maybe we might have dessert, no server or manager was around. Ultimately we got up and found a different server and requested they find our server. Check, please and we were gone. One of our party spent the next 4 hours with wet pants. Pretty uncomfortable. Maybe an isolated case? Perhaps. We think the response could have been both prompter, a little more sincere and empathetic for what turned out to be a much less pleasant evening than anticipated.
(3)
Sara P.
I went to the treehouse at tavern at the park last week, this was my second time here. It started off very unpleasant as we were on a waiting list for a table, and they never called us when our table was ready. After awhile I went back to the hostess stand and they did skip over us and forgot to give us a call. I was assured by the hostess our table would be ready in 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes she said someone sat in our table and they weren't going to ask my them to move. We waited another 5 minutes and finally received a table. After we were seated, I spoke to the manager James, who completely turned our night around. He was very apologetic, took charge of the situation and assured us things were going to get better. He brought out several complimentary appetizers, was persistent with checking on us and seeing if we needed anything. James was helping the wait staff clean our plates, grab us drinks. If it wasn't for James compensating for the disaster in the beginning of the evening, we probably would've left or not even come back. Every restaurant needs a James.
(4)
Lisa P.
I have been excited to try this spot because it always looks so fun and it's always busy. My friend and I went on a Wednesday night, it was not crowded at all and we sat at a table on the rooftop without waiting for a table. It took over 15 minutes for a server to come to our table. When she did, she was pleasant and we placed a drink order. Our wine took 10 more minutes to arrive. Eventually, a different server came over and took our food order (she said our server was in the bathroom)...I ordered a hamburger and my friend got a pizza. Our old server kept walking by and saying hello/saying our food was coming out as I watched every other table (ones that were sat and clearly ordered well after we had) get their food. I asked 3 different times where our food was. She kept saying it was coming. Our food took exactly 1 hour to arrive and it came out wrong. Then, yet another server came out to ask how the food was and we ordered another glass of wine to accompany our meal. That glass of wine came out 15 minutes later after we had already eaten most of our meal. Since we had been at the establishment so long the sun had gone down and it was getting cold and all around, waitresses were providing/asking guests if they wanted blankets..we were never asked. In my opinion we should have gotten one of our glasses of wine comped or something for waiting so long but that was also never offered. This was a bad experience and while the food was good, the service was subpar and prices aren't cheap so it was not worth it.
(1)
Rachel K.
Went for lunch on a Monday. Service was pretty quick. I ordered the goat cheese salad, which was good but nothing too special. The Tavern is great for a solid business meal as the noise level is perfect for chatting over food. But if you want to be wowed, you might want to take your party somewhere else.
(3)
See Taste Love ..
We ran into this beautiful romantic spot across from the millennium park and we are so glad see taste love got to experience this! To see the city at a different view was a delight of an experience and the dishes are to die for!
(5)
Shayla J.
Excellent restaurant! The food was amazing. The service was very awesome and the view is spectacular. This was my first visit to Chicago and with so many places that serve steak, I'm glad I chose Tavern at the Park to be my dinner destination. The smoked pepper wings appetizer really lived up to their reputation and the steak encrusted with Bleu cheese was delicious. I would definitely visit again whenever I'm in Chicago
(5)
Ayrin B.
This is a great spot for lunch. It is very easy to find (across from Millennium Park) and the decor is beautiful (lots of wood). The staff is excellent is as well. They are attentive, but not worrisome. The food is reasonably priced for Chicago with good sized portions- not too big or small. I have only been here for lunch, but will have to try dinner some night. My favorite lunch choices are either the Chopped Salad or Seared Ahi Tuna. I'm sure everything else on the menu is great as well. It sure does look tasty.
(4)
Grant P.
Amazing views, delicious food & drinks, great service and horrible dismal attitude from the front-house staff that almost ruined everything. I guess 3 of 4 ain't bad. And had I read many of the other reviews, I guess I would've known what @$$holes the host and hostess were. I hate to start a decent review with the bad stuff, but chronologically that's how this is going to go. Thankfully things greatly improved as the night went on. I made a reservation several days earlier and was informed that reservations aren't taken for the Tree Top, but they would note that we wanted to sit there on our reservation. Unfortunately when we arrived, it wasn't acknowledged whatsoever. No mention of it. The hostess began to seat us and I asked if we were going upstairs per our request. "No, we only note that on the reservation," she said rather rudely. I told her we'd wait for a table up there, which seemed to shock her. "It could be an hour," she said. "I have no idea. But you can sit at the bar." She pointed to a packed bar. "Where?" I asked. "Well I don't know. It's first come first served." No shit, lady. But don't tell me to sit there if it's obviously full. "So what do you want to do?" I said we'd stand there and wait for our table, which seemed to put her off even more and she walked away. Well, we waited for a spot at the bar to open up, and before our drinks even arrived Friendly McCrabbypants arrived to tell us there was a table available upstairs. Once again she showed annoyance when I mentioned that we hadn't gotten our drinks yet, but my wife absolved the situation by telling me to go ahead upstairs and she would follow when the drinks came. The hostess didn't go upstairs with me or show me to a table, as she did with every other guest that arrived after us. Instead she simply pushed the button on the elevator and said, "take whatever table you want." Jerk. Had they simply said something like, "I see you'd like to sit in the TreeTop. Unfortunately there's no table available right now, but I can seat you in the dining room right away," I wouldn't have been so put off by their behavior. But simply ignoring our request was downright rude and uncalled for. But once we were upstairs things changed. It was another world. It was elegant and warm, with an amazing view of the skyline, picture-perfect lit Christmas trees and a roaring pillar fireplace. Everyone upstairs was delightful and friendly, and our waitress couldn't have been more helpful and attentive. When my wife showed up sans drinks (they were missing an ingredient for one of their signature cocktails at the bar downstairs) our waitress told us they absolutely make it upstairs. The food was divine. We had the duck egg rolls, my wife had a burger and I had the barbecue brisket. Everything was flavorful, delicious and wonderful, and our waitress Nashley checked on us and saw to it that we had an exceptional time. She really turned things around and made what started off as a horrid dining experience into a spectacular one.
(4)
William K.
This was a very consistent place... everything was very good: location (great actually), service, food, ambiance. I had the mini-burgers and TY had the lobster ravioli. Yum! T at the P was a great dinner choice for us before seeing Wynton and the lads play at CSO. It's a $6 cab ride from Union Station, and we just walked to CSO after dinner. Huzzah! yow, bill
(4)
Angela S.
On a sunny weekday afternoon with colleagues, coming here for lunch was a real delight. We had a reservation upstairs on the second floor, and it was nice to see a view of the city all around us. From what I understand they have a fantastic outdoor rooftop deck, and I think that must be spectacular. This was my first time dining here, and I have to say my experience was perfect, other than I wish I would have followed my gut and ordered the short rib sandwich, because I'm still thinking about how good it must be. Overall, the menu had so many options that I truly had a difficult time deciding. It's not an overwhelming menu and it's well organized, but it all looked beyond delicious to me. They have a great selection of salads, and for lunch you can choose from an entree or a list of delectable sandwiches - like the short rib. I decided to go with a meatless option today - the butternut squash ravioli dish. It's my fault for assuming, but I thought the ravioli would be made from butternut squash and stuffed with some kind of cheese. It was plain ravioli stuffed with butternut squash. Here's the thing. The ravioli were just okay. The stuffing, however, was a mix of sweet and savory. The sauce, when blended together was a tad more on the sweet side, but a nice summer dish. Not super filling. Our server was professional, friendly, gave us plenty of time to search our menus, and I appreciated that he asked if any of us have allergies, because I'm allergic to soy. Great experience, and I hope to get back for that sandwich!
(4)
Grecia P.
After a walk through the beautiful Millennium Park, we were looking for a place to stop at for lunch before heading to our River Architectural Cruise. Fortunately, we came across this lovely Restaurant, TAVERN AT THE PARK. We got there right before the lunch rush and we were able to get a nice table outside. The food was delicious, the portions were very big for a lunch menu, but we were hungry so that was great for us. The Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread was phenomenal!!!! We also had a Cup of prime rib chili, which was good, the duck egg rolls although great in flavor, lacked a little in the amount of meat, and last we had warm goat cheese starter, which was just ok. The service was really good, and the white sangria was even better!!! The prices are a little up there for lunch, but the portions make it worth it, so go there HUNGRY!!!
(4)
Ivy R.
When we arrived we were stared at (not greeted) by a host (older guy) and a hostess. Only the other host (younger gentleman) who talked to us. We were told to wait for fifteen minutes. And both of these "starers" just stared at us and did not say a word at all throughout this time. So we waited for a minute or two but it's getting so weird with these two catatonics staring. When the other couple who were waiting ahead of us left. We decided to leave too. Management should look at this. Went to Chucks (Michigan Ave) instead and got a much better service.
(1)
Richard D.
Stopped in for dinner and drinks after a fun first day on our vacation. This place is enormous - there are several levels as well as a rooftop patio that overlooks Millenium Park. Cocktails were inventive, and I appreciated that these drinks were described in detail (with pictures) on the restaurant's website. I knew before coming in that I wanted the Chicago Fire Burger: it was a superb blend of heat, sweet, crunch, and richness. A lot of places now are incorporating something akin to the Sriracha aioli, but the fried avocado element put this burger over the top for me. I tried a bite of the generous portion of steak frites my girlfriend ordered, and it was well-seasoned and full of flavor. Our server (think his name might have been John) had a lot of personality - he was hilarious! He also gave us some helpful tips for us on our trip, which was an added bonus. Would definitely return.
(5)
Sarah V.
I'm not very good with numbers, but a couple thousand dollars divided by a couple dozen people almost guarantees a good night. A friend of mine invited me to a work sponsored happy hour. They rented the entire Tree House upstairs which apparently requires a pretty hefty minimum. When I arrived there were already appetizers on the tables and bottles of wine everywhere. We had one main server who was absolutely amazing despite already being guaranteed a large tip. Get this, she memorized ALL of our names! Unfortunately, I've forgotten hers. But for the entire night it was, "Miss Sarah, can I get you another one?" I ordered my first drink off the menu and it was pretty terrible. It had a gigantic aloe leaf which made the drink pretty slimy. I looked for a better drink to order and really wasn't finding anything. Our waitress informed me that they have a fully stocked bar and if I didn't want something off the menu I could order absolutely anything else I wanted. I eventually settled on a Mojito, but before that she offered to have the bartender make me a special drink if I just tell her what flavors I like. Well, one Mojito turned four which turned into more appetizers which turned into more drinks. Overall, it was a great night and from what I can remember everything was pretty delicious!
(5)
Emma K.
My boyfriend and I came here before a show at the Chicago Theatre, and everything was great. Particularly the Caprese Salad. I will definitely be returning here for that specifically. It was HUGE and delicious! The normal caprese stars of mozzarella, tomato, oil, and balsamic, but the additions of avocado and manchego cheese crisps were phenom. My boyfriend ordered some sort of sandwich (I was so involved in my own food, I can't even remember which one!, but I think it was the steak sandwich) that he really enjoyed. He also wanted to try the buffalo chicken mac & cheese, so they created a special appetizer portion for him so he didn't have two gigantic meals. I got the butternut squash ravioli which was yummy and I was glad it was a little smaller of a portion given the size of the Caprese. Great service and cozy sit in a booth next to the bar area downstairs. I will totally be back to check out the terrace next summer to enjoy a Caprese & some wine :)
(4)
Chris M.
Bookmaker sandwich was phenomenal! One of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Atmosphere is fantastic. Only reason I am not giving five stars is because it took 25 minutes longer than they quoted me to have my order ready to go. If it had not been for that it would have been perfect. I will give them another shot soon because the food was superb.
(4)
Carol K.
Updating my review to include "Treehouse at Tavern" their rooftop bar that did a great job of taking care of my friends and I the other night. It's a bit complicated to know how you get up to this place. On some nights you put your name in and wait for your entire party to show up and enter through the main restaurant. And on our recent visit- they directed me a little east of the regular doors to climb up a metal stairway on the outside of the space. No matter- the ending is the same as you find yourself in a cute rooftop bar with comfy seating clusters, cozy sofas and a bar to gather at. Since we were a party of 5, we were able to secure one of the table and sofa areas which was just perfect as it offered us a view of the park. Know that after work and later in the day- the sun moves behind the buildings so it can get chilly up there. Service was attentive and the manager stopped by a couple of times to make sure we had what we needed. This place will definitely go on my rooftop list for Summers to come!
(4)
Rielly M.
Okay first off they do accept reservations, but not for the outdoor seating. The service was absolutely amazing- our waiter went out of his way to recommend drinks and appetizers based on our alcohol preference. The food is a tad over priced, but man was it good. I had the flat bread as an appetizer and the ahi tuna tacos for my main food. The ahi tuna tacos were amazing and covered in teriyaki sauce. Overall great experience!
(5)
Akta D.
My husband and I went here on a Friday night. There was a crowd , but didn't seem overly busy. We only ordered 2 drinks, the Rye, Rye Rye and Check yo self before you wreck yo' self. Both were bad. In fact, the check yo self was just terrible. I haven't had a worse drink. It came with a candied or burnt or dried lemon. It didn't look very pleasing at all. I would NOT recommend it. The worst part was the waiting for our waitress. It first took her about 5 minutes to see us. We ordered the drinks. We never got water as we were waiting. She didn't come to check on us as we were waiting for our drinks. Usually I don;t mind it, but we waited for our drinks for over 20 minutes. That is just unacceptable no matter where you are. Afterwards, she didn't come see us until we were ready to get the check (maybe 45 minutes later). In fact, we had to flag her down. I understand she is busy, but a look over to see if we needed anything would have sufficed. The only reason I can't give this place a 1 star is because we didn't try the food. The one positive note was the music was good. I don't recommend going to this place, even if your looking for a good view because it just isn't a good view of anything
(2)
Steve M.
Don't think this place is just for tourists because it's so close to Millennium Park. Tavern serves up some seriously good food. Pete will always greet you like a good friend and make sure you want for nothing! Steaks are terrific, but there are lots of non meat options. Don't forget about the desserts either. The blueberry bread pudding is NOT TO BE MISSED! It's seriously large and loaded with fresh blueberries. They make it themselves and you'll end up eating way more than you thought you could. It's that good! Apple crumble also gets a thumbs up! Wait staff couldn't be nicer or more skilled. I also appreciate the wine selection. Some joints only offer really expensive options so you buy lots by the glass. Not so at Tavern. They also have a wonderful rooftop dining option in the nice weather. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)
Jeff S.
OK place. I go here roughly four times a year after our quarterly technology users group meeting is held in the Aon Center. So in winter months we can take the pedway to stay inside and in Summer months we can head up to their rooftop bar. Since I only ever go there for drinks then this rating is based heavily on their craft beer selection which is pretty light. Granted 4 years ago they where carrying Lagunitas IPA and Half Acre, but not much had changed since. The roof bar also has a subset of their main draft list so keep that in mind if you head up there. Personally I'd like to see more Chicago breweries represented and more rotation as the beer menu is 90% unchanged over the years.
(3)
Brooke A.
I went out to specifically find Tavern Treehouse with a girlfriend on a Saturday night. On the walk there, it looked as if the Treehouse was empty. We were excited that we might be able to get seated right away. We when finally found the correct hostess, she told us it would be a 15-45 min wait. Since we weren't in a rush, we gave her our cell number and went downstairs to the Tavern at the Park bar for a glass of wine to wait. The bar was nice, not too loud, but the bar tender was very rude and not at all attentive. It took him a good ten minutes to take our order after it took him more than five minutes to get us a wine menu. Since we were in good company, we gave him two bucks, and then ignored him (like he noticed anyway...the bill sat next to even as we left over twenty minutes later). After a while I called the hostess to inquire about our wait time, she said we were next on the list if no one in front of us responded to her calls. Five minutes later, she called back and said our table was ready. Then she told us we could grab the hostess downstairs, and he/she would take us to the elevator, so we didn't have to chug our drinks. How nice! Then...we got upstairs. The view was awesome, and the atmosphere was very nice. However, the place was EMPTY! EXTREMELY EMPTY. Like, I could probably count the number of people on just my fingers, including the staff. We would have been pissed, if it weren't for the wine we had already drank. We really could not figure out why we had to wait when there was absolutely no one there. We came to the conclusion that maybe the restaurant like to keep people waiting to think the tables are more in demand then they truly are. Either way, it was fairly annoying and pretty dishonest. There is no way that 20+ tables are got up and left in the same half hour time span we were waiting. To sum up the rest of our experience: the two apps we got were very good - shoestring fries with aioli and the margherita flatbread. However, the service was awful. So awful in fact that I had to physically find someone to get the check (our server was no where in sight). Then, I had to waive the check in the air toward two or three servers standing and talking (again, not our server), just to pay them. I would have to say I wouldn't mind going back because of the food, the view, and the atmosphere (for us old people, you can actually hear each other talk). As long as I am willing to put up with crap service the entire night. However, I am still not sure why we had to wait when the place had over twenty open tables... This will continue to baffle me...
(3)
Christy L.
This review is for the service at The Tree House, the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I met my friends there after work on a Thursday. My friends were told that at least three people in our party of four needed to be there in order to get a table. I was #3, but a table wasn't available. No big deal - tables filled while they waited for me to arrive. However, the host hesitated in letting me up to the rooftop, implying that they were at capacity. When I finally was allowed up, I was shocked to see empty tables and a rooftop that was not at all crowded. Not long after I arrived, the hostess came over to tell us our table was available. But she immediately hesitated when she saw that we had an appetizer, and said because we had ordered food (it was all eaten), she couldn't seat us at a table. This is their policy, which was not explained to us. We asked her to double check with her manager, who confirmed that they would not move us to a table because we had eaten an appetizer. What a ridiculous policy! Finally, our fourth friend arrived. The bar was no busier and they hassled her. One of my friends had to go talk to the "doorman" to let her in. The Tree House has miserable service and policies. I will not be returning despite the nice view and atmosphere.
(1)
Tiffany M.
Went here just after the river dying ceremony, and got there before the crowds. They had specials for St. P's like drinks and dinners and the whole place had green, orange and white balloons. The staff cheerfully served us. I had the corned beef and cabbage which was pretty good. But the cabbage itself was a disappointment. It was a scoop over cooked something or other. My boyfriend had a regular menu item, the buffalo chicken mac and cheese, which he ate to the bottom of the plate. The mixed drinks were great, and they had a decent beer selection. They also have a few floors, the roof top seating wasn't available when we went, but the view of the park looked like it would be fantastic. I'd go again.
(4)
Carol M.
Eh. That's all I have. Because the GD are in town it was very busy. I kinda feel like I wasted a meal here. We had the chili, French onion soup, and fig flatbread. Not blown away. Just eh.
(3)
Natalie H.
The food was nothing I couldn't throw together in my kitchen in 10 minutes. The chopped salad was bland, at best. But it wasn't just the food that makes this place a total waste of time and money. There were plenty of tables open when we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday, yet we waited a full hour for a table. The prices undoubtedly don't match the food and service. Will not be returning.
(1)
Rachel S.
Went with my boyfriend while visiting Chicago after his 21st Bday. Recommended by the concierge @ the Renaissance Marriot. Great twist on regular American food. I got the Hippy Burger (vegetarian. Basis of it was quinoa and black beans) w/ fries; it was delicious. My boyfriend got the Great Chicago Burger and said it was the best burger he'd ever had. Calamari was also delicious, as was the apple crumble crisp.
(5)
Greg L.
We decided to try the roof top area (Tavern Treehouse) when we saw the sign at the doorway that stated it was open. (It was a little difficult to find the entrance as the sign said "around the flower bed" which meant we had to go back several steps from where we came and then up the stairs to a building next to the Tavern to see the entrance hidden on the side.) All of the staff were very pleasant and did a great job which contributed to the enjoyment of our dinner. We shared a meatball flatbread as an appetizer which was very good with a sufficient amount of meatballs, cheese and sauce. My guest had the steak diane which I tasted and loved. It was four beef tenderloins on little beds of mash potatoes and gravy and it was good. I had the chicken pot pie which had a great flaky crust and it was full of white meat chicken and vegetables. We also had the Cloudgate martinis - a mixture of peach vodka and champagne. Yummy for the summer day! The price on the menu is $221, but that is if you want a Tiffany necklace also supplied with the drink. We settled for just the drinks and had a good laugh on that. The view is nice and it was a beautiful sunny day in Chicago, not too hot or humid, which really made this roof top experience a lot of fun.
Great late lunch. Hummus plate and cauliflower plate both were incredible. Hummus can easily feed 4-6 people. Big bar with window booth over looking Millennium Park. Heather was a wonderful server!
(5)
Jenny K.
Lovely restaurant ambiance, service and food. Got the chicken caprese - a giant plate of fresh tomato chunks, perfectly salty balsamic, tasty mozzarella balls and shredded chicken. Was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away for table for 3 during lunch rush hour.
(4)
Mel S.
Ordered a meal for carry out here on a Friday evening because I felt like staying in and having a fancy meal all to myself. I chose tavern at the park as it's located right across the street from my apt complex. I ordered the 8oz prime rib with two sides. The sites are enormous and I ate a few stalks of asparagus and maybe 1/2 of the baked potato so keep that in mind. The prime rib was good, maybe not the best I've had but I also ordered it to-go so it may be juicier served right away. The staff here take pride in what they do and I noticed that in the detail of how they packaged my food. Overall, this place is decent. I saw a large Friday night crowd so this place is definitely popular- think 30 min wait for a Friday evening. Share the sides, get your meat rare, and grab a seat on the rooftop.
(3)
Christina L.
Our friend took us here praising the filet mignon and meat entrees. The appetizers were good but not great. We ordered the duck spring rolls, crab stuffed artichokes, and tuna tacos. The tacos were a must try. The entrees were the highlight of the restaurant. I ordered the petite prime rib medium rare, which was full of flavor and juicy. The sauce added even more to the delicious experience. I highly recommend the meat dishes here, particularly the filet mignon and prime rib! Besides this, the wine and service is superb. Without a doubt, I had an overall great dining experience here.
(4)
Melissa M.
We lucked out and ate here during restaurant week. Have a lovely 3 course meal. Pork belly appetizer was amazing. The server was great and even the busboy was friendly and engaging. Overall an excellent experience.
(5)
Erica H.
I had the mushroom risotto. I did not like it ---Way too salty.
(2)
Anthony M.
A VIEW TO A DRINK We stopped in here on a Friday night after attending a show across the street at the Harris Theater. I was excited to try this place because who doesn't love an outdoor deck with a view. I am giving 4 stars for the view. Location location location and this tavern has it and more. You can see Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue from here. The moon was even out the night we were sitting here. This space is amazing and a perfect place to relax. Now the prices on the drinks are expensive. Yes you are paying for this view. The staff was okay. It seemed like it took a while to get our drinks even though it was not crowded up here The manager came over and said hi which is always nice. We did not have any food, so I'm not even sure what they have to eat here or if its even good. I highly recommend this place if you want to grab a drink with a view but beware of the prices. I say grab one drink and get out. There's more bars in Chicago.
(4)
Leslie J.
Sat on the roof. Spectacular atmosphere, great service, not rushed at all. Good, fresh food, nice presentation. Reasonably priced for downtown Chicago. Looking forward to returning. Only negative, soft seating could have been cleaner.
(5)
Bev W.
A friend and I tried to have lunch at Tavern At The Park today. We got there at a quarter to 12 - the place was pretty empty plenty of tables and views. We were taken upstairs to a empty banquet room with no windows or people in it. We asked for a better view and were told that where we were seated was all that was available. I repeat - most of the first floor and all of the second was sparse. Not sure what this was about, but we left. I would give this place no stars if I could and will be sending management a note on our attempted visit as well.
(1)
Fran D.
Atmosphere & decor was fun. Our waiter was great. Food was spectacular! We had the fig & goat cheese appetizer. It was full of flavor. The breaded meatball appetizer was seriously lacking in flavor. For dinner I had the linguine with mussels, clams, scallops & shrimp. Fish was fresh & abundant. Hubby orders the scallops. He loves it. Portions were good. Overall a great restaurant to visit in Chicago.
(4)
Kelsey J.
By far one of the best places if you want to eat outside in Chicago! My boyfriend and I came here two weeks ago, and it was the first truly nice day of the year. I'll break down our visit for you Service and Ambiance: We had a reservation for 7:00, and when we arrived they said they could seat us immediately inside, or if we waited till 7:45 we could eat on their rooftop patio. I'm so glad we waited! It's directly across from Millennium Park, so it was so easy killing some time there, and then the hostess called my cell when the table was ready, about fifteen minutes earlier than they anticipated! The whole experience was wonderful. We were taken upstairs in an elevator, and the hostess gave us great recommendations on the way up. We were seated at a really cute table by the glass wall of the patio with the most amazing view of the city skyline. It was dusk, and everything was gorgeous! Very romantic. I wish I could remember our waiters names" (that's right plural, waiters, we had two super awesome and attentive gentlemen serving us) because they both did a fantastic job. They answered all our questions, service was fast, and they made us laugh with their good-natured ribbing of one another. Food: This is why my review is 4 stars instead of a solid 5. We both got beers, they have a pretty ecletic and unique selection. They were large and priced right. We also got the calamari appetizer to share, and it was delicious. The aoili was flavorful, the portion was big, and the calamari was done to perfection. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich (I believe it was called the Blackhawk) and he said it was really good. I got the Hippie Burger, which was a veggie burger, with rice, beans, and chick-peas, and I wasn't impressed. It kept falling apart and made a mess! I couldn't pick it up and eat with the bun and toppings, I ended up scooping the bits of burger up with a fork. It was a little disappointing because everything else was perfect. I'll definitely be back this summer, I would love to try it for brunch, I'll just avoid the Hippie Burger in the future.
(4)
Kay K.
This review is for the Treehouse at Tavern - absolutely wonderful place to take in the city! We stopped by late night a few weeks ago (toward the end of the outdoor bar season) and were so pleasantly surprised with the cozy, fun outdoor lounge area. The heaters were on, it was pretty quiet, and they had great music playing! We ordered a few drinks (which were pretty pricey), but the ambiance alone was totally worth it! The staff was friendly, too. We can't wait to come back in the warmer months and enjoy this great spot!!
(5)
Matt O.
Stopped by the Tavern at The Park this weekend and when me and my date arrived we were greeted by the floor manager with a less than personable attitude. We had never been there before so we asked a couple of quick and easy questions (what time does upstairs open, do we need reservations, etc) and they were answered by short and abrupt answers that really didn't help us. It wasn't particularly busy so we weren't taking too much time away from him. Now with that said, we took a seat at the bar before the Tree House upstairs opened. We were served quickly by the bartenders who were both great energy. The drinks were great (whisky ginger and a sangria). Once upstairs opened, we were quickly seated and greeted by our server who we both knew we would like immediately. Drinks came quickly and all of our starters and sandwiches were killer! Despite the little speed bump right at the beginning I enjoyed the environment on the outside patio upstairs and the drinks and food were great!
(4)
Tennille T.
The drinks and food was not horrible but definitely not the greatest...basically nowhere near worth the price. I ordered a margarita which tasted like anything but (it is my signature drink so I should know). I also got the lobster ravioli & for 8 small pieces with a few "pieces" of mini lobster bits on top it was not worth the money. It tasted ok but I could have gotten better at Olive Garden. My husband ordered a long island and half chicken dinner. He had pretty much the same experience. He did say half of the chicken & have the rest 2 homeless person. Our meal costs $114. Waste of money.
(1)
Michael C.
Food tasted great! My favorite was Sea Scallops. The place wasn't busy on Saturday night so we just got a table right away. Calamari was good too. We enjoyed our dinner here.
(5)
Maureen W.
Old school, that's how I would describe this restaurant. I went on a work related dinner. It was dimly lit, all paneling and glass. The service was impeccable. We had a large party and two very capable wait staff handled us well. The wine and water was never empty, lets just say. The food was good. It wasn't surprising or original but it was good. The best thing was the fig flat bread appetizer which was crisp, gooey and scented with truffle. Really yummy. I also tried the stuffed mushroom which was only ok. I had the prime rib, cooked medium. It was good. I also got a baked potato which was huge and a side salad. Nothing out of the ordinary and it all tasted good. Come here for a good old school steak and the nice service. And try that flat bread.
(3)
Jean P.
Not bad! Great service and nice atmosphere. Wasn't thrilled with the chopped salad, but that's just me. It was fresh and well presented, but am not a fan of pasta in a traditional salad.
(4)
Blake S.
Delicious food and friendly service make dining here a treat. The menu is diverse with interesting twists on traditional bar and steakhouse fare.
(5)
Gregory C.
I think Tavern at the Park is a great place to grab drinks and business dinners. It's great for large groups. The food is good and serving sizes are pretty large. The service is great. I haven't had any issues every time I go here.
(4)
Emily J.
I had a nice couple of afternoon drinks here the other day and I would certainly be back. Our server, Toby, was great and let us enjoy an upstairs table for about 3 hours, even though the section was technically closed. We wanted to use the patio deck overlooking Millennium Park but unfortunately it only opens at 4:00pm on Fridays. I didn't have the food but joined a group who did and they loved it. The burger comes highly recommended from them. Certainly a great place to stop and get lunch either on your lunch break or after a jaunt in the park. If you want the patio though be sure and call ahead as it's often closed for private events.
(4)
Kevin N.
This review is for the restaurant, and I was able to be seated on the rooftop. The view is mighty beautiful, but I wish it was a tad higher up! Service: 5/5 nothing I can complain about. Servers were courteous and prompt. Atmosphere/decor: 4/5 the location of this place is spot-on, right next to the coolest park in the city! I would recommend wearing something a little more dressy to this restaurant, it's time to break out that navy blazer that you've had stashed away in your closet for years! Definitely fun to dress the part when you're at this restaurant. Food: 4/5 a tad pricey, but what do you expect? The food came out delicious though, I had the halibut and it was perfectly cooked. However, the portions were a little on the small side! And this is coming from someone that doesn't eat a lot! Whoa! haha maybe I was just really hungry that day. The fries were cut really thin and small, so it was pretty crispy when we ate them, but they cooled down really fast though! I've been back twice to this restaurant. It's a foolproof place to go when you don't want to hurt your brain thinking about where to go when you have out-of-towners visiting.
(4)
lori c.
Another night of light bites! The complimentary dinner rolls & bread is delicious. We ordered the wedge salad, duck rolls and seared tuna. The duck rolls had an interesting pineapple dipping sauce that I didn't care for too much; but we enjoyed everything we ordered. Service was excellent (thanks Chris)! We would come back here again.
(5)
Abishek M.
Good food. Excellent service. HUGE menu. Went here because we had a gift certificate and was pleasantly surprised. The French onion soup is amazing! RATINGS: French onion soup gratinee: 5/5 Brick Chicken: 3/5 Chicken Hash w/ black truffle: 4/5 Chocolate Peanut butter pie: 4/5
(4)
Amanda J.
Review for Tavern Treehouse: Mediocre and over priced food. The view seems like it would be better from the street; once you get upstairs it's a letdown. If you must go avoid any pasta dish. The tuna tacos are pretty good ONLY if you REALLY like mangoes. Service was decent. Overall a big pass.
(2)
Jenna S.
A friend and I walked here after attending a graduation at the Harris Theater. We needed a drink and this place seemed like just the place to go since we were wearing some fancy-ish digs and looking for good times. This place was way better than I thought it would be. We sat outside on the patio, which I highly recommend. The night was a bit chilly, but have no fear! The bar has amazing "lap skins" that you can rent with a credit card (no charge, just a hold in case you decide to steal one). Yes, I said LAP SKINS. They're really, soft, warm, faux fur blankets that do the trick when you aren't close to one of the outdoor fireplaces but you're chilly and need some warming up. Oh, and there's outdoor fireplaces if you're lucky enough to score one of those tables. Service was fast enough (could have been better), prices were decent and the food was delicious. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to have some appetizers, drinks and conversation with friends. We even witnessed an almost-fight between two rich WASPS over something dumb, like the way one of the guys was looking at the other guy. It was totally hilarious. I would definitely come here again. The atmosphere on the outdoor patio really did the trick for making an already great night even better. The views of Millennium Park and the city's skyline are wonderful and everything on the patio is modern, clean and fancy, so it all feels like something that should cost more but doesn't.
(4)
Bobbie A.
My go to place before an event at the Harris Theater, it's right across the street. I had the Chicago Fire burger and it ranks in the top 5 for me. Can't recall all of the toppings but avocado and sircha sauce made the fire. Gooood. There's outdoor seating upstairs in the summer, craft cocktails. This place has it all
(4)
Alfreda D.
Good spot for drinks after work. I've been here numerous times... in the Tree House during the summer, by the bar inside, in the main dining area. Last night, I came for a friend/coworker's going away celebration. We had a private room booked and a server. I don't recall his name but he was solid. The fact that he literally took everyone's name with their drink order and cleanly/easily kept everyone's check separate was fantastic. It's not that separating checks hasn't been done before but he was on point. His book was organized and ready to go... much appreciated. You know how that goes... 15 people show up for drinks and when the check comes the last 3 people standing are like "Wait, what? What's the balance?" LOL. Now that I think of it, most of my after work drink visits were work related and we've always had private areas and whatnot and the staff has always treated us right. I remember the appetizers being really good too but I can't review that right now because it's been a while. Anyway, the cocktails I had were good and reasonably priced, so no complaints on my end. And our server kept bringing out those warm bread baskets to help coat our stomachs since it was pre-dinner time. Ha... also much appreciated. We tipped him well... I hope he thought so anyway!
(4)
Cassie G.
The tavern is right across from the Randolph train station and millennium park. So walking out of the station it's a short walk, which was very convenient. Loved the atmosphere, great service. A little more fine dining bar. But no need to dress up in your best suit. Food was pretty delicious. We enjoyed the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and the club. The club was alright, a little dry, not worth $17. But the Mac and cheese was very delicious. I would definitely come back :)
(4)
Renee H.
The food and service were excellent! They apparently have a new chef so if you didn't like it before you may want to try it again. Hummus plate, beet salad and butternut squash ravioli were all device. Service perfectly timed.
(4)
Patrick B.
For many years I have been a big fan of Tavern at the Park, as well as its parent restaurant Keefers. I come to Chicago a dozen times a year and always find time for lunch there. I've hosted business events in its second floor private space and on its rooftop patio. But I recently had as disappointing a dining experience as ever there. And blame it all on the manager. Although my first luncheon choice was not available, I happily ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon. The salad came, but the salmon did not. No problem. Kitchen mistakes happen. The waiter took the salad back to the kitchen and a few minutes later the manager returned with it. In a restaurant known for large portions, I've never quite seen as small and thin and burnt shard of salmon in my life. So I asked the waiter if this was the standard portion. He said no; apologized and summoned the manager, who gave me a lecture on portion control. Then bashfully admitted that the piece of salmon was indeed small. And overcooked. He then half heartedly offered to get me another piece and discouragingly said "but that would take some time." Instead he said I won't charge you the extra $9 for the salmon -- the small thin burnt piece of Inedible salmon. Thanks so much for the great customer service! Then he turned and walk away! So I paid the bill and I turned and walked away, never to return to Tavern at the Park!
(1)
AJ M.
Great drinks! We watched the world cup here and enjoyed some unique drinks.
(4)
Jay C.
Solid old school Chicago vibe. Steaks thick. Drinks stiff. Prices stiff too..but. not an everyday place you visit. Right across Randolph from Harris Theater..park. the bean...parking garage right there too... Grilled salmon was good. Food was good. Vibe made it great. Views are killer will return
(4)
Nicki P.
I am a regular here since its right next to my office. The service is top notch, and the food is good, just good though. Portion sizes are huge and the general ambience is lively but casual. The typical crowd during the week are suits but the happy hour and patio crowd is a little more casual.
(3)
s b.
Inattentive waiter, dirty glasses, warm whit wine, loud, very rude manager who wouldn't take feedback. Food was ok. But not for the price and experience.
(2)
Andre W.
This place has one of my favorite things: a rooftop for warm summertime drinking Since it was hot as hell out, I decided to go with one of my favorite summer drinks: white sangria. It was very good and refreshing...me and my party of 6 had 2 rounds and had to roll out because the heat was ridic! Service was ok and they seem to be very meticulous when it comes to seating a group. Good stuff here
(4)
Bruce M.
6 of us had dinner at the Tavern At The Park. The service started out great. But after we placed our order, we became invisible. It took forever to get our food and not once did anyone stop by and give us an explanation or see if we wanted anything else. The food was good - but not sure it was worth the incredibly long wait.
(3)
Matt G.
I had hoped for something a little better, so I would say this place was just OK. Nothing that I would leap out of my seat for and come back. The Duck Egg roll was quite good, sauce was a little thick. I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. While the portion was HUGE, the meatballs were anything but "crispy" so not sure where they got the name for the dish. I was expecting them with a crispy Parmesan coating. Service was adequate, not phenomenal. The restaurant is a nice space and the location is great. Maybe a bit more touristy than I'd like and possibly what is driving traffic to the place.
(3)
Jim K.
Came here for a business lunch. Conveniently located on the Pedway, this place features huge sandwiches and burgers. I had been traveling for work, so I was more than tired of massive portions. I went with the scallops for lunch, and they were very tasty. Could have come with a side for the price, but with the bread on the table, I was satisfied. The service was also top notch here. Very attentive and informative.
(4)
Amanda K.
They have my favorite salad in the whole world - The Chopped Salad (I get balsamic instead of sherry vinaigrette) but don't bother showing up here for lunch without reservations or you will be brutally rebuffed. The hosts (and owners?) are a bit on the snooty side.
(4)
Lisa S.
I had a great time. Awesome location great service. We went for lunch and we had a steakburger with fries and it was delicious. Best steak burger ever!!!
(4)
Tisha K.
If you are in the Millenium Park area then this is in the area. I think the place looks nicer than the actual food. I had a friend in from Dallas and he wanted to eat around Millenium Park area and so I took him here, but I wish I had done a little more research as I think Chicago has a lot more to offer than this restaurant. I will say the service was amazing. My waiter was phenomenal and very friendly and helpful. I had the fish and chips. The chips were a little too thin for me and the fish (I think it was cod) was a little bland and honestly nothing to write home about. We did get a dessert and I will say their portions for dessert are HUGE!!!! Definitely share a dessert (four people can share one dessert easily). We got the apple crumple - and again nothing amazing. :/ It does have an outdoor area so I think on a nice evening during the summer this would be a nice spot for a date (drinks), go some where else for dinner!
(3)
Katie S.
If just going for drinks, 5 stars.... great location, views, and staff. But the kitchen is completely lacking. I went with a large group of friends for dinner and two of us ordered steaks medium rare. When they came out...both came out well done (no pink whatsoever). We sent them back, and 20 minutes later new steaks came out and the manager asked if they were ok... this time they were RAW... looked like a good seared ahi tuna... unfortunately had to send back again. For $34 petite ala carte pricing... I don't expect the best, but I'd expect a kitchen to know temperatures. Many of my other friends said the food was OK, but had very little seasoning. however the desserts were a completely different story... absolutely amazing.
(3)
H T.
Only had one day to spend in Chicago and really glad we picked this place for dinner. We had the crispy pork belly for an appetizer. We thought it would be like tripe but it was really just thick pieces of marinated bacon. Too heavy for an appetizer, but very tasty. My dinner was the short rib with vegetables. The short rib was very tender and the sauce it was stewed in had an amazing flavor. Very generous portion of meat, plus it came with vegetables, so I got a lot of food for the money. My brother had a steak and said that although he has had better, that the steak was still a high quality steak. Finally we had the key lime creme brullee for desert, and we both agreed it was some of the best creme brulee we have ever had. Be sure to dress kinda nice otherwise they will put you upstairs with the drinking crowd, where the furniture is uncomfortable patio chairs with metal bars and mesh. (that's what happened to us). We both agreed that this place was worth coming back to. Good food and the server was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)
Jeff W.
If you're downtown and looking for a higher quality restaurant with much less of a wait, you should definitely check out Tavern at the Park. It's located in the heart of the fun stuff and has a great menu. The service was wonderful and the food was really pretty darn good. The menu isn't anything revolutionary and it's a bit expensive but the food is tasty and well prepared. The one unique thing you'll have to try is the Prime Rib Chili. They use actual cuts of (presumably) the unsold prime rib to make their chili. Instead of ground beef, you get huge hunks of steak in your chili. Yum! My fiancee and I got the lobster Mac and Cheese and while 30 bucks is expensive for Mac and Cheese, they certainly did not skimp on the lobster. We also split several appetizers with friends which were all very good. Definitely worth a stop during a fancier date night in the city.
(4)
Peter K.
Based on review on Yelp, made the decision for a last minute reservation before theater. Had never made a reservation using yelp. Easy. and when we got there ( it was a snowy night in Chicago, so I thought it would be busy...it was.) We were offered and accepted the only remaining table at the time .../bu the window..a booth..cozy on a snowy night. French-onion soup was great...one of the best ever..nice and cheesy..richly flavorful. Had not seen the "iceberg"lettuce with blue cheese on a menu in ages..so jumped at that.. It was enormous..bacon crumbles, lost of crumbled blue cheese., lumpy blue cheese salad dressing. The combo of onion soup and the salad was MORE than enough. didn't finish the salad..just to much as I had eagerly sampled the rolls and bread nice assortment. But did finally opt for the Key Lime ( a nice twist )Creme Brule.. Service was attentive...and will definatlely have this as a "go to" restaurant before theater/symphony etc again. Nice "Clubby feel to the surroundings in the bar area, with the view..GREAT !
(4)
Kevin L.
We had seen Tavern At The Park on one of the foodie networks and marked it down as a must visit. My wife had seen their special martini that was laced with silver and included the special gift from Tiffany's. It's located by the park and is convenient for drinks were pretty good. The silver was weird but she really wanted the silver 'bean' necklace so was pleased. Fairly pricey of a place for what you seem to get vs other places on the mile.
(3)
Nicole L.
I don't know much about this place, but I do know one thing. I ordered the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich after the waiter told me it was the best steak sandwich in Chicago. I found that hard to believe until I tried it. OMG it's been over a month and I'm still raving about it!!! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Bryan S.
Had dinner on the roof top with a bunch of work colleagues while in town on business. Wonderful atmosphere, great views, great ambiance. I do agree with a lot of the other reviews about the door/hostess staff. They're a little fussy, but once you smile and make a joke with them, we got upstairs quick, even before everyone was there. Policy about full party is weird when your restaurant is empty. Food was okay. My ceviche was excellent, but pasta was horrible. Waitress was great. And dessert was outstanding.
(4)
Sam K.
Thought my cab driver recommended this because it was the closest place where he dropped us off (across from millennium park) so I was a bit weary. Boy was I wrong.. This place is amazing! Wings were excellent. I had the fillet mignon sandwich for the main course and it was amazing. Do yourself a favor and eat here!!!
(5)
Karlee Q.
Very nice experience. I went here with some friends before the ballet on a Friday night. The atmosphere is great...cozy, yet sophisticated. I also liked how the tables were not crammed together, there was nice spacing. I sat at the bar while waiting for my friends to arrive and had a drink. The beer menu is selective, but covers all the bases. Both at the bar and at our table, the service was excellent. We were seated even though we did not have our full party, which is a plus compared to some other places I've gone that make you wait. The food was well prepared and beautifully presented. The menu is a little on the pricier side, but it is well worth it. I recommend the house-made hummus as an appetizer, and do NOT leave this place without ordering a brownie sundae. It is to die for. I took the blue line and walked from Washington, which was not a bad walk, so I'm not sure about the parking situation. The reason I gave this restaurant 4 stars instead of 5, because really I have no complaints about the service or the food taste and presentation, is because the menu has limited vegetarian options besides salad and one veggie burger. I would like to see a mushroom sandwich or some sort of delicious pasta dish, but obviously I ate something and it was fabulous. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)
Julie Z.
This review is strictly for the Tree House which is their rooftop. I think it's pretty fair to say that most Chicagoan's love a rooftop, including myself. This one is great b/c it's in the heart of downtown and across the street from Millennium Park. The view is legit. The drinks are pricey but that's no surprise. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. I did not eat here so I can't review the food but if you're looking for a happy hour spot or to grab a few drinks before dinner, check this place out. Arrive early too! It gets crowded quickly.
(4)
Eric L.
We went here last night on Valentine's Day, and it was awesome! I had fried calamari and a medium steak burger with cheddar. The burger was so juicy you didn't have to add anything to it to make it great, no sauces or salt or anything. My girlfriend had the chopped salad, which was large and tasted great. Also, this place has good beers on the menu, which we had a couple of. We will definitely come back to this place. It was a pretty big bill but well worth it. The service was good and quick as well.
(5)
Tom D.
The owner is terribly inappropriate, and he has the worst sideburns that I have ever seen. Corey is a great server The owner used the "f" word at the table towards us and proclaimed how classy he is. If the place is so classy, they should turn down the music.
(1)
Kacie B.
Had an amazing dinner with excellent service and atmosphere! Everyone's meal was delicious, between our table we had calamari, the pasta, port shank (which was huge) and brisket...divine! Get the potato pancakes ( came with the pork but can also be ordered as an app), you'll thank me! Their desserts were great also. We all split the carrot cake and red velvet cake, not too sweet but full of flavor. Watch out, though, they are also huge! Will definitely be going back!
(5)
Justin P.
I did not feel welcome here at all, and will not be going back. Every host I interacted with was smug, and acted as if I was in the wrong place. When I finally got to their rooftop where my buddy had a party, I was told by two different employees "there is a private party outside, so no one is allowed on the roof." So I go "yeah, that's my buddy's party." They acted as if I was crazy... For it to be overpriced and in an area with slim options to park, they should be more appreciative of clientele.
(1)
Casey B.
Went there cause it was close. The food was good the drinks were better. The wait staff was absolutely amazing. They were very helpful with everything.
(4)
Dan R.
Very nice. I was pleasantly surprised because I never really noticed this place or put much thought to it even though it is next to my work. Lots of seating on two levels and well staffed. It's a good place for a business meeting or a quiet meal. The fish I ordered for lunch was very good. Other than that I really can't say much more as that is the limit of my experience there. I will definitely go back for the convenience, dining room setting and the food.
(4)
Monica S.
Come here for the Bloody Mary's - Stay for the Bloody Mary's (oh and the food!) They make their own Bloody Mary mix in house which has been perfected with the perfect amount of kick. Each drink comes with your choice of vodka (their well vodka is Svedka...which is not too shabby for their cheapest vodka). I got mine with Absolut and it was perfect. The garnishes also make this a must drink - hot pepper, cheese cube, olive, and lime on a seasoning-dusted glass rim. (hey, stuff some blue cheese in that olive!) I ordered the chopped salad which I could barely make a dent it. This is no side salad here, you get a huge mountain of food. (Shoestring fries on a salad? madness.) Our server Brian was great. Very attentive and showed up at our table at all the right moments. He must have had some sort of alert system to notify him when my drink was getting low. I'll definitely be back hopefully sooner than later. Also, the Tree house roof top seems tempting for an after work happy hour. Apparently, they have a whole different menu....very intriguing.
(4)
L T.
Love a place that has the Smiths playing!
(4)
Patrick F.
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, but since I keep heading back it must be 4 stars....right? I've really only gone here during business lunches and is a great reason to be out of the office on a work day for 90 minutes. It's hard for me not to start with one of you hearty soups or house salad and then dig into the lobster roll with a healthy side of asparagus or some other green. In fact, I do this most times I there. I swear next time I'm going to venture outside of my comfort zone and try one of your many overpriced lunch dishes. Well till next time Tavern at the Park - I know that I will be seeing you soon! I also hear great things about the rooftop, but have yet to enjoy this experience.
(4)
Jenna K.
I never write reviews but I feel like the service that I have received at Tavern at the Park deserves one. My company hosts client outings fairly often so I have worked with quite a few event coordinators and restaurants across the city. That said, I have yet to experience the level of service that I have at Tavern at the Park anywhere else. Tabitha, the event coordinator, has been wonderful to work with and is extremely responsive via phone and email. Every time we hosted an event Tabitha stopped by before our guests arrived to thank us for our business. She also went the extra step of staffing our event with the same server (Ryan) each time which added to our experience. Ryan remembered me and my co-worker, and even called us by name which was impressive. I truly appreciate the service that Tabitha and Ryan have provided and will continue to give them our business moving forward. If you are looking to host a party of any sorts I would recommend Tavern at the Park over anywhere else.
(5)
Abby M.
I've been here for lunch a few times and like others have noted, it is pretty pricey. But the food is good, and the portions are large - so you're definitely getting what you pay for. They honor my seating requests with no complaints (sunny room, please) and everyone is friendly. We went yesterday and I had the steak burger salad - I asked for it Medium and it came out rare (in my opinion - I know this varies from place to place). They took care of it without batting an eye - even when they didn't have to, especially because I had ate at least a third of it! I thought that was going above and beyond to make their customer happy. They also have some seating up on their roof, which is great in the spring/summer time. From what I've heard, it's open all seasons - so we may have to stop for a happy hour sometime soon!
(4)
Rick C.
They would get at least a 4 for their service and food. Outstanding. I am giving them a 5. I left my prescription sunglasses at their establishment. They found them, kept them and I had the pair in my hands instantly. Fantastic!
(5)
Cissi C.
Seafood items are well prepared here. They taste fresh and lightly seasoned with refreshing taste. Nice environment inside and outside (at the patio), too.
(4)
John R.
I was in Chicago last weekend and was dying for a steak. We went to The Tavern and had their NY. It was excellant.
(4)
Chantelle A.
The rooftop is where its at! It took us awhile to actually find the entrance to the Tavern Treehouse but, once we arrived....we ARRIVED! Gorgeous views of the city....so posh...so relaxing.. It was a Friday night, the first night of Lollapalooza, and you could see the back of the Bud Light stage where Black Sabbath was performing. We ordered the Ceviche with huge pieces of Halibut, Cod, Scallops, Shrimp, tomato and cilantro drenched in this awesome lime vinegarette served with crispy tortilla chips. My friend ordered the Type O cocktail, which was made with their housemade Blood Orange Grenadine....it was pretty tasty. I ordered The Flying Zombo...made with ginger....it was very refreshing on this perfect night.
(5)
Rhonda G.
Ah...nothing is better than when happy HOUR turns into happy HOURS. Pretty friendly, attentive staff. Some drinks are kind of on the pricey side but I kind of expected that going in. Mixture of the after work crowd and the cargo short and sun visor wearing tourists. Pretty decent wine list but the martini selection is pretty minimal. Worth checking out.
(4)
Beth C.
I enjoyed my Grilled Vegetarian Dagwood, but I will not return because a waiter was making a rude comment about customers who were in the dining room. I, of course, after hearing the remark, couldn't resist my teacher stare at the unprofessional waiter who quickly made a hasty retreat. I understand needing to blow off steam, but not on the floor where service is paramount. I'm even willing to overlook the kitchen errors with our food, but not blatant disrespect by staff.
(1)
Katie V.
If this place were cheaper/not trying to pass as fine dining, I might give it 3 stars, but everything was pretty underwhelming, especially given the price point and the ambiance they are striving for. Heavy-handed is the word that comes to mind -- the portions are huge, the plating inelegant, and the menu, while expansive, lacks focus. The special pizza, which came with lobster, pancetta, tomatoes, and spicy onions, was almost too spicy to eat, and I'm not a sissy when it comes to heat. There were jalapenos sort of randomly on there, too, despite no mention of them in the description. The combination of flavors was unusual, but not really harmonious. Felt like a kitchen sink pizza that could have used a little more thought/finesse. Beet salad: good, but standard. Chunks of beets were pretty clunky/big, not pretty to look at. Sockeye special: Fish was good, not overcooked, but the whipped potatoes it came with were cold. The other things on the plate included two sliced tomatoes, some cucumbers, olives and frisee. Weird set, didn't really go with the fish. It was sort of like a nicoise and a Greek salad got together and procreated. For $28, I felt a little cheated that my salmon basically just came with a side salad. My date got the truffle chicken hash, which looked good. Huge plate of food, and he barely made a dent, but it looked more interesting than my dish. The service was pretty good -- only annoying thing is the server kept asking us when we wanted our entrees to arrive. Right after she brought out the apps, she asked if we were ready for entrees. No, we said, we'd like a little time to eat the apps. She asked again 5 minutes later. The kitchen was closing, but still....it's the server's job to time the courses properly. Don't ask me when I want my entree -- bring it after you've cleared the first course, duh. I would like to check out the roof deck. For cocktails and a good view, I might return, but not for a nice dinner.
(2)
Stephanie H.
This place is A-OK. I took one star off for the prices and another star for the food. I've been here several times since I work nearby, but last week was the first time I came here and paid for my own meal. That was a mistake. This place is really really pricey and this is quasi-upscale American food. For example, the last time I was there I had the chicken pot pie, this was $22 and sadly I've had better at Mystic Celt of all places for a lot cheaper. I also had the ceviche to start which "was sooooo good" according to the waitress who claimed that she had never had it before and when she tried it here she asked the chefs to give her the recipe. Clearly she really never had ceviche before because it was really weak, and as you can guess it was pricey. Other times I've been here I've had the bookmaker burger which is really good, but again this is a $20+ steak sandwich. I understand this is in the tourist area, but all of your dishes aren't worth shelling out the money.
(3)
Chelsea B.
Delicious food, great location across the street from millennium park, generous portions. Tabitha, our waitress was phenomenal with our 2 kids. Even though there is no kids menu they were very accommodating. You cant ask for a better place. It was fabulous!
(5)
julie q.
Atmosphere = cozy, woodsy, and nice Servie = slow and unattentive for most of the night Appetizer = Duck Egg Rolls = meh. Entree = Chicken breast lightly breaded and stuffed w/mushrooms, proscuitto, sun dried tomatoes, shallots, mozzerella, garlic and served over bucatini = for the price, not bad at all. Dessert = strawberry shortcake that should be illegal and senteneced to jail Side order my friend had = mashed potatoes = they were the same kind I got in middle and high school in the cafeteria. For a pricey $7, they should have been whipped with cream and butter and real potatoes Wine = $30 per bottle and it was good I think for such an expesive bill, sans wine, i expected a helluva lot better for the $$$$. Will I be back? Only if someone else is paying.
(2)
Doug B.
Overall it was just OK. The service was relatively good. The food was hit or miss. The steak sandwich was great. The steak Diane was good but ridiculously small portion.The chicken hash was just poor.Great location across from Millenium Park but the dining room has no windows and no view.
(3)
Burak G.
Had lunch there with my two little kids. Staff was super nice and accomodating. Server was excellent. Food was superb. I asked for fast service, and food arrived within five minutes.
(5)
Matthew T.
Great food and service!!! The prices are sightly higher, but worth it. The atmosphere was very nice. We sat in the back so the lighting was dimmed, which was very relaxing, and then there is seating close to the windows overlooking Millennium Park. I ordered the turkey club, which was huge, and it came with a side (stacked higher than the sandwich) of fresh cut fries. My wife ordered the BBQ beef sandwich also came with fresh cut fries. Great wine and beer list (lots of different craft beers). Next time we visit Chicago, we will go back here again.
(5)
Cody F.
I wish this place was good, but it simply is not. My experience was so terribly mediocre and at such a high price. The service was odd, the waitress literally tried to talk us out of our initial orders. The food is exceptionally uninspired, which is totally absurd considering the price. I would not recommend this restaurant, nor will I be returning.
(2)
Liz K.
I've had two good experiences here. The first was for lunch, the second, dinner. Both times I've been overwhelmed by the amount of food on my plate, and when you consider that with the quality, I think the prices are fair. I don't remember the name of the salad I got at lunch, but there were four chicken breasts on the plate. FOUR. For one person! That could have fed me for 4 separate meals. In any case, the salad also had goat cheese and apples and it was just yummy all-around. For dinner, I got the vegetarian lasagna, and again, it was enough for 3 or 4 meals. This is nit-picky, but I would have liked bigger pieces of veggies so that they wouldn't fall off my fork after the noodles were cut...but anyway, it was delicious and I can't wait to eat it for lunch today. My dinner guest was also impressed with her sandwich (the short rib, I think?) and had the same feeling about the portion. We both had the Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc and enjoyed it. The service was friendly and quick both times. It was a little bit loud, which is my only complaint.
(4)
Mahsa T.
Surprisingly, I actually liked this place, it didn't feel touristy at all on a Wednesday night. I was greeted warmly by the host. We sat at the bar and got great service from the bartender. I ordered a glass of wine (which is more like two glasses of wine because they bring you a full glass plus a little carafe) and he ordered a Guinness. Not much of a beer selection on tap, but they have a pretty good selection of wines. Dark woodsy interior was cozy and charming. The place was decorated beautifully for Christmas so that totally upped the ambiance. I didn't get to try the food, so I will have to update the review when I do, but the four stars is based on ambiance, service, and drinks. Great happy hour or date spot.
(4)
Tsveta V.
The atmosphere is a little stuffy for me, but the food was good and it wasn't as packed as other restaurants around the New East Side making it a good pick for a business lunch. I got the Chicken Black Truffle Hash which was recommended by the waiter. The portion was very large, and it was pretty good but nothing to rave about.
(3)
Johanna L.
Came here for the "groom's dinner" before my sister's wedding two weeks ago. There were passed hors d'oeuvres and wine available. I had the sliders (YUM) and the various fruits and cheeses available. There were also bacon-wrapped scallops, which I'm not a fan of in general, but I'm told they were lovely. Great food, kind of cramped (we were upstairs) though. Might be nice to come back when there is room to sit down to enjoy more of the food. The service was great, and everyone working there seemed very intent on us having a good experience.
(3)
Jenny P.
the only place in Chicago that makes a pina colada the way I love it topped with whipped cream !
(5)
Stephanie H.
I had been aching to try this restaurant out for ages after constantly passing it on the way to and from work. I absolutely love outdoor seating, which is what I think draws guests to this restaurant. I finally had the chance to go a few weeks ago. My friend and I shared the butternut squash ravioli and chopped steak cheeseburger. The cheeseburger was delicious, but the butternut squash was very mediocre, and the portion was rather small. Our server was attentive, but his behavior was a little odd. Overall, I don't think the outdoor seating is enough to bring me back.
(2)
Trey M.
Great menu. Service was very good. We had the lobster ravioli and Cajun prime rib. Huge chunks of lobster in the dish, and the prime rib was cooked perfectly.
(5)
Will D.
Nice location, upscale atmosphere and attentive service, but very disappointed with my entree. The brisket was rubbery and fatty, but at least the mac and cheese and cole slaw sides helped salvage the meal. Somewhat expensive to boot, so it was not a good value for me. I expected a lot, lot more. Note to self: don't ever order brisket north of Dallas again.
(2)
Scott Y.
We had an enjoyable meal. Too bad the place is so noisy! It was difficult to have a normal conversation.
(3)
Tom Y.
On a recent business trip to Chicago, My buddy and I wanted a comfortable grill/restaurant where we could enjoy a good meal and watch a hockey game. The Tavern turned out to be a perfect choice. When we arrived, we were hoping to find a table or a couple seats in the front lounge (with the TVs over the bar). Unfortunately, it was completely jammed. The host, knowing we wanted to watch the game, said he cold find us a spot. He took us back into the dining room where there just happened to one empty booth with a TV right in front of it. We each enjoyed a few beers and a nice meal while the game played on. Our own luxury box! The food was quite good. The menu includes a variety of items sure to please a mixed group. I had the brisket which was served with a large side of mac cheese and coleslaw-very tasty. My friend commented that his whitefish was the best he ever had! Portions were large. Our server took excellent care of us. Prices seemed in line with other Chicago restaurants. If youre looking for good food and great service in a comfortable setting, I highly recommend the Tavern at the Park.
I'm ashamed to say I've lived in Chicago for the last 16 years, have walked past this restaurant for almost 2 decades and never went in. Since my SO was working in the Aon Center and we were meeting for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, I thought I would finally try Tavern at the Park out since we make it a point to eat everywhere in the neighborhood at least once. Lunch is such a wonderful time to try out a restaurant like this because 1) it's not busy and crowded 2) you get attentive service 3) you are not in a hurry to get to a play, symphony, or other event and 4) lunch menus are cheaper and a good indicator of whether you really want to spend more for dinner on another night. The entrees are truly wonderful, creative and very affordable for this class of restaurants. My black truffle chicken was divine and $21.00. Truthfully, it was enough to feed two people, but I gorged myself silly. I simply loved, loved, loved the Irish Potato Cake. It's like someone shaped grits and cheese into a biscuit. The poached egg on top of the ensemble seems like the new trendy thing to do with burgers, but there it was on my black truffle chicken. It was like have breakfast and dinner combined. I also had their fired banana split dessert. That was ingenious frying the banana in what I assume is cornflakes! My SO loved his hamburger. The interior was more casual than I assumed from looking at the outside, but maybe that's because we were seated downstairs across from the bar. Perfect for lunch and a great, first introduction to Tavern at the Park.
(4)
Milind B.
I had been here twice before an year or two ago and it had been okay, so last Wednesday (Sep 4, 2013), a friend and I decided to go get a couple of cocktails late in the evening. We went, asked if there was a place, we were given a table on the roof, by the edge and then the wait began. We waited for 30 minutes or so without a single person asking for us. Nothing at all. We tried to catch people's eyes, they didn't respond. It was terrible. We finally got frustrated and decided to head out. We also decided to post a complaint to the concierge at the front, for which the response was "okay" that's it and she went back to looking at whatever piece of paper she had in front of her. For a place that boasts such decor and location, it was pathetic service. For any place which calls itself belonging to the hospitality industry, it was pathetic service.
(1)
Tiffany H.
Amazing location! Super trendy type of restaurant and bar on the rooftop of a building overlooking Millenium Park. The location and view is 5 stars but the food was just ok. The rooftop isn't very large so when we visited it on a whim looking for a place to grab dinner, we anticipated a wait. However, when we checked in with the hostess, she couldn't and wouldn't tell us how long the wait was which is quite odd and poor customer service. She said we could wait at the bar but she said she had no idea when she could seat us at a regular table (maybe an 1 hr, maybe more, maybe shorter). With that vagueness, we opted to eat our dinner at the bar which was ok but not ideal. For the venue and the price, I would anticipate the food to be a little better.
(3)
amy z.
service is great but food is sub par.
(2)
Pete B.
We went there for lunch because the place we wanted to go originally was already closed. The restaurant was relatively nice in a good location, but the food was just okay/nothing special. It's a little pricey for lunch ($15+ for lunch entree), but the portion was huge, so I guess that justified the price. Service was lacking since I had to stop and ask the waitress to refill my water after waiting for a long time for her to come over even though there were only 3 other tables besides us. Why go here when there are better restaurants in Chicago?
(3)
Meredith K.
They have Templeton Rye so that's good! I've been here for lunch a few times and its always been solid. Kind of on the pricey side esp for a salad but all in all good. I took my parents here for dinner before a show at the CSO. The dinner menu is different and more expensive than the lunch menu (of course!) I had the black truffle chicken hash which was good but big. I took half of it home w/ me. Everyone else enjoyed their meals. My only gripe was the brownie sundae. The brownie was not good. Dry, not rich, just blah! I'd skip dessert next time although my boyfriend is bummed that we didn't get the family style banana creme pie.
(3)
Jamal T.
Nice ambiance and impeccable service. Brisket was tender too
(4)
Bill R.
Since everyone else chose alfresco dining, we asked to be seated indoors. Therefore it was pretty wide open. We got put off in a corner, near the kitchen entrance and an elevator door. We were told "no one uses the elevator", until everyone did. My beef is with the shaky table. I personally got on my knees to fix this in full view of management, servers and bus staff. Every time a server set something down, the table lurched, yet did nothing. Table presence in general is poor. Glassware piled up on the table. We gathered bread plates for some time but were never offered bread. With our appetizer, the plates were badly chipped. Too bad, this is all a deal breaker, because the food is good. Everyone had a seafood dish that drew compliments. My wife complained on getting a lot of scales on her snapper. My observation was with the "flatbread". I imagine flatbread to have a thin, cracker-like, crispy crust. Instead it was thick and doughy. One half of the crust was burnt, the other half, under-cooked. Call it "Pizza", because this isn't flatbread. First impressions are everything. If you can't enjoy your meal, because you need to keep you feet firmly planted on one end of the table base so no one spills their wine, you are dining at an establishment that just doesn't care.
(1)
Adriana F.
Good food, good location.
(3)
Sally V.
Nice outdoor seating. The food was good. Nothing spectacular.
(4)
Kelsey R.
Best food and service that I encountered in Chicago. The strawberry chicken salad was amazing.. Tons of chicken and fried goat cheese. Fresh fruit on it was delicious. Luisa took care of us and was outstanding.
(5)
Phil L.
Went to Tavern last night. It's got a pretty good location, but we weren't able to sit upstairs due to a private party like we wanted. We sat at the bar for a bit, but seating was limited- another party was going on downstairs. We finally got seated outside (downstairs) with about a half hour of the restaurant staying open. Wish it stayed open later. That, along with access to the upstairs, would increase my rating.
(3)
Hoang L.
I went here a few months ago and I ordered a filet mignon with lobster crust and a loaded baked potato for lunch. This might sound foolish, but I had to load the potato myself! You come to a nice restaurant like this, you would expect to have the food ready to eat. The filet mignon was tough to eat and I usually order medium (occasionally medium rare). You can see how burnt the piece of meat was from the picture I uploaded. I won't be coming back here, even if the lunch was paid by my company.
(2)
J and S.
My fiance and I went last night for the first time (eventhough we live about 2 miles away). We had a reservation, and upon entering we were asked if we wanted to sit in the bar area or the dining room. We were seated at the first table when you walk in (the host said he suggested the bar area because there was more going on). I would like to check out the dining room, and I will definitely be back when the weather isn't stupidly terrible (when we originally planned for a date night I figured, Mid-May- sit outside and overlook the park... not so much). Star 1- I appreciated the Host providing his suggestion for seating. Star 2- I ordered a glass of wine and my fiance got a whiskey on the rocks (quite a generous pour!). Drinks were large and reasonably priced! Star 3- Service. Geremy was our server and she was fantastic! She was there when we wanted her, she was not overbearing, she was super friendly and seemed like she truly enjoyed her job. She gave great recommendations and comments on the food- she knew the menu well. It was honestly the best service I have had in along time! Star 4- The Food. The prices arent cheap, you should know that going into your evening, but its worth it. I ordered the bookmaker steak sandwich ($22). I am not a huge steak fan. And this is only the 2nd steak sandwich I have ordered from a restaurant. I eat steak probably twice a year at Ruth's Chris, and the only other steak sandwich- Morton's. This was DELICIOUS. I ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. Why was it $22? Well... there was a TON of meat. It comes with a delicious truffle aioli that melts in your mouth- and is delicious with the crispy onion strings. I am currently fighting to finish this sandwich for lunch the day after (I was full for HOURS after 1/2 of it). It comes with about 5 servings of fries. I normally am not a fry person, but these were good!. We ordered a side of creamed spinach- I could do without it, but it was pretty good. Next time I will order an appetizer or dessert instead of a side! My fiance had the Lobster Ravioli (our server suggested that over the Lobster Mac n Cheese... but it was a close call). Not only was the ravioli stuffed with Lobster, there were large chunks throughout. I'm allergic, so I cant tell you how it tasted, but he was very pleased. The dish was $34, but the amount of lobster I could see made the price extremely reasonable. All in all it was delicious and we will definitely be back! Next time when its nice and we can sit outside with a beautiful view, have a few drinks and the Duck eggroll and fig & prosciutto flatbread appetizers! Why no 5 stars? I was still sad about not being able to sit outside and there were some d-bags running between the upstairs area and the bar downstairs that annoyed me (not the restaurants fault, and it wouldn't have been that way in the dining area!) oh and I am so not a fan of having to go upstairs to use the restroom. Other than that... great experience!
(4)
Stephen C.
little bit too long in between courses but all in all very good
(4)
Sara B.
This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice afternoon or a clear evening. The views are stunning and the cocktails are delicious - unique yet easy to enjoy. The music selection was great too - sounded like they had bogarted our Pandora station! We stopped by here randomly and decided to come back again the next afternoon because of the views. I highly recommend it!
(5)
Carol T.
We went here for dinner after going to the theater, and sadly could not get reservations at my preferred restaurant. I thought that Tavern At The Park was good, but I wasn't blown away. The food was good, and we had a fantastic server. They also had a decent wine selection with reasonable prices. However, I took one star off for the food prices, which were really high even for Chicago, and particularly so for the quality of the food (good, but not amazing). I took another star off for the portion sizes, which were ridiculously large. I ordered the Black Truffle Chicken Hash, and I could probably have fed a family of 5 with it, and certainly couldn't finish it all. Again, it tasted just fine, so if enormous portion sizes are your thing, or if you really like being able to take home leftovers, then I would recommend this place.
(3)
Stephen R.
Service here is always great Staff is very friendly Bar area is the best part Food is above average Service, Service, Service is really well done here. Great place in the warmer weather.
(4)
Christina M.
Great location, salads, baked potatoes, and wine selection. My bf and I live pretty close to this restaurant so we frequent it often. He really likes all of the meat sandwiches, and I think all of the vegetarian options are good. Overall, nice place to meet someone for lunch or dinner.
(4)
Michelle P.
My parents I and stumbled across this place last year when they came to visit (I avoid downtown as much as I can since I work downtown.) We weren't going to go in until a guy walking by said you have to try it. So we did and feel in love. We recently went again for my moms birthday and again the food and service was amazing. If you are visiting Chicago this place is a NICE change from the typical places people usually visit. Enjoy!
(5)
Amy L.
Great location. Upscale atmosphere. Inside and outside dining. Very nice. Food was excellent, however I ordered what the server called "flatbread" and it came out as a pizza. :/ The restaurant is huge. Everyone else was satisified with their food. I would recommend this place. We even drank at the bar after dinner, when the place was closing and the staff was super cool.
(4)
Heather S.
Delicious meal and great service! The Tavern at the Park has a great atmosphere! Whether you are here for a business lunch or stop in after touring the local attractions, it is a welcoming place to get a spectacular meal & refreshing drink.
I went here with my sister and my dad when our flight to NYC was cancelled. First time in Chicago and ended up at Tavern. Ambiance is so classy and cozy. Our service this night, which was a Saturday night, was fantastic. Our server, a girl new to the area, was so sweet and really friendly. She helped us out with the menu and recommendations. FIG & PROSCIUTTO FLATBREAD is a must! I love the blue tinted glass that the water was served in. The bread basket was also amazing. I had the steak sandwich with the onion straws on top- delish. My dad ordered a fish which was awesome- can't remember which one. And he also got the tomato bisque which was pretty good. I am surprised at some of the negative reviews here, but then again, I'm not a local so I don't have any other comparisons in the area. Excellent place in my book! ...and definitely more like a $$$ if you are planning on eating a full meal and having any alcohol at all. $$ is more for one drink and appetizer.
(4)
Marc W.
Enjoyed the wedge salad; refreshing and quite large. The signature Tavern steak (16oz) was one of the better prepared cuts I've had in a while; medium with incredible flavor and tenderness. Just what I was craving. 3 stars for the service/cost...quality was there with the food, but the service was average and cost expensive.
(3)
Kyle N.
The food here was excellent, but the service was even better. We had a fantastic waitress who was very attentive and helpful to our rowdy group of family who hadn't seen each other in quite a while. We were seated at a large round table in a private room at the front of the restaurant. There was a door to our room, so we could close it and tell as many stories and laugh as loud as we wanted -- it was great! The food just kept coming (probably because we kept ordering since it was soooo good). Between the five of us we got the lobster mac&cheese, the pork roast, the spaghetti & meatballs, and a couple other dishes that I can't recall for our entrees. As for appetizers, the waitress helped steer us towards the bread pudding and the pizza with bleu cheese, figs, bacon and an amazing sauce on it -- it was DELICIOUS. After the appetizers, many of us got soup and/or salad which were all delicious as well -- especially the tomato basil bisque and the french onion soup...YUM! We were all stuffed when it came time for dessert, but my aunt decided we needed to see the menu anyway. We ended up ordering the two LARGEST desserts on their menu: the carrot cake and the berry tart (i forget the real name). Both were monstrous and delicious. I'm pretty sure we spent 3+ hours eating, talking and carrying on and we closed that place down on the Thursday night we were there, but the staff was incredibly friendly and didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, the manager visited our dinner room during the evening to make sure everything was going well. Over all a great place to eat and enjoy yourself! Ask for the private room if you can -- it made all the difference in our dining experience here.
(5)
Adam K.
Took my cousin here, she was very impressed and so was I. The host told us a 20 min wait but we decided to eat at the bar. Pulled up and ordered a Matilda, my lady got Put Your Honey Where Your Mouth Is which made me cringe to order but when it came out she was enthralled, I took a sip and yeah, it was pretty girly, but good! Next round was "Left at Albuquerque" which I wanted to get cuz I am huge Bugs Bunny fan. and also because it featured a "home-made jalapeno syrup" which sounded intriguing. This drink was amazing. I highly recommend it. Tasted NOTHING like booze but i was fully fershnickered after 2. To eat I got: Salmon and Tuna tartar - Shredded Horseradish, Toast Points, Rice Crackers & Wonton Crisp. nothing to write home about except for the weird butter sauce, that they dont even mention in the descrip. WOW this stuff was like crack. I scooped it all up. Bookmaker Steak Sandwich - Sliced Filet Mignon, Crispy Onion Straws, Truffle Aioli & Whiskey Butter On A Pretzel Roll. Ummm yeah, home run for me, altough i ordered it medium rare, which i know is a relative measurement but it was a bit on the rare side for me. Which i do not mind. I am not that guy who stands up and says "ExxCUUUSE ME WAITER, THIS IS RARE, I ORDERED MEDIUMMM!!!" I hate that person. It was really tasty however, and I will get it again but order it medium. I think maybe the whiskey butter added to my fershnickeredness. Baked Whipped Potato Casserole - Holy dear lord they give a lot of potatoes for six bucks. I could not even finish it all, so tasty. After we were done it started storming so we hung out for awhile, we did not feel rushed or bullied as we were just chillin. That was nice. The ambiance gets 5 stars, service 5 stars and date night factor...5 stars. So why did I not give the venue 5 stars? Its not the kind of place I would rush back to to eat again. I wanted to try Gage but the wait was an hour and ten mins and it was SOOOO noisy in there. Here the noise level was perfect and the patrons seemed way less snobby.
(4)
Shradha A.
My eternal search in Chicago is for vegetarian-friendly restaurants where we can host clients. I'm yet to find that place that works out - in terms of quiet environment where business can be talked, good food can be ordered and enjoyed, the service can be relied on and the bill doesn't burn a hole in a startup pocket. We tried Tavern at the Park today - the one catch is they open at 2pm on Saturdays (yes, we were doing business on the weekend). The atmosphere is great - not very dark or loud, the menu had some good options for salads that could easily be turned vegetarian, and the service was sharp and attentive. The chopped salad and the wedge salad were both good. Soups are all made in chicken broth though... Definitely on the shortlist, because of the lack of choices otherwise. P.S. Open to new suggestions for business meals (brunch and dinner)!
(4)
Reuben H.
Wonderful space, not so wonderful food, and the service we got was downright creepy. Not sure if the guy was drunk/high or socially retarded, but he was really just overbearing and stared and lingered for way too long. Food was nothing to write home about, in fact for the prices charged- the food was bad. The space itself is really very nice. Plus with it's location so close to so many downtown business buildings and directly across Randolph from Millennium Park- it has great potential to be a good spot for a nice bite to eat and a drink. Next time, I will stick to drinks. Besides, I don't think Mr. Creepy is a bartender there.
(2)
Ronald C.
I'm a longtime customer of the former Chicago Bar & Grill, which now calls itself Tavern At the Park, dating back nearly 30 years now. Owing to its intimacy, quality, location and the ability to always get a comfortable seat within seconds, it has stood for decades as the ideal place to go for dinner and/or drinks after work, for quick business meetings, after taking in social functions, entertainment, shopping, ice skating or whatever. You can rest assured, however, that after my experience there last night I will never set foot inside the place again, and I will admonish my friends and professional colleagues to avoid this establishment as well. Several news stories have been written and published in local mainstream media over the past couple of weeks detailing how suburban whites are now eschewing the suburbs they ran to more than 40 years ago, and are returning to reside in the downtown Chicago area--like it's a good thing. What not one of those articles has emphasized is the African American populace that they are displacing, and the attitude, arrogance and sense of entitlementment that some of these "newly urban" white transplants are bringing with them to the city. A female colleague of mine and I decided to meet at Tavern On the Park last night just to catch up on things, and enjoy some cocktails. She arrived minutes before I did, and was asked by the metrosexual white, male host to stand by because there was a "45-minutes-to-an-hour wait" for a table (we are both African American). Once I walked in, my friend informed me of the situation and we stood off to the side, but watched intently as at least three non-African American guests and their parties were very warmly greeted by the host, who proceeded to assure them that "whatever table opened up next was definitely theirs." He repeated this audibly, three times, almost as if he was determined that we heard him. My friend then simply walked over to the desk to ask about our place on the list, and out of nowhere was rudely, verbally assaulted by this blonde, pompous, male (expletive omitted) like I have never heard a woman addressed before. Then, he calmy turned back to his white guests, smiled like a Cheshire cat and said, "now, how can I be of service to you?" This person has no idea how very close he came to a physical confrontation with me for insulting a black woman and friend of mine like that, but we just determined that it wasn't worth it, and that after three decades Tavern At the Park no longer deserves our money. It's like these days, so long as most downtown Chicago establishments are packed to the rafters with white, college-aged kids freely spending mommy and daddy's money and chasing butt, proprietors feel like they can address and treat black patrons any kind of way because serving people who look just like them is what they prefer. Handing downtown over to white, former suburbanites may be a cash cow for merchants, but that's not Chicago. Character is no more. It's essentially a college town after 5:00 p.m. People of color, if you're in search of an establishment where you'll be respected, Tavern At the Park is not it, and it starts right at the door with the so-called "host" that they have in place. How very disappointing with an accomplished restaurateur like Peter de Castro, Jr. as the owner.
(1)
Fleet H.
Reviews of blue cheese bread pudding are right on: awesome appy. Whiskey sour: who'd a thunk they were so good!?
(4)
Dustin H.
The filet was awesome! Somewhat pricey but I think it was worth it.
(5)
Aaron L.
We had a group of 7 for drinks and apps. They were very accommodating (we asked for the private room) and service was excellent. The apps were also very good.
(4)
Richard S.
This place is great! The food is awesome and the service is great - very upscale. It is conveniently located to the Illinois Center so we often bring associates and customers to enjoy the experience. For visitors, this is a place that will always delight and usually have no wait to get a seat. The bar is phenomenal and the restaurant even has a roof top deck that overlooks Millennium Park (for the warmer evenings).
(5)
Ebonie T.
I took my husband to The Tavern for Sweetest Day. Very expensive for a below average experience. I ventured out for a dish I'd never tasted. The menu name escapes me, but it was a sliced beef served with coleslaw and mac and cheese. I hated all of it. I even tasted my hubby's steak and potatoes and even they left a nasty after taste in my mouth. Our waiter was awesome. I believe his name was Gary? Very bubbly and informed. He even assured us that our water was "triple filtered." He knew a lot about the chef, the restaurant's history and how all of the food is made. All and all, I've had better meals for a fraction of the price.
(2)
Jacque R.
I went with a group of co-workers one cold day after work. I really liked the cozy atmosphere.There were many people there, but didn't feel like it. The have a great rye bread with fruit....so yummy! I ate light and got the house salad with mussels and they were both great! The salad had celery, tomato, and cucumbers with a light champagne vinaigrette. The mussels were topped with tomatoes- which I loved. My co-workers liked their meals, but didn't rave about them (Pork Chop special, steak and Rotisserie Amish Chicken) I highly recommend the 2009 Les Fontanelles Pinot- inexpensive but smooth and really nice!
(3)
Shoesoffnrun R.
Stopped in here for lunch while away on business. The food was good, and the bartender was friendly. Nothing amazing, or to write home about.
(3)
Sean N.
I've been here a couple of times for drinks and food. I give two stars because I feel that if you're going to offer something it should either meet or exceed expectations. Alcohol and ambiance are nice, so it's great if you're looking for an after work spot to unwind, however, the food leaves much to be desired. Typically bland, and although at times eclectic, you get the feeling the chef in the back less a culinary artist and more a kid in the sandbox.
(2)
Jennifer T.
The rooftop deck has a great view and the service was good. My issue was the food. I ordered the blackened grouper for $29. The seasoning was bland and the the size of the fish was 3" x 2" with a couple pieces of spinach and a small nibble of rice. I would not come back because of the food.
(2)
Jaime G.
This is my go-to place by the office. Always consistent food and service for entertaining clients and friends with such a great ambiance to match. For starters, the must try is the grilled pallenta in a garlic and Italian sausage sauce. Wow - really full of bold flavor and spice that everyone just loves. My favorite entree is the Seared Ahi Tuna. Very basic but it hits the spot every time. Comes lightly seared with just a little salt and pepper on top of a delightful cabbage salad. Salads are ginormous - the ceaser salad can easily feed 2 people. I also like the fish sandwich that comes with a load of fries. You should try creamy potato side though too. Sometimes i just have this as my entree. So creamy, garlicy, and cheesy that is so satisfying. Bar is ok to just have a drink but tends to get crowded fast. Beer and wine selection is good. Has a nice little outdoor area and the second floor has a fantastic view of Millennium Park but beware - can get full of tourists fast.
(4)
Heather H.
Chicken Noodle/Matzoh Ball soup was outstanding. French Onion soup was outstanding. Main Dishes: Mac & Cheese w/Filet, Chicken with Black Truffle Hash were very good. Chicken pot pie was good as was fish and chips. Kyle was the waiter and he delivered STELLAR service. Glad we went here, had a good meal for the price, lovely location and leisurely stroll back to the hotel. The service really was tremendous.
(4)
Cerene P.
Great after work spot. Stopped here after work on Friday. Good food, drinks and atmosphere!!!
(4)
Mary Ann C.
So...I have been wanting to try this place for the last few years, as I have a yearly conference at the Hyatt. I ate at the Gage for lunch the day before, and it is hard to top the Gage. Anyhow, I was dining solo, so I elected to eat at the bar. A glass of wine and Millennium Burger made up my forty dollar lunch. Pretty pricey in my opinion, especially compared to the Gage. The burger was quite good, even though it was not prepared medium as ordered. Loved the duck confit, cheese, organic greens, and other tasty toppings. It is a fork and knife burger! Huge. The fries were quite good. Other than the price, my other complaint is that I was in the middle of taking a bite of my burger, when the bar tender wanted to start a tab on me and asked for my credit card. Very odd, as I had ordered wine and waited for my burger, which took at least 15 minutes. Why ask for the credit card when I was mid-bite?! Pretty unprofessional even for a meal at the bar. In fact, all of my years living and dining in Chicago and all of the years that I have traveled have never brought on such a request mid-bite. Better training for the staff could improve such things. Would have given the place four stars, even with the burger that was not medium and high prices, but asking me for my credit card in the middle of my meal is over the top! Three stars for Tavern at the Park! Plus, the Gage is better and more affordable!
(3)
Barb B.
I actually would've given this restaurant 5 stars if not for the one super important detail to service which you will learn about later. I visited on vacation and was celebrating my friend's 40th birthday that evening (it was just the 2 of us, not a large party). I'd gotten a recommendation from the concierge at my hotel and after reading the reviews on yelp thought it sounded perfect. Walking distance from my hotel, great view from the rooftop, known for great food and service. Once we arrived I let the hostess know we were celebrating a birthday which she then shared with our server who was excellent throughout the entire time. The food was fantastic, everything was cooked perfectly, other servers in the area were also very attentive, even had a visit from the manager asking if everything was OK, which up to that point everything was great. We hadn't finished our meals in order to save room for dessert and while getting that packed up we asked our server for the dessert menu. He then informed us the kitchen was now closed (it was 10:45pm on a thurs and they close at 10). He did say he'd go and speak to the chef and see what he could do. He was gone for awhile but in the meantime we just chatted and enjoyed the view. About 10 or so minutes later he arrived to inform us the chef would not serve us dessert. At that point, feeling somewhat dumbfounded we asked for the check and left. I did leave the server a 20% tip because he was excellent. We however left feeling very disappointed and turned off from this restaurant. Our complete experience went from absolutely perfect to less than just OK because we couldn't believe they wouldn't serve us dessert. The bar was still open with plenty of guests being served. What about a birthday drink offer? Or an ice cream scoop with a candle? or a chocolate cake slice? Something to show that you care about the special occasion. It was my friend's 40th birthday and we celebrated while on vacation, out of all the restaurants we had to choose from we picked this one and this is how it ended? Pretty sad actually as I've worked in the hospitality industry my entire life and service is a huge deal. I was feeling rather embarrassed and felt bad for my friend. Some things only happen once and this was it. This is the last memory we will have of Tavern on the park because we will not be going there on our next visit to Chicago. I understood if the desserts have to be cooked but seriously, any effort would've made us leave with a smile instead of a frown that night. This is just a warning for anyone celebrating any type of special occasion or romantic event, or anyone who is looking for a special night. In the least I would've appreciated a "we're closing the kitchen at 10 so if you want dessert, tell us now" but nope, nothing, nada, zilch.
(3)
Katherine R.
My mom, sister, and I ate salads with Ahi tuna here. Mom had an individual pizza and my sister drank an assortment of red wines. The server was very nice and humble. I think the ambiance was elegant with the long quiet narrow table layout along tall windows to see out to Millenium Park. The fruit and vegetables in our salads was just a colorful and fresh and crisp presentation and taste. I don't drink but they had a non-alcoholic light ale Guiness that taste like butterscotch and it was very good. Thank God he brought that out instead of the high sugary virgin pina colada that I was thinking about. He was right on track. The dessert was good. The banana split with fried banana was drizzled in chocolate syrup and as usual we shared it with three spoons. I thought the Ahi tuna in the appetizer could have been sliced thicker in the salad.
(4)
Nina M.
I still don't think I can improve my rating, but I did want to at least mention that the owner contacted me regarding my experience. I always see it as a good sign when a business cares enough about comments to respond and use it as a training opportunity for his staff.
(2)
Michael F.
We dined there last night and while I'm a vegan and my coworker is a vegetarian, they were able to accommodate us nicely. I had a margarita pizza with extra tomatoes and no cheese. Had a salad and side of broccoli...which was cooked perfectly and a generous portion. My coworker had the blueberry bread pudding and he said it was great. Even more than that our waiter was very, very kind, helpful and courtious. While a bit spendy, the food and service were top notch. I'd recommend if you're in the downtown area. Next, off to the Chicago Diner for lunch and really looking forward to it.
(5)
Gary M.
We had a pleasant experience. I will give our server five stars -- absolutely the best! The food was delicious, but was fairly standard fare. If anything, the portions were too large, so we left feeling full and wishing we didn't have a starter.
(4)
Justin Z.
The food was very good and moderately priced. I had the brick chicken and it was quite nice.
(4)
Jessica C.
Excellent service, great atmosphere, high prices...very average food. The place is really cute inside, well lit -- lots of windows, letting the sunlight in, nice hard wood floors. The servers are cute and very nice, very friendly, super attentive. The menu is full of things that sound amazing. Sadly though.... No. I ordered the seared ahi appetizer -- it came with a weird chopped mix of vegetables (peppers, celery, onions), which looked interesting, but wasn't. The tuna itself was tasteless, and had a green drizzle on it that also added zero flavor. None -- I still am confused as to what ingredients you could possibly mix together to get something that void of taste. I was hoping that was a fluke, and thought maybe my taste buds were just hungover, like i was. But that wasn't the case -- my taste buds are one sense that never let me down. I ordered the wheat penne -- it sounded amazing -- white wine sauce, portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts...but it was a major let down. It was way too creamy, oily, lacked flavor, and the noodles were soft and mushy. My boss and I both left more than half of our food on our plates...knowing that we might not get another chance to eat until dinner. Knowing that we (I mean HE) spent over $70 on this lackluster lunch...but we didn't care. We just booked it to the airport so that we would have time to get something more edible there.
(2)
Ian B.
Visited the Tavern in a Private group of about 35 people sat in a side room upstairs, appetizers came around and were tasty, especially the bacon wrapped scallops. Service was friendly and attentive, meal portions were rather large - unusual for a place at this price point, atmosphere was comfortable and not pretentious. We didn't feel rushed as you sometimes do in a large group, everyone had a good time.
(4)
Kristen H.
We had an engagement party here last weekend. It was amazing, Lacey did a fantastic job, she was around before, during and after the party, we never had to hunt her down for anything. We had a last minute change on the wine and she managed to get what we wanted. The staff was fantastic, they were also always around and had awesome attitudes. Which makes for a fun party! Our food was really great, people had the choice of chicken or steak. The chicken was amazing. I have to say that this is the place to have a party, we had a really hard time finding a place that was reasonably priced and that wasn't in the basement of a restaurant Tavern at the Park ended up being perfect. The whole party sat upstairs and we had an amazing view of the lights from millennium park. I really, cant say enough good things about this place.
(5)
Ron E.
Great food. Great service. Will definitely return.
(5)
Farrah D.
Perfectly fine place to eat--Americana food, but it's not an exciting experience or anything. Good for groups--went here with some friends from out of town. It was close to the parks, but on the corner of a busy intersection. I could see these place better suited for a business dinner or something to that effect. The food was great, the service was great, the drinks were great--you get what you pay for--a little pricey. I had some nice ravioli, and my husband said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had.
(3)
Hannah A.
We had a great table on the second floor, and after a night of eatting in a crowded resteraunt, it was cozy, yet spacious. Its also on the north side of Millenium Park, so its very convienent. My family ordered a bottle of Hess wine, which was quite good, and skipped appetizers to go straight to the main course. My family had prim-rib and 9 ox. filets, while I had the prichutto wrapped sea scallops. I should have gotten the filet. The scallops were typical yet good, but nothing compared to the perfectness of the filet. My father's was parmesan encrusted and it was amazing. Remeber though, that the dishes are a la carte, so it's recommended that you order some sides. Their shoestring fries are pretty good, but I definately recomend the baked mashed potatoes and the creamed spinach. I could of just had those for dinner and I would have been perfectly content. The service is pretty good as well. It was efficent and timely. Nothing too bad, but nothing amazing either. Seriously though, its almost worth going just for the dessert! They have an amazing brownie with homemade carmel ice cream that will knock your socks off! I always share it with someone, so that I can eat the ice cream! I recomend it for a dinner before a play, or a perfect place for a business dinner.
(3)
Collin M.
This is a very convenient stop for lunch if you need to catch a train at Millenium. The prime rib lunch sandwich with five cheese fondue was outstanding. They come served as three sliders (I hesitate to call them sliders because they are loaded with shaved meet and melted cheese - they are not small) and are delicious. The rest of the massive plate is loaded with their tasty french fries. This place is a little on the pricey side, but the portions are very large and the quality is there.
(4)
Linda N.
A long-time-no-see friend and I came here for lunch Friday noon. I felt bad for our server, who I thought was extremely patient with us, as we took a fair amount of time to catch up before even opening our menus. During our chitchat, my friend reminded me it was meatless Lenten Friday. That meant no Chopped Steak Burgers for either of us. *shakes fist* Started with the New England Clam Chowder which was on the lunch specialty menu. Creamy with a hefty portion of unshelled clams. I settled for the Lobster Roll on a brioche hot dog bun, which was undeniably delicious. Large chunks of lobster with hardly any fillers. My friend chose the Fish and Chips. How can you go wrong with beer batter? With Fat Tire beer batter, you can't. Great service, did I already thank our server for being patient with us?
(4)
Leann W.
We went here on a whim a few weeks ago and it was one of the best dinners I've ever had!! The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We both had the Black Truffle Chicken Hash and it seriously was the best entree I've ever had. Although it was 1386 calories, it was worth every single bite ( we asked for the calorie count to enter it into our MyFitnessPal app. Lol) Only disappointing part was the rooftop wasn't open yet. But we definitely be going back! Make sure you check it out too!
(5)
Max M.
I don't have a lot to say about the Tavern, except that the "Chopped Steak Cheeseburger" was likely the best damn burger i've ever eaten! Perfectly seasoned, perfectly juicy, perfect buttery bun, cheese melted perfectly... just perfect. And it was HUGE! What was that?... 3/4 lb?! Well, maybe it was only a 1/2 lb, but it was big enuf that i ate half for dinner, and then next half for lunch... and i can eat! This burger was so good i ordered it twice during my week-long stay in Chicago. I really loved this meal b/c i really don't care for Chicago food in general. Also those complimentary buttery buns w/ the parmesan cheese on top were absolutely phenomenal as well... I also got the Irish Potato Cakes, which is something i'd never had before... they were like mashed potatoes fried crispy on the outside like hash browns, and they were huger than the burger... and there were two of 'em!... Way too much to eat... Pretty impressive! I can't wait to try more items here the next time i visit Chicago!
(5)
J T.
Great location - right next to Millennium Park and walking distance to business district and major shopping - all good. The food and prices for it; adequate. Know what I really really really like about this place? OK, I'll tell you...We told the waiter we had a meeting and needed be in and out quickly - and he totally delivered. Lunch was before us in less than 10 minutes and the bill was delivered at the same time as the food - no waiting or asking for it. We had time to enjoy our meal and make the appointment without being rushed. That type of speed almost never happens - anywhere.
(4)
S G.
Went here for dinner before a show. Overall service was good. The bread was warm and yummy. I had pasta primavera -eh. Too watery. My husband had halibut and liked the butter sauce. Friends had the fillet - they said it was ok. Pretty good wine and beer menu.
(3)
Bridget G.
Good, not great. I went once before about a year ago and just tried it again with the same result. I feel it's a little pricey for just OK food. Last time I got pasta and this time I got the chopped salad (no chicken or bacon). The dressing for the salad was more on the kind of bitter side of tangy. Interesting. I gave the leftovers to a homeless man on my way home. Location is great, right by millennium park, which is I'm sure why their prices are inflated. Two other things that have zero impact on my rating: 1) there was this woman in the bar on Friday afternoon who was absolutely screeching like a banshee. Cringeworthy. 2) My mom cannot get the name of this place right. She keeps calling it Tavern at the Green, Park on the Tavern, and so on. This amuses me.
(3)
Beth A.
my rating is being upped to a *3.5* because this afternoon i received an email from the owner of tavern regarding my previous review he took a moment to offer an explanation of the dish i had eaten that i hadnt been 100% thrilled with (thou it was tasty) and even offered me a drink on the house during my next visit...it was nice to see how invested he is with his business and it has been noted :)
(3)
Angela J.
I think Tavern At The Park is good for happy hour or later night drinks if you're in the area. The location is fantastic, the drinks too expensive for what they are-- but what did you expect, YOU ARE BEING LAZY! The restaurant is full of huge booths that fit an average of 8 normal sized humans (you can use that metric to do skinny girl/basketball player math depending on your friend's sizes)-- either way it's ideal for group drinks. Have the duck flatbread, a couple cocktails and go have dinner somewhere else.
(3)
Jen H.
I have seen Tavern a million times but never scrambled in because I was too afraid it was overly touristy- I was wrong! It was beautiful... everyone from the waitress to the host to the owner was so, so nice and went out of their way to say hello and check on us. It is pricey- but the food is amazing. I never mind paying a lot when the food is that good. No raspberry cosmo on the menu- no problem... they made SUCH a delicious version and I loved it!! Don't feel that it will be a tourist trap... it is just as much for us regulars as anyone else and delicious. I will be back. Every week.
(4)
Jen H.
We were looking for "bar food" and someone recommended this. Probably not the best fit of a rec on their part. This is more upscale than what we were wanting. Our food was decent, but for what you pay to eat here you can do much better in Chicago (my bbq chicken was $22 a la carte). You are probably just paying for the location as it is right across from Millennium Park. Our services was great service, but I don't think we'll be back unless we're in a pinch.
(3)
Jon-David J.
This is one of those places that you forget to go back to because you put it in the "just for tourists" category. But the food and service is great and it's right there in the park. Great pours!
(4)
Laila P.
The food here is decent. The wine list is fabulous! The building and location are beautiful and the bathrooms were awesome. I found the service to be top-notch. I would probably try someplace else before I would come back here. But we did have a nice experience.
(3)
Desirae K.
Let down. I live in the neighborhood for over a year and always walked by this place but never checked it out. Now that I've visited, I MIGHT go back for a drink, but probably not the food. (-) Slow Roasted Prime Rib .... Avoid. Ordered medium rare, it came out a strange shade of red that made me think it was medium rare at first. Nope. It was brown all the way through and tough. When I flipped it over to check out the other side it was completely brown. Told my server it wasn't prepared medium rare as I ordered it. Rather than taking it right away she said she'd have a manager come over, the manager just walked by the table and swooped up the plate, not a word to me. The next prime rib they brought out was exactly the same and tasted like garbage.* (NOTE: after writing this review, I was contacted by the owner who let me know that their Prime Rib is prepared in-house and not pre-made/packaged prime rib, so I'm not sure why it came out incorrectly prepared) (+) Heirloom Caprese Salad .... really good, but not worth $13 (+/-) French Onion Soup Gratinee .... I've had better Service was nothing to write home about.
(2)
Annette M.
A place that doesn't disappoint, always consistent. One of my favorite lunch places.
(4)
Crystal O.
It was a Valentine's day. Just us both, my lovely girl friend and I:) I suggested this place because it was only a 5 minute work from my workplace in downtown and there was really no need to walk in the cold searching for food unless you live in the suburbs. heh. We had early dinner there around 5pm so thankfully we got to skipped the long queue and sat right down:) The servers were extremely polite and helpful. They were always on standby to take our plates, refill our drinks, replenish the breads, and asking us how we were doing every couple of minutes. I can't say for sure if they were exceptionally nice because it was a special day or they've always displayed such great mannerisms. I gave it only 3 star just because I wasn't all that impressed with their meals. There was nothing exceptionally special about it as it tasted like any other American restaurants that serve similar burgers, ahi tuna and the usual appetizers.
(3)
Dustin G.
I'm never disappointed! I've dined here many times and I always leave happy and full. Tavern is actually one of the first restaurants I dined at in Chicago. Their tomato basil soup is the best I've ever eaten and it simply cannot be beat on a chilly day. Their cocktails are always liquid perfection. I usually order a martini, the soup and the fig and prosciutto flatbread. I've tried other dishes but those are my favorites and I've never been able to pass them up. Every time guests come in from out of town I take them to Tavern and they always love it and and go on about how good everything is. It's great for a night with friends but it's also intimate and perfect for a romantic evening. Go for lunch and save a little money. Oh, and the wait staff is amazing and friendly. One more thing, their water glasses and bottles are really cool. I always think about stealing one...joke.
(5)
C W.
We've only been here once, but it was impressively good. I think I should try it again soon. It might be worthy of another star. The food was interesting with bold favors. Wish I would have known there was a rooftop.
(4)
John T.
I went with a small group of friends after the Taste of Chicago and had a nice time. I didn't think that it was at all expensive, nor did I think thtat the service was bad. I had a solid experience here. The crowd was very mixed as it was after the Taste and this place is close by. I would be interested to see what the usual crowd is like on a typical weekend. Look to spend around $5 for a beer, so very average.
(4)
Natalia S.
we go there to enjoy the rooftop and the view! appetizers are great too (have not tried the fool dining yet)
(5)
Joan M.
Actually a 4.5 star rating! My husband and I were visiting for the Chicago marathon - We ended up eating here twice because the food and service were phenomenal We would have had every meal here because it was so good, but being in such a rich restaurant town we thought we'd better try others. We're almost sorry we did that because Tavern at the Park was the best of all of them! They were accommodating to our off the menu requests. The food on and off the menu was great! Very tasty and fresh - and portions were very filling. Chefs, servers, assistants and host staff were very friendly! We'd eat here again - and definitely recommend it to others - local and those visiting. The ambiance was very nice - you could request a table outside, inside the bar area, or in the dining area - choices for all, FYI, the only reason that we deducted a half star was because our dog wasn't allowed out on the patio....Maybe that's Chicago laws...but....I'm just sayin'... PS: Just like Liz K. there was SO much chicken added, my doggy ended up getting an awesome meal too!!!
(4)
Boyd K.
I've eaten here a number of times. I love the service and the food here. The Chicken pot pie is a favorite. I took two of my teenagers here this past weekend - picky eaters - and they both loved their meals - one had a london broil and the other prime rib. Our waiter was very patient and answered their questions and was very helpful with one who had a peanut allergy. I always enjoy their specialty cocktails.
(4)
Z Z.
I suppose it would be my own fault for falling into the tourist trap restaurant.. but hey, the menu looked decent, a few reviews were pleasant..so why not? Our waiter was very very very nice - let me give him a little credit. The food? awful. Maybe my taste buds are tainted from the delish-ness had while in San Francisco and my new favorite in Milwaukee - Allium.. but honestly not good. I had a grilled vegetable salad - which was a lunch salad, but they still allowed me to order. Portion was SO large I barely made a dent into it. Husband had chicken caprese salad - it didn't even look as good as it should have by the description. $110 (tip included) later.. (2 drinks a piece, 1 app, 2 salads) I had super bad buyers remorse and longed for a freaking veggie hot dog from American Dogs on State. Probably should have gone with my instinct and stayed away from the tourist trap. bummerrrrrr.
(2)
Steve M.
Went to a nice engagement party here this weekend. Service was excellent, the wine was flowing, and the steak I had was great - chicken was better! I'm glad I didn't see the final bill, but was happy to see Tavern step up it's game for such an important event. One more experience like this, and Tavern is in the 4-5 star range.
(3)
Jackie P.
If I wanted to treat my coworkers to a salt lick then I would take them to the salt lick my parent's have on their 10 acres. At least it would be free and I know the salt would be good. Mom only buys the best for the deer. Some coworkers and I went here for lunch. By the time we got back I felt like I drink have an ocean and two others had horrible stomachaches. The portions are huge and you won't be hungry the rest of the day but that's if you can keep your lunch down. Sadly disappointing when this place had such great potential.
(2)
Maxxy C.
This has become one of my favorite restaurants. I dine here several times a year. It is very accessible with public transportation. The service is excellent and the venue / atmosphere is wonderful. The food and cocktails are outstanding!
(5)
Cam C.
We have ordered take out since we live next door. The food was scolded hot when we get back to our apartment . The prime rib sliders was amazing. The wings was a nice surprise but the best was the ribeye. It was executed very well. Looking forward to try other dishes and dessert.
(5)
Luke D.
Tavern at the Park Feels like a chain restaurant Unmemorable If you are entertaining someone who loves leather seating and lousy food, Tavern at the Park is the place to see and be seen. This restaurant is like Bennigan's or Ruby Tuesday in an upscale setting. Among other miscues, the bread service at Tavern at the Park is notably abysmal. Another Yelper compared this place's bread to rolls from Jewel and that is probably being generous. It only gets worse from there. In a city with a million awesome restaurants, why anyone would eat here is beyond me.
(1)
Mark K.
Had dinner here tonight with a small group of work colleagues. Ordered the prime rib. A little chewy, and a bit undercooked. The server said it was their specialty. Not impressed by any means. Service was good and a great location which is why I give it 3 stars. Will come back for cocktails only.
(3)
Sarah G.
Stumbled upon this fantastic rooftop patio on a recent business trip to Chicago. Great view of the city, friendly, attentive staff, and overall, a fun (yet touristy) place to hang out and enjoy cocktails and dinner. The food could have been more interesting & inspiring for the caliber design & atmosphere, but the cocktails were delicious. The one other drawback is exceptionally poor wifi...with the super comfy seating in the Treehouse (w tvs) overlooking the park, you've gotta have wifi too!
(4)
Rajiv H.
My feelings on Tavern At The Park are very mixed. I give five stars to the service, which includes both our waitress and the host. They were both extremely kind, attentive, and accommodating. Also, you can't beat the location. We sat outdoors on a perfect summer day with a breeze. Then the food and drinks happened. I mean it is a restaurant. My Wife and Mom-In-Law both started with what they claimed was a Cesar salad. These salads were coated with mayo like white on rice. I've never had a Cesar salad this disgusting. I'm not quite sure how you screw up a Cesar salad this bad. It's hard. I mean real hard. I mean this stuff comes in easy to use grocery store kits for lazy bachelors that tastes halfway decent. I did however find it hilarious when the two women started brushing their tongues with the bread to scrape off the mayo taste. We also got a couple glasses of white sangria (no pitchers? no red sangria option even? okay, fine, I'll stop being picky). The glass was about 3/4 ice and only had three berries in it. There were all raspberries. W. T. F. Kids, that stands for Why The Frugality. As you could imagine, we weren't expecting a ton from the main courses at this point. My Mother and I got the Saturday Night Special: a 14 ounce Prime Rib (it's $22, how could we not?). My wife had the Chicken Milanese, and mom-in-law the Veal Chop Marsala. My Prime Rib was excellent. I honestly didn't expect a cut of meat so good for this price from a place like this, but they did well to keep things simple with some horseradish sauce and some au jus. The Chicken Milanese was decent. I have a feeling the balsamic reduction really saved what could have otherwise been a bland dish. The Veal Chop Marasala was too heavily breaded for it's own good. I'd go back to Tavern At The Park for the Prime Rib. The service, weather, and location - right next to Millenium Park - also helped saved the night for me. I can see the place getting way to touristy at times, but on our Saturday night it seemed just fine.
(2)
W P.
This place suffers from pride of location. What a shame, as it could be Chicago's 'Tavern Under The Bean". Spotty (but well intentioned) service. There was something wrong with every course, which was corrected by an embarrassed manager. There was a huge noisy party (25 people) seated adjacent to our table and any chance of having a conversation was lost. Won't be going back - rather eat at the ear shattering Gage across the street - the food is better.
(2)
Leah C.
inconsistent and never great... i only go here once i've exhausted other options for lunch outings. i always order the same thing - the grilled veggie salad (note: not on their website). it has either been inedible or just "good enough". nothing ever above that. when in the "inedible" state - it's soggy (who likes soggy lettuce?), salty and void of many of the listed ingredients. i will give this place 5 stars though for the excellent service. they know how to handle a lunch rush.
(2)
Keri K.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday, we love close by and have always wanted to try it. I always walk past and the food looks to die for. Which turns out, it is. My vegetarian pasta was AMAZING I dream of it. My boyfriend had steak and he seemed to really enjoy it. I like the atmosphere, though it smelled a little weird inside. We had drinks on the roof after dinner which was very nice as well. I would definitely come back here and I recommend you should try it too.
(4)
Nathan C.
such a waste of fantastic location. apparently this place has some kind of grandfather law protection... food is mediocre at best. beer selection is bad. service is hit and miss. atmosphere is a toss up. prices are an absolute joke. unfortunately ive been here probably a dozen times due to proximity to my office. if youre in the area, hit the Gage or Henri instead. prices are similar but least you get an incredible meal.
(2)
Charlie J.
you know what? for what could very easily be an over-hyped over-priced joint, this one actually passes the muster. i eat here all the time - lunch only, though. i'm telling you the lobster roll has to be one of the most authentic...and probably one of the best...west of Maine. and the service is really very attentive. maybe annoyingly so. but attentive none the less. enjoy.
(4)
Eduardo M.
Went here for an office thing, so I didn't have pay for anything. Best kind of lunch/drinks opportunity. The food was tasty, although the sandwich breads seemed a tad too salty for my taste, others in the group didn't seem to mind too much. Also, the drinks were well made and service was friendly and prompt. I'd say I'll come back, but I never seem to find myself in the loop nowadays.
(3)
Keara K.
We had a very nice dinner at Tavern at the Park. Hubby and I shared the Fontina and Chicken Fondue, we both ordered the 14oz Prime Rib with Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes, and finished with the Key Lime Brulee. Everything was very good (although I'd like to have seen more fruits with the fondue, as it was very bread heavy, and some of the breads paired a little strangely with the fondue), the prime rib cooked to perfection, and the dessert, while simple, was fantastic. And for the person compaining about the flatbread looking like a pizza- that's what flatbreads basically are at any fine dining restaurant-- fancy wording for foo-foo pizza. We came on a fairly busy evening, and the service was pretty good. Our server was being held up by a very high-matinence (ie. 6 crabby old people) table, so he understandably was a bit absent towards the end of our meal. But if I had to deal with those people, I'd be too busy running around to be found too. I liked Tavern, I'd even reccomend it. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I thought it was pretty good! :)
(4)
Janet I.
My husband and I finally tried Tavern at the Park today after living in the area for a few years. We assumed it was more of a tourist stop due to it's location adjacent to Millenium Park, but we were pleasantly surprised. Very nice atmosphere inside with outdoor dining available also. Service was very good along with our entrees. I had the Vegetable Lasagna, which was wonderful, and my husband had the Chicken Milanese - very good also. It was nice to discover another quality restaurant in our neighborhood. We will definitely try it again.
(4)
Leah L.
Great private room as you enter, great outdoor area in the summer, great food
(4)
Louise S.
I have never written a YELP review before but I was so taken aback by the service I received I had to write this one. I made a reservation at least 21/2 weeks prior to my lunch appointment last Tuesday. I specifically picked this restaurant because I rarely can eat outside and I wanted to have their grilled vegetable salad on a warm summer day. I scheduled my appointment for 1p instead of the noon hour in hopes that I would be able to get a table outside. I realize that I only made a "request" for the outdoor seating but clearly they don't even pretend to honor those requests. There was no, "we know you requested an outdoor table and you will get the next one available" or "now that you are here, we have put you at the top of the list" or anything like that. I purposely got there a few minutes early and told the man at the host stand that I had made the reservation requesting outdoor seating and the reply was, "there are two parties ahead of you and it would be about 30 minutes for outdoor seating." When I asked if there was any preference for reservations, he replied, "we only have (7) tables". I don't know many business people that can wait 30 minutes for a table during the lunch hour? That is why you make a reservation. When my lunch companion arrived a few minutes later I told him the situation. He knew I had picked this restaurant in hopes of eating outside so he suggested we go elsewhere. Now, we could have just left, but I was courteous enough to let him know I would no longer need the reservation as I really wanted to eat outside and unfortunately I could not wait 30 minutes. We then proceeded to go around the turnstile on the revolving door and I noticed two tables; one leaving and one getting their check. I literally did not leave the revolving door and went back to the man behind the counter and asked how long it would be as two tables were leaving? He said; well now there are three parties ahead of you as someone was asking him about a table as I walked up. I said, "you are kidding me, I had a reservation" and his smart ass reply was "you're going to my competition, now it is three". I would not have been so angry if the man behind the counter was not so obviously one of the managers if not the owner. I own and operate a conference center located within a two minute walk of this restaurant. Unbeknownst to them, I have referred hundreds of people to this restaurant over the years. It is no longer on our recommended restaurant listing. I would never recommend somewhere where I did not receive good service and this manager /owner did more than just not provide service he was extremely rude!
(1)
Kelsey P.
I went here with 7 coworkers while in Chicago for a business convention. At 7:30ish on a Saturday it wasn't too busy, but our server was slooooooooow...I'm pretty sure we didn't leave till almost 11. Since our company got the tab, we didn't hold back in ordering several appetizers for the table -- most involved meat/seafood and I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try any, but everyone else seemed to enjoy them. I also appreciated that there were several interesting vegetarian options on the menu. What I didn't appreciate so much was that my swiss chard ravioli seemed like it had been doused with salt :( Maybe there were too many capers? Either way, yuck. The somewhat veg-friendly menu warrants 3 stars (there was also vegetable lasagna, a few appetizers, and lots of hearty sides) -- otherwise, this restaurant's nothing special.
(3)
Kate C.
I went to go watch Ellen film a special show from Chicago at the bean last night and my friend and I were so cold (it was snowing!) and hungry after the filming that we decided to go to the nearest place to warm and and get a bite to eat. Tavern at the Park was the first place we saw and I am so glad we decided to go there. Next time I will probably sit at the bar instead of the dining room but the whole atmosphere is very nice, relaxing and upscale. Our waiter and the entire waitstaff were all friendly and got things taken care of right away for us. We split a bottle of wine and had the Tavern Teasers as an app. Ask for a plate with one of each kind on it, each one comes with a variety of sauces too. I had the chicken pot pie and my friend had the lobster ravioli. There was a lot of large pieces of lobster in the ravioli which was good and the chicken pot pie was so large that I barely made it through half of it. We got the brownie sundae for dessert. It is definitely shareable, the brownie was one of the biggest I have ever seen. Overall, it was a great place to go. Kind of expensive if you are just looking for a casual dinner but would be a great place for a drink after work or a party. I will definitely go back!
(5)
Mike D.
We went into this place after a great experience at the Gage and wanted something similar while trying something new. This place was GOOD but it was just lacking something in the air. Although it was a casual lunch spot, it just seemed too nice to feel ultra relaxed and comfortable. The service at the bar was very good and my chicken salad was honestly way better than I expected it to be. The food got great reviews from the other two people I was with but there was definitely something lacking here. I cannot say anything bad about this place, the food was great, the service was good, but like some movies I have seen in the past, you know they were "good" but you just weren't into them. That's the best way to describe this place but maybe you will have a different experience!
(3)
Chris R.
Have eaten here twice now. First time we sat at the bar, had excellent food and great service. Second time was yesterday and food was equally as good (except cheese on top of French onion soup was not brown AT ALL, my pet peeve) but service was iffy at best. If you have longer than an hour for lunch, I recommend sitting in the restaurant. Otherwise, ask to sit at the bar. But I will be back for the excellent salads, burgers and veggie lasagna.
(3)
Nicolas H.
Been here a couple times now for lunch and I have to say its pretty darn good. At first I didn't want to like it because it seemed like they were trying too hard to be fancy, but the lunch options definitely aren't that way. The chopped steak burger is exactly what you'd think. It's large and served on a great bun. But even better are the tavern tasters: your choice of three mini burgers with their awesome french fries. The prime rib was great, served with a nice au jus. The buffalo chicken mini was nice and spicy, served with a side of blue cheese dressing. The salmon burger left a lot to be desired though, so next time i'd get the regular burger instead of going the fish route. The service was good and fast and the french fries are definitely not to be missed...
(4)
Michael M.
We went for lunch the other day and we did make a reservation. The hostess was very friendly and led us to a table upstairs which was very pleasant. The music could be heard from downstairs but that in no way impeded our conversation. My mother had the tomato basil soup and a lobster roll. The soup was thick, rich and delicious. I had the ahi tuna appetizer and a lobster roll (it was Ash Wednesday). The tuna was beautiful with the greens that it came with. The lobster roll was full of lobster meat all the way through it didn't seem as they were skimping at all. We barely had room for dessert but we attempted it anyway. My mother had the fried banana split which was large, unique, and delicious. I had the chocolate chip cookie sandwich which was two large chocolate chip cookies that had crispy edges yet slightly soft in the middle- perfect for me. A generous helping of mint choc. chip ice cream in the middle and the whole thing is drenched in a rich hot fudge sauce. I couldn't finish it but I gave it the old college try. Now on to service-- our server Lauren was, for lack of a better word, OUTSTANDING!!! She was on top of things without being intrusive. She has a wonderful sense of humor and was very engaging. She even asked at the beginning if either one of us had any allergies the kitchen should know about. We don't- but my son does so now I know I can take him here and he'll be safe. I wish all restaurants did that. The drink list had some very unique combinations that I will have to get back to try soon as I understand the mixologist tries to keep things seasonal. Overall a great lunch with outstanding service.
(4)
Steve P.
Exceptional visit to the roof deck for dinner on a lovely, warm summer night. Nice music/vibe, well dressed crowd, incredible views of the city. Great burger, chop salad, sparkling rose. Portion sizes very generous and pricing appropriate for the city. Service was attentive and friendly. Kitchen was incredibly accommodating to special orders and allergy concerns. Highly recommended for a casual, relaxed eating experience.
(5)
Abhay S.
Came here for lunch today with a visiting co-worker. We didn't have any reservations, so we ended up sitting at the bar, which was OK with us. I ordered the lobster roll and my co-worker got some sort of flatbread with sausage deal. Hers came out looking very close to a pizza. (uh, didn't see that in the description) My lobster roll was decent, but the fries were cold. I also would have liked something different than fries, but they offered me any of the sides for half price except for the onion rings which would have cost the same as the given fries. The service was excellent - the waiters always made sure I had a full glass and asked a few times if everything was OK. Two thumbs up to them. The restaurant manager even stopped by to see if everything was OK. Given that I work close to this building, I'll come here again. It's not a bad place when you're looking for a decent sit-down lunch in the east loop.
(3)
Gregg D.
Seated immediately and all the little things were done well. Servers were attentive but not intrusive. Had the filet and it was cooked well. Not the best steak I ever had, but very good. I would come back at any time
(4)
S C.
I keep trying this place again and again because I live so close, but every time I visit I remember why I promised myself I'd never return. Very over priced, and the food (when it's edible) is nothing special. The service is slow and unfriendly, the atmosphere is stuffy and dark, and their food is really not exciting. At all. Here's the breakdown of everything I've eaten there. Appetizers: Duck egg rolls - fine Fig & prosciutto flatbread - too sweet but fine Portugese "style" mussels - incredibly salty and funky Fried calamari - greasy, but not chewy which was good Salads House dinner salad - actually quite good; I like the matchstick potatoes Wedge salad - a wedge is a wedge is a wedge... Chopped salad - enough to serve an army and totally not exciting Entrees Brick chicken - the skin was the only delicious part, nothing else was memorable Seared scallops - absolutely terrible, the mustard tastes poisonous and you cannot taste the scallop at all. Just AWFUL Prime rib - funny color so I didn't even eat it... sent it back Butternut squash ravioli - THE WORST THING I'VE EATEN IN YEARS, the smallest portion of under-cooked pasta, flavorless filling in a bowlful of "pesto" (which should have been called "green oil") Ricotta gnocchi - This was the last straw for me. The gnocchi was tiny and had no flavor, it was covered with two pounds of mozzarella, and there was more of the crappy sauce than there was the crappy gnocchi. NO! Dessert Key lime creme brulee must be the only thing that saves this restaurant; quite good
(1)
Vickie L.
I went with my boyfriend in February after a free day at the Art Institute. This has a great location, wonderful views. Dark tones inside with lots of windows and wood all over. To our surprise it was during Restaurant Week with the 3 courses for $32 yay! My bf got the buffalo chicken sliders for his appetizer - they were just okay, too much bread, not enough chicken. I got duck spring rolls for my appetizer and they were really really good. Very crispy, a good amount of duck, and the mango sauce was very tasty. Main course - I had the brick chicken - wow, it was so tasty and juicy. At first it looked small, but that's because they put the dark meat piece over the white meat piece, after I found that out, it was HUGE! My bf got the prime rib - he ate every last piece, it was cooked very well, very soft and very tasty. Dessert - I had the hot fudge sundae, it was very good, nothing special, but very tasty after that rich meal. My bf got the chocolate mousse, and it was the only bad part of the meal - it was so grainy! Not smooth at all. Our server was really attentive. During dessert she noticed my bf had only eaten a few bites of his mousse and asked what was wrong, so we told her it wasn't very good. She was very apologetic that we did not like the chocolate mousse and offered to give us another sundae. We declined. Service was excellent. Wow what a deal, I'm so glad we happened upon this place during Restaurant Week. The regular menu selection was good, but we thought it was a bit pricey for the type of food offered they offered, nothing was really stand-out as being a specialty, but it IS right across from Millenium Park so you pay for the location.
(4)
#NAME?
Dined here again for the 4th time and as usual it was great-This was the 2nd time dining in the bar area for me, tonight I just wanted something light so I felt appetizers would be perfect- I initially came here to eat the Butternut Squash Ravioli but decided to go outside my comfort zone and try something new, so I had the Scallop Rrisotto-It was very good and just what I was looking for, I didn't know what to expect since the menu said it had strawberries in it, but they fit right in-The risotto is rich so the strawberries provide a nice tart/sweet difference, and I loved the aged balsamic that was drizzeled on the plate-The only thing I noticed was that the scallops probably didn't need to have salt put on them- For dessert I wanted to try the Key Lime Crème Brulee, it was nice and light, slightly chilled and cleaned the palate- Our waiter Tom was professional and very helpful, as is the management and staff at Tavern, I'm just glad it's a 5 minute walk from our place-
(5)
Nancy S.
Location & Dessert = Great! Love the restaurant interior & the strawberry shortcake Service = Went from bad to worse Food = Let's just say...the mashed potatoes were instant
(2)
Kathy S.
This was my first time in Chicago since I was a kid and had no idea where to go. Looked for places around our hotel and we chose Tavern At The Park. We really enjoyed our food (he got the filet sandwich and I had a burger) and the atmosphere was great. It was just my boyfriend and I and it was a great place for our date. Everyone was really friendly and they had a pear cider that I really enjoyed. BF had a few Knob Creeks and Coke. Our bill was not really $$ but it was well worth the extra $.
(4)
Kate C.
We went to this place on a whim when we wanted to take a break from the rain at Gospel Fest. We were seated right away (party of 5) even though it was around 7 on a Saturday night. It seemed like more of a tourist place to me. From a first glance of the menu, it seemed a bit pricey to me. Overall, there was nothing unique or special about the restaurant. The service was good, and it was a quiet place to sit down and take a break. As for the food, it wasn't anything out of this world, though none of us had real entrees. I had the chopped salad, which had a ton of ingredients and was very large. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but again, it was a bit pricey for what it was. I also tried the butternut squash ravioli (delicious) and some of the polenta (also very good). Although I guess I had a decent experience at this restaurant, it just wasn't very unique and had a kind of weird/empty atmosphere. I definitely think there are cuter, more interesting places in Chicago for the money. You can't beat the location though!
(3)
grzesiek k.
I had such a great experience yesterday.2/14/2013. Took my Girlfriend out for Valentines day dinner. Fantastic service off the bat. The appetizer , Ahi tuna, was so really good and well prepared. We both had fillet Mignon with different toppings but well done and just perfect. Big juicy full flavor. Had mushrooms and asparagus for our side which also were really tasty. Had key lime pie and New York cheesecake for dessert. A must have! Overall the food was great. Full of flavor, hot and phenomenal taste! Service was great from the door to the table and out. Will definitely go back soon!
(5)
Candace M.
One of my fave spots to sit outside and eat. I only indulge in the Tavern Pleasers, 3 miniature sandwiches (Prime Rib Five Cheese Fondue, Caramelized Onions & Au Jus On Onion Roll; Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Dressing & Creamy Coleslaw On Brioche Bun and/or the Sirloin Burger). What I LOVE most about this restaurant is that they are the only place that I know of that provides my favorite wine, Saracco Moscato. Huge kudos for that alone!!!
(4)
Mary A.
I enjoyed my experience at this restaurant. I ordered short ribs and they were tender and delicious like they should be. The string fries were plentiful and good and we shared a chocolate cake and ice cream dessert. The atmosphere was sleek and modern and intimate. In other words it wasn't noisy like other large city restaurants.
(4)
Barbara S.
We were a party of 8, so I made a reservation. When we arrived, we were escorted to a private room. Perfect! Great food, great conversation, great fun with my family. With so many people, we were able to try a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and one dessert. Everything.was wonderful; lots of choices, unique food combinations, the servings were plentiful, and the prices were reasonable. The strawberry shortcake was so large that we could all share it. When in Chicago, the Tavern at the Park is a must!
(5)
Hope G.
I walked past this restaurant everyday on my way home and surprised to say that I've only been twice. Even though the food both times was satisfying and tasty, I have almost no desire to return. It's nice, but just not memorable. I went on a thursday night after the happy hour rush and the dark interior was quiet and a good place to talk. The service was nice. I ordered the Tavern Teasers - and had a sirloin slider, roast beef slider, and a buffalo slider. They were all really tasty - no more than three small bites though, so you find your mouth wishing there was more on the way! I like that they have great appetizer options, so I have yet to sample their entree menu. While I certainly would never avoid eating here, I am not climbing all over myself to get back!
(3)
Jim W.
The Saturday prime rib special is well worth it! It's a large slab of meat, tastier than Lawrys (Bev Hills), but imo not as good as House of Prime Rib (SF). The horse radish needed to be spicier and chunky, but aside from that, I was satisfied. The lobster mac was also really delicious and the french onion soup, satisfying. Sitting outside is a nice touch, but not really much of a vibe at Tavern..the crowd really ebbs and flows. I had booked a reservation on open table, but pretty much any time was available. The restaurant was busier when we left at 945p than when we arrived at 815p, and the upstairs was completely empty. Service was a bit bumbled. Couldn't tell if it was a case of the waitress (it seemed like her 2nd day, she misheard, didn't hear orders) or if it's the place in general. I felt prices were fair, in general, considering it's a Millenium Park restaurant.
(3)
Amelia B.
Tonight was fabulous (Monday night at 7). Sat in a booth at the bar with a fantastic music selection. Wonderful ambiance. Wait staff was terrific - manager came by to check in on us (3 college age gals). Food - soooo good. Had a salad, Mac and cheese, chicken pacatta, and chicken hash -- all were excellent. Wonderful overall. Would highly, highly recommend.
(5)
Melissa C.
We had our wedding reception at Tavern at the Park. The food, service and ambiance were AMAZING. Our guests continue to rave about it. Alyssa coordinated the event and did a fabulous job.
(5)
Daniel S.
This establishment is in the lobby of my building so I pass by daily. It is usually always full, but I am not sure if that is such a good barometer as that crusty Bennigan's is always full too. But really, Tavern at the Park is far better than Bennigan's. I have dined there twice since it opened several years back. I would say this falls within the unspectacular genre embodied by Catch 35, Capitol Grille etc. There is a fairly large menu, and my favorite item is the polenta. It is seared to creamy perfection. They have an ample wine list, and I hear they make a respectable cocktail. In short, this is not like a Rick Bayless restaurant, but few are so maybe that's not an equitable measurement. It is respectable though, and the service is amiable.
(3)
Ben B.
The view is very good and the atmosphere seemed both upscale and comfortable to me, but the food was nothing special. The menu items look like they would be great, but most things seem to have too much salt. My wife and I had the butternut squash ravioli and scallop appetizers. The scallops were too salty for me - I found myself scraping part of the top of mine off - but the ravioli was very good. The salads that came with dinner are just greens, cherry tomatoes, and your choice of dressing, which was overly simple for me. I did like the prawn risotto, although my wife was unimpressed by the salmon. As another reviewer mentioned, the music is a bit out of place. I honestly felt that I might fall asleep a couple of times, even though it was 7:00. Overall, I think the appetizers were the best part and that there are better places to eat for the price.
(2)
adam C.
The Good: The leather tablecloths are really nice, and the service is quite fast. I ate here before the opera on Friday night. The first thing my wife and I were impressed by was the clean well done design inside. Our next impression was made by our waiter, a clean cut, attentive guy with a bit of an "american psycho" vibe to him. Great service, but something about his near-musical vocal delivery and his movement made us think that we were dealing with someone who kills men for sport. The Prime Rib, with Gorgonzola mashed potatos was prepared well, but nothing seemed to be big on flavor. At best, flavor was mild, but it did approach bland. This may be due to them trying to cater to the older opera crowd that the restaurant probably relies on. We both enjoyed our french onion soups, and portions all around were well sized.
(3)
Ginny D.
I don't know if they are under new management but I've visited twice - the first time was awful and now 2 years later on my second visit - WOW! Great food, great ambiance, new management perhaps? It still took a while to get a table but much better the second time around! The service was more attentive and helpful and the food was great! Note: get the fries!!! The portions were huge, my clients were thrilled at the "American" fare and I was pleasantly surprised! You bested Park Grill for sure!
(4)
Kat P.
We were in town on a Friday before 5 looking to have a cocktail to celebrate the beginning of a mini vacation and to catch up on the Masters. We did not eat dinner, but had an appetizer (meatballs) and a cocktail. Both my husband and I found the drink sizes relative to the price (granted it is Chicago) to be pretty generous. Also, they had a nice wine selection. The appetizer was good, however, I felt a little pressure from the server to either eat a meal or get out of his section as there wasn't any additional space available at the bar. I'd grab a drink here next time I'm in town, and probably give the food a try.
(4)
Norbert W.
was there for lunch at an off hour, meaning not crowded and no tourists. depending on that, the rating could plummet. I'd bet it's a very good 3.5, somewhere between three and four) Server was really cool. Was able to work with our quirky humor and hopefully enjoyed in the fun, as he was very welcome! Appetizers: chicken liver was terrific. Very smooth. Good flavor. The greens and bacon that accompanied it were also excellent Baked goat cheese: not too shabby. Fulfills expectations. Entree: I had the Max Burger. Was between that and the one with foie on it. (next time.) cooked just right. The beef patties are very thin cuz there's so much going on with it otherwise. Fries were crisp and not salted, yay! (IOW: they know how to make them. Getting salted fries ruins the effect - that's a "do it yourself" mineral) buddy had the scallops. looked good with good presentation. He wasn't expecting that much garlic, which didn't dampen the flavors! Since it was his birthday, they brought out a chocolate cake with an excellent ice cream with it (maybe caramel. possibly homemade) Someone ordered THAT martini. it was an excellent time. no restaurant newbies within earshot going on about this and that with the meal. good stuff. And they played some Styx on the system. heh! NA bier selection not that good. Caliber, or whatever the Guinness one is. It's the NA equivalent of having 'Bass, Harp, crap" on tap, but oh well. (yes, you cannot get pejorative enough for those "biers")
(4)
Sheila G.
This is a great place for a quick bite if at Millennium Park - the appetizers are especially good. Try the Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread. The main entrees and specialty cocktails weren't as impressive. I think they have Happy Hour specials on the apps on certain days too.
(3)
T C.
Fantastic restaurant, one of my favorite places for lunch, or drinks after work. The service is superlative, the atmosphere is energizing, the food is wonderful, and the owners are always at the front door shaking hands and assuring that all of the customers are well taken care of. Three of my favorite menu items are the Chopped Salad, the Strawberry Salad, and the hamburger. The prime rib sandwich is pretty fantastic as well. I highly recommend Tavern at the Park.
(5)
Curt E.
So my wife, my sister-in-law, and her boyfriend were looking a place to eat and heard good things about this place so we thought we would give it a go. I definitely liked the ambiance of the place. We had made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. We were promptly greeted by our server Quinton who was very prompt and attentive throughout our meal. I will say that I'm not always adventurous in my choices and thought I would love to have a good piece of prime rib. While texture was there, there was very little flavor. All it needed was some garlic and some herbs and it could take it from $35 for this!?!?? To, Yum! Who cares how much it is?? Additionally I ordered the potato cakes which were good I must say but a huuuuge portion for one person as a side. My wife ordered the rotisserie chicken which she enjoyed but I felt was rather dry when I tasted it. I wasn't impressed with the barbecue either. Overall it was a good experience but when something so simple and pricey is screwed up it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended) . I would go back but more than likely choose another item from the menu.
(3)
anthony t.
NIce staff, solid food selections with some of my favorites being the peppered wings and the short rib sandwich which is absolutely delicious. Great vibe at happy hour and I can't wait for the rooftop patio.
(5)
Alyssa S.
Three stars because it's simply not as good as its neighbors, The Gage and The Park Grill. We did have a very nice work lunch here - excellent service. I thought the menu was a bit spare on options. I finally settled on a parmesan crusted Chicken Caprese that was good, but I usually don't get chicken at restaurants and only did so here because the rest of the menu options were kind of blah to me. My co-workers had salads that were gigantic! They seemed to like them a lot. As for atmosphere - it's a little weird that they didn't make more of the view. On the upper floor, you're sitting on a balcony with barely a view of the park. Again. the service was great, we never had to ask for anything. A little bit more creativity on the menu could raise this place up.
(3)
Michelle M.
My office is on the same block as Tavern at the Park. I stopped in for the first time last night and now I know what I have been missing. The specialty cocktails were amazing. One of them tasted just like sipping the holiday season...served up in an extra-chilled martini glass. For dinner I had the gem-colored roasted beets salad and fig and prosciutto flatbread. Both were outstanding. The service was impeccable as well. I will be back, repeatedly.
(5)
cos f.
i really want to love this place ... the proximity to the park and michigan avenue is terrific...outdoor space upstairs and down... it is a big restaurant... great bar...and good drinks... but the food? meh.... just so so... i had this chicken hash, described wonderfully on the menu, but really roughly chopped vegetables and left over chicken ...the eggs were poached perfectly...but there was a stew of juice overwhelming my plate... it would have been nice if it were a sauce... they had told us 3 times there was bread coming and until we asked again they brought it with our meal... i will go for a cocktail but not much else...
(2)
Heather K.
Went to Tavern for an office party, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. I went with the horseradish-crusted filet (the smaller portion), and it was cooked perfectly. Since the steaks don't come with sides, we split a bunch for the table - green beans and mashed potatoes ("whipped potato casserole," I mean) were excellent. For reference, each side dish was approx. 2 servings. The entree salads were gigantic, too. Since we were a large group, my brilliant boss made the decision to get one of each dessert at the end of the meal. Wow, I was in heaven. I'm a chocolate lover so I gravitated towards the brownie, but the bread pudding was also very tasty. Due to the location, Tavern definitely has a business/corporate crowd atmosphere - even though I freakin' love filet mignon, I wouldn't suggest this restaurant for a family function, or a date, etc. But for biz lunches or dinners I can see how this would be an excellent option.
(4)
Mari B.
Nice restaurant in a good location. Ordered at chopped salad that was decent, but had too many blue cheese crumbles and they forgot the chicken. When I asked the waitress (Margaret) if it was supposed to come with chicken (as it said on the menu)she was rude in return and made the whole situation awkward. She responded "Well I don't see why it wouldn't" and "it doesnt have chicken on there?" My plate was right infront of her so I'm not sure why she couldn't see that there was no chicken. I told her I didn't taste chicken or see it in my meal. She said she would check with the kitchen then came back to the table with a cup of chicken and said "heres some chicken just in case they didnt put any in there". Not sure who would eat all their chicken then lie about not having any ust to get more but it seemed like thats what she thought I did. She tops my list of rude waitresses and I would not return or reccommend this place because of her. The salad was $13 and app size.
(2)
Scott S.
Had service outside on the upstairs patio. Extremely disappointing. Good atmosphere but poor service. Portions were miniscule. Had halibut which was salty and drowning in cream and butter. Gave only 6 small pieces of asparagus. Unaccommodating to special requests. Completely overpriced including their drinks. For a hamburger, they gave hard chips as a side. They serve overpriced wine from screw top bottles. Your just paying top dollar to be outside overlooking the park. Not worth it!
(1)
Kristin V.
I think this restaurant is okay. We have had several work dinners here, but mostly because it is close to the office. The crusted fillets are pretty good and the desserts are huge, so share. The service when dining is pretty good. I have also had drinks at the bar, but don't do that, the bar tenders are not pleasant. Overall, this place is nothing special.
(3)
The Hungry American E.
Food was standard. Layout is nice. The service was excellent and the place is clean. I had a sandwhich that was nothing to write home about. Little pricey. Visited in 6/09
(2)
Jeanne K.
Although the view from the rooftop bar is worth a visit, the service was deplorable, except for Mary, who saved our experience. We live in the city and wanted a drink after a movie...since it was such a gorgeous night, we decided to finally stop in and have a drink after reading so much about this establishment. Thomas, our first waiter, could not be bothered with us after we informed him that we weren't having anything to eat. The TWO bartenders...not even busy, as there was a small crowd...stood around talikng to one another...and when my husband asked for a glass for his beer, you would have thought he asked for a kidney for a transplant. Thomas never returned to ask if I wanted another glass of wine...really?...do the owners want to make a buck?...and when I simply asked for another glass of water...he replied, "Uhhhh, sure"....great service, huh?? If it wasn't for the view, we would never go back.
(2)
Oscar the Death Cat B.
I have mixed feelings about Tavern at the Park. It's a nice looking place, and apparently pretty popular - though it has a very spacious two-level dining area with plenty of tables, there was already a 1-hour wait for a table at 11:30 the morning our group visited for lunch. Fortunately, we had a reservation, though the host initially claimed that he could not "find" our name on the reservation list (another reviewer mentioned this same issue, perhaps the host is overdue for a new prescription on his eyeglasses?) The menu featured just a few lunch-y type items, but I think the cheapest was an $11 burger. Aside from a few sandwiches and regular entrees, they had some "lunch" specials that were more like dinner entrees when it came to price ($20 -$25 each). So this is definitely more of a business meeting/special occasion place to lunch. The food was a mixed bag - appetizers such as calamari were excellent, as were the fries. A couple of us ordered the prime rib, was supposed to be prepared medium but what we received was very pink & bloody & I swear I could hear mine making moo-ing sounds as I cut into it. Another person who had ordered the same dish sent it back to be cooked more, to the credit of the staff they gave her a whole new entree without a hassle. Everything is served in generous portions, if you still have room in your belly, they have a few good desserts - sharing is recommended as most desserts are enormous. In summary, service was very good but the food was a bit heavy and pricey just for lunch. I may have enjoyed my visit more if it had been dinner rather than lunch. I might come back to this place again some day - as long as someone else is buying.
(3)
Chester R.
my advice for ownership: 1. your bar is facing the wrong way ! you are on one of the best corners in all of chicago....overlooking grant park....why is my back facing it ?? 2. i needed a guide to find the bathroom. maybe we put one on the bar level?? 3. the position of the tv's above the bar almost caused me to break my neck looking up to try and watch them. perhaps we revisit their location as well?? nice atmosphere, great service....and really expensive.
(3)
Jims L.
Just went in because I pass by the place everyday. Better to sit at the bar than to stay for dinner. Unforunate that the service is really great, because the food is nothing special. Crossed off the list now and will probably never return!
(2)
Dani J.
Good food, good ambiance, great location! I had the butternut squash ravioli which was excellent and my man had the prime rib sandwich, which was literally a slab of prime rib on bread that had to be eaten with a knife and fork- delicious! My only issue here is the to $$ rating as far as price goes here on yelp. With local delights such as Panda Express and Quiznos being one $, I did not anticipate the prices at Tavern at the Park to be so high on their two $$ rating, however I suppose for the area, the prices were reasonable. Be warned to my frugal friends who pay attention to those $$$$$ markers :)
(3)
Adam S.
Great service. Good drinks. FRIENDLY crowd. Good quality food. The place is consistent and the owners REALLY care about keeping clients happy. They make me WANT to give them more stars but if you see the others restaurants in my list, you will understand why 3 is "pretty darn good" on my scale. Go here for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed. You won't be blown away, but I have never had bad food here.
(3)
Tammy Q.
I don't think I'd ever come here for "fun" -- been here twice, both for business meetings. The chicken with applewood bacon and bbq sauce sandwich was not too shabby. I love fries. I love fries that are fat. This place has the skinny shoestring fries that were not bad at all. I totally dogged it. The prices are a bit much for contemporary American fare -- but the location is great. Get seated upstairs to look over Grant Park. In the summer, the rooftop deck should be happening happy hour time.
(3)
Karyn K.
We had a really nice dinner at Tavern at the Park, except that I couldn't quite people watch from our booth! We started with the polenta--YUM. For dinner I had the Chicken Milanese--amazing!! Other people had veal and beef dishes, which were enjoyed by all. The entrees are huge and we probably should have split them. We also got a side of mashed potatoes and a side of green beans--also delicious. Every time I've walked by this place, I've wanted to stop in. And I'm glad that I did. Good service, good wines, good food.
(4)
Jean Z.
Been to this location several times. The food was great, and the service was great each and every time. From happy hour, to lunch with friends, to a nice dinner after touristing around michigan avenue.
(5)
SM J.
I was there in July for a corporate work function. My company rented the entire patio for dinner and I cannot begin to describe how wonderful our evening was. The service was AMAZING. Every little need that we had, the staff catered to immediately, sometimes without us even saying anything. They were so incredibly accommodating. The food was to die for. A special shout out to a server named AJ who went above and beyond to give us 5 Star service. He was so sweet and worked his butt off!!
(5)
JV L.
This was a great place for me b/c I needed: --a place near Millennium Park --pasta options with chicken --nicer than fast food, but not necessarily fine dining Tavern at the Park is a bit pricey, but I figured you pay for the location. And my chicken parmesan entree was enough for three meals, so the price didn't bother me too much afterward. This probably wouldn't be the first place I would recommend, just b/c Chicago has way too many other awesome restaurants. But, if you're near Millennium Park and want good food, a nice atmosphere and excellent service, this is the place. It also seems like a good restaurant to take picky eaters or to celebrate a semi-special occasion.
(3)
Jenny S.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Due to rain and cab messiness, two of us were very late but the waiter was awesome and took our orders as soon as we showed up and then brought everyone's food out at the same time. I ordered the chicken pot pie which was flakey and delicious. The waiter was extremely attentive and two of the managers also visited our table to make sure everything was going well. I will certainly be going back again. The restaurant wasn't very crowded and I hope that's because it's very new. It pains me that people will wait for an hour to eat at Grand Luxe when there's an even better restaurant down Michigan avenue with no wait at all.
(5)
Kevin S.
We've been here twice now and both times my impression is the same: this place skates by on its location, but the food and service is sub-par at best. This last time I ordered the mahi mahi special; the fish was very fishy smelling. My wife has a very good nose, and she could smell it from across the table. We sent it back and the waiter relayed that the chef said all the mahi probably would smell the same (WTF?) so I ordered the Chicken Milanese. It was just OK; the tomatoes that came with it were clearly the hothouse, flavorless kind. My wife's rack of lamb also was just ok, there was a lot of fat on it. They were slow to clear dishes, and when I asked to take part of my meal home, the bus person misunderstood and threw it away. The noise from the bar can intrude to the dining room. Nice location, nice view of the city - that's about it.
(2)
Mandy S.
This place has a great look to it, and amazing location and view. They did a good job of playing upon that with the design. I will say I've been meaning to try this place for awhile now and was curious as to what it was about. Went on Friday night with a group of four. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. In fact, we were one of the only people in the place. This always kind of irks me. When I go to a restaurant and a reasonable hour for dinner (8 pm) and it is quite empty. It just doesn't feel as festive to me and I feel kind of jipped. Plus I wonder what other people know that I don't. Fortunately my group of friends is a complete riot and we were able to keep ourselved entertained for the meal. I had the salmon entree and it was amazing. It came with no sides, but did come with a starter salad. For the price of the entree, I think a side would be in order. Everyone else was pleased with their meals: lobster ravioli, the tuna, the chicken milanese--aside from one guest who was confused and upset as to why a pile of cabbage was placed on top of his... Overall, it was a good experience. I'd rec to anyone looking for a group friendly atmopshere with a central location who doesn't mind spending a bit extra money. For anyone with an out of town guest, it's a nice place to bring them, but so is Park Grill and the Gage nearby, really. I'd probably go back to either of those places before I came back here. If someone else was footing the bill, however, I'd come back!
(3)
Shelley A. D.
I really like this place. The staff is polished and attentive. The location is perfect for pre or post theater and/or for lunch between business meetings. The food is high quality and fresh. The portions are generous. The wine pours and drinks are also abundant. I should mention that it is best classified as a steakhouse. As a non-red meat eater I usually have a soup and salad. As unfortunately the menu is pretty slim on seafood options. That said Tavern is still it is worth visiting if you have business or pleasure in the area.
(4)
Shanti N.
Yay! They have Gnarly Head Zin-- my fav-- by the glass, to boot! I came here twice-- once for a cocktail, and once for dinner (bar and booth, respectively)-- and was impressed by the solid service both times. Prices are reasonable, particularly for the dinner specials (including choice of soup or salad). As I had eaten a later lunch the evening I came here, I opted for the soup/salad. My dinner companion ordered the prosciutto-wrapped scallops, and we ordered the calamari to start. The calamari was a bit rubbery, which the breading more than made up for. Recommend the signature bee's knees cocktail-- bourbon, organically milled honey, and a few squeezes of lime-- for a dose of elegant simplicity and antidote to mojito malaise.
(4)
Casandra G.
Dropped in for cocktails and appetizers, 3rd of july. Classy, clean place with high cielings and big windows, looking out toward millenium park. Prompt seating, polite and helpful servers. Artfully prepared (read: very pretty) cocktails that get the job done and are not much more expensive than those of other bars downtown. The food, unfortunately, was a bit underwhelming. For example: seared scallops on a risotto bed. Superb scallops, but a bitter, slimy risotto. Bottom line? Come for drinks in a pretty setting. After you eat somewhere else.
(3)
Dan R.
This was a really great lunch. I got the lunch special, Chicken Caprese, and it was delicious. Chicken encrusted in Parmesan and breadcrumbs topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar drizzle. Yummola, as Rachel Ray would say. Only thing that was weird was the table cloth. It was vinyl. This place is classier than vinyl table cloth--- get it together Tavern.
(4)
John Z.
This is my favorite lunch and dinner spot in the loop! They have the best lobster roll west of boston and their meat is always cooked to perfection. The drinks are killer too, my girlfriend is in love with the martinis.
(5)
Christiana S.
This restaurant reminds me of this accountant I used to date. He was really cute, made a ton of money, extremely intelligent, and most importantly, crazy about me. I should have been head over heels about him, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Something was just....... off. Tavern at the Park is like that accountant. It's a good-looking restaurant (if I were rating it based on looks alone, it would get five stars) in a great location with menu items that sound delicious. Unfortunately, I left dinner vaguely disappointed. While there wasn't one big glaring problem, I thought there were lots of little ones. Service gets an A for effort, but a C for execution. Our waiter was friendly, but struck me as inexperienced. I mean, who doesn't know that a chilled white wine gets placed in a bucket of ice once it's brought to the table? (Not that it mattered too much, since we polished off the bottle pretty quickly.) As far as the food is concerned, it was not promising when the bread basket arrived with store-bought dinner rolls (these were seriously awful........ not even Jewel-quality) and cold butter. While it's a minor detail, this should be one of the easiest things for a restaurant (especially one that is attempting to come across as upscale) to get right and they didn't. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, which was cooked and seasoned perfectly, yet slightly overpriced at $18. Entrees are served a la carte here, so I had to shell out another $5 to get some broccoli (which was also cooked and seasoned perfectly). My boyfriend had a club sandwich and macaroni and cheese, both of which he seemed to enjoy immensely. (Of course, he'll eat anything, but I suppose that's beside the point.) We ordered the cookies and cream fondue for dessert, which was yet another part of this dining experience that was great in theory but not in practice. I think white chocolate is really too thin for fondue, especially if the point is to incorporate something like bits of Oreo cookie; the mixture didn't really stick well to anything. It should also be noted that the rice krispie treats and marshmallows were vaguely stale, and that green apple, white chocolate and Oreo cookie crumbs is not a good flavor combination. And yes, I know it seems as though I am being really picky, but I am a detail-oriented person. So there. However, much like my tumultous relationship with the accountant, I will give this place another try because I really do want things to work out (also, it's in close proximity to my office).
(2)
Ingrid G.
Not an upscale dining experience, but certainly tavern style food with the potential of great views. I should remark that if you're looking for a well executed dining experience with more upscale choices, the Park Grill is a much better choice than here. But if you're looking for a casual place to relax and have some drinks and dip the Tavern at the Park is the place for you! We had a party of 6. I had called several days before and requested a table with a view. We were seated promptly, though to my dismay, our only view was of a plasma TV in an odd windowless room on the second floor. The appetizers are all about the dips. Crab dip, chicken cheese fondue (skip it) mac and cheese, artichoke, etc. Main courses: Most of us stuck with the tried and true fillet which was pretty good. You order sides a la carte, and you are offered the typical steakhouse fare of creamed spinach, green beans, broccoli with cheese etc. My bf had the pasta with scallops, it was huge and pretty good. My aunt had a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon which looked really good. Overall: The service was marginal. Our waiter, bless his heart, was very inexperienced. They were featuring a heart of palm salad, and he volunteered that though he had never heard of heart of palm before today he thought it was kind of like asparagus. He was very eager to please but unsure of what to do almost every step of the way. The one very important exception to this was at the beginning he made a point to ask if there were any allergies (there were) and he was very intent on making sure that the allergy sufferer was taken care of. Our dishes were cleared promptly. Once again, not fancy schmancy but definitely OK, and the prices while steep aren't outrageous. I am looking forward to returning in the fall, when the leaves are changing.
(3)
Joseph E.
Took the family here before an opera at the Harris Theater across the street and we absolutely loved it. Great food at a good price. I only wish I'd ordered a steak instead of the Ahi tuna. The latter was good, but the ribeye my wife had and the filet my daughter had were wonderful tasting! We'll definitely come here again.
(4)
Amanda D.
Tavern at the Park had the best grilled calamari. What a great way to start the meal. The food here was decent, but nothing to write home about. Service... worse. Our waiter seemed like he had just started and was very clumsy with everything which was not comforting. They perk up their "view of the park", but most of the seating is hidden and has no view. Overall feel: meh
(2)
Tasha H.
Loved this place. Went there last night, the first time for both me and my friend. We both had steaks and salads, and vegetables as sides. First, I have to say that our waiter was outstanding. I tend to be a bit of a smartass, and from my starting out by asking for a very pink drink (for Pinktober, which I consider a month dedicated to me and my cancer), and then going on to ask what specific kinds of tomatoes were in the heirloom tomato salad, he totally went with it all, good-natured. His recommendations were great as well. The steaks were perfect, and the grilled veggies were some of the best I've ever had. I know, how can veggies be that great? But they were. Oh, and at some point someone who i assume must have been the owner stopped by our table to ask how everything was, which was a nice touch. Overall, I'd definitely go back. And the pink drinks were excellent! Oh, and how can I forget the bread pudding! Best. Ever.
(5)
Joelen T.
The Tavern at The Park can certainly cater to a large group of women who love their drinks! Having been here with girlfriends, we enjoyed the service provided as we spent several hours here chatting and drinking away. Some menu suggestions we thoroughly enjoyed: Warm Goat Cheese Parmesan Bread Crumbs & Tomato Fondue $10 Chicken Pot Pie Braised Chicken, Wild Mushrooms, Thyme, Madeira Wine With A Puff Pastry Crust $17 Blackened Sea Scallops & Fettuccine Tossed In A Spicy Vodka Sauce With Mushrooms & Spinach $27 Chopped Steak Cheeseburger American, Cheddar, Bleu Or Swiss $12 Braised Beef Short Ribs Boneless And Slow Roasted In A Red Wine Demi-Glaze $25 Lobster Ravioli Lobster Meat, Mascarpone Cheese, Asparagus & Lobster Cream Sauce $28 Whole Wheat Penne Pasta Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Shitake Mushrooms, Fresh Mozzarella & White Wine Garlic Sauce $17 Warm Blueberry Apple Bread Pudding Fresh Blueberries & Lemon Sauce $6 Triple Chocolate Cake Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Fudge Icing, and Chocolate Cake $8 One downside: this restaurant doesn't offer any happy hour specials, unlike the many other places in the area. Despite the lack of drink specials, the food and service made it worth it!
(4)
Ryan M.
The girl and I celebrated our anniversary last week and part of our celebration was dinner at Tavern at the Park. All in all, the meal was just fine, but I think my dear friend Keara's review below caused me to get way to excited about it. It didn't live up to expectations, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. We began our meal with some drinks. I ordered a scotch and water and to my dismay, it was served to me in a regular drinking glass rather than a rocks glass. I'm not normally a snob (when I'm at home, not owning a rocks glass, I drink from a Shrek glass I got at McDonalds), but at a nicer restaurant I would like to have my drink served in the proper glass. For an appetizer, we had the grilled polenta. This was a part of one of my new years goals to try a new food every month. I'd never had polenta before, but understanding it to be basically uncooked corn bread (sort of) I thought it might be ok. Texturally, I didn't care for it, but if I got a piece of sausage and some cheese and a just a little polenta, it wasn't too bad. I didn't care for the sausage served in the chunky tomato and pepper sauce, but that's my own pickiness. From there, we moved to main courses. The girl had blue cheese crusted filet mignon and absolutely raved about it. I had the prime rib, which was outstanding. Cooked right, tender, flavorful. Just great. The star of this portion of the meal was the Ashley's Mac and Cheese. Some of the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. Let's finish with desert. It was the highlight of the meal. Our waiter told us "Our deserts, with the exception of the cheesecake and the crème brulee are huge so you're only allowed to order one." But at the recommendation of Keara, I was having the key lime crème brulee. Holy balls. It was fantastic. The lady got the cookie ice cream sandwich, which she could barely finish, but since my crème brulee was light, I made quite a dent in it myself. I can say we were satisfied, but I think for the price tag that came with the meal, it may have been a little lackluster. I think we paid about 35 bucks too much, in my opinion. No biggie, just my opinion.
(3)
Laura F.
I took my parents here over the weekend and it was fab. Everyone loved it- the food was delish and the waiter was super nice. We were a bit underdressed as we had been at the air show all day- but nobody seemed to mind. I ordered the Chicken Milanese that was very good and I also have to recommend trying the Mac & Cheese side- it was heaven! We skipped on dessert but the coffee was really yummy and I'd love to try the Cookies and Cream fondue. This is a place that could be a nice place for a date or somewhere to take your parents. All in all a nice experience, highly recommended!
(5)
Nick K.
Went here for dinner and had a great experience. The place wasn't all that busy so we got seated for our reservation right away. The service was absolutely great and the food was excellent as well. We were started off with a basket of assorted breads, which were good. I had the Filet Mignon with the parmesan crusted topping. I have had this before at Wildfire and this was very similar and just as good if not better. The steak was cooked perfectly to how I ordered it. We also got the whipped potato caserole as a side and that was delicious. We were both full after dinner so we skipped on dessert, but they had something that looked delicious that I've never seen before. They had a cookies n cream fondue which is served with assorted fruit, marshmallows, rice krispie treats, and pretzels. Being the sweets lover I am, this sounds delicious and I want to go back and try this sometime. Overall, this was a great dining experience. Hopefully, more people start going so that it stays open.
(5)
Annie S.
I only like this place because it's a block away from my place. The drinks are pricey and not very good. It was kinda funny, one time I was there the waiter carded my friend and she was like "how old do you think I am" and he's like 18. HAHA! And she's 24. I thought that was hilarious. They have this $100 drink (not sure if they still make it but they had it a couple months ago) and I don't know who would spend that much on a freakn drink. I think it had diamonds or something inside... haha =P The place is pretty big and it's nice inside. The bathrooms are large, which is always nice. I do want to try this place again to get food because they've gotten good reviews for that.
(3)
Jen K.
This place gets 5 stars just based on the crab dip alone. It was absolutely amazing. And it tasted just as amazing when I ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I had the French Onion soup as well which was good. I also had the filet sliders with blue cheese. The sliders were a little overcooked and the blue cheese wasn't quite as flavorful as I normally prefer. The wine list gets an extra star since it had one of our favorite bottles on it that is hard to find. Finally, the service was perfect. Our waiter Tim was very friendly and helpful and always looking after us but not intrusive. Two managers stopped by our table as well to ask us about our meal and our night. I'll definitely be back again soon.
(5)
Ellen H.
Not bad. Wait. Quite ok, actually. I'll be honest, I was skeptical when the place opened. I work in one of the office buildings next door and am ALWAYS looking for non-Bennigans options, which seem to be the norm in that neck of the Loop. But, Tavern at the Park is a fairly solid spot....for the following: Lunch with co-workers (they have a great chopped salad and the fries are awesome...although I think all fries are awesome.); Casual dinner with visiting P's during the week/after work (dads will find ok steaks and moms will find decent chicken/fish options); After-work glass of wine (or two) and some appetizers at the bar (the goat cheese/tomato sauce is surprisingly tasty). The place is clearly not something to go nuts over but in the winter, and given it's location...for those "where the h*ll am I gonna take so-and-so after work" moments...Tavern is a safe bet.
(4)
Faith G.
Great location and GREAT food. We had the polenta app, Big Mike burger, Petite Filet and the broccoli. I have to say the food was amazing from start to finish. We spent 6 days in Chicago and after visiting all the "recommended historical" restaurants.. this was by far my favorite. The service was great and I would highly recommend giving this restaurant a go!
(5)
Zack C.
The menu at this establishment is somewhat of a limiting factor if you're looking for a smorgasbord.
(3)
Sarah Z.
Horrid! The food here was absolutely terrible!! Our waiter was nice and the atmosphere was ok- has a nice view overlooking Randolf Street... but the food was soooooo bad, I would never go back!
(1)
Todd C.
There's a ton of great steakhouses in the area, but the New York Strip at Tavern At The Park might be the best steak buy downtown. The service is great and the have this great whisky cocktail called "Them Apples". Mmmm, it's good. This place is also close to the Millennium Park, so you can walk over to The Bean afterwards. It's a great date spot.
(4)
Giri C.
The food and service were both excellent! We ate dinner in a private dining room with a group of about 20 so it may not be reprensentative of the main dining room, but I found the whole meal very good. Definitely get the Apple Crisp for dessert! I'm partial to apple desserts, but this Apple Crisp topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream was incredible!
(4)
Ali K.
This restaurant was okay, but nothing special. We were in Chicago for a few days and this was the first place we tried for lunch one day. After having a couple other meals in town (on recommendations), I wish I could take this one back to do something "more local". This felt a little like a chain restaurant. I had the Southwestern Chicken sandwich which was alright, but again, there are better places around if you're only in town for a short period of time. I'm sure if you live in Chicago and don't need to do the touristy places, it would be just fine. We also just had sandwiches; some of the entrees did sound pretty good and I will say, the service was pretty good.
(2)
Suz C.
This is a preliminary review based on two visits. It was OK - I think they're still working out the kinks. Hey, is it Tavern at the Park or Tavern on the Park? Not to be confused with Tavern on Rush. I wasn't blown away, but I will probably eat here again. I've been here for both lunch and dinner. For dinner, I ate the grilled vegetable salad. I hated the dressing, and the food tasted overgrilled, if that's possible. My friend got a grilled chicken sandwich and loved it. For lunch, I met a colleague, and I tried the sirloin burger salad and I liked it, although the sirloin was a tad too overcooked. My colleague opted for the braised beef short ribs, and she thought it was OK but thought it could have been better. Gorgeous, dark wood interior. For the location, you'd expect an amazing view of the park, but you really don't get any view in the back dining room. I hear you get quite the view if you eat upstairs in one of the rooms. Good loop location, nice interior (safe for a business lunch or after-work drink), but the food was ehhhh and the waitstaff seemed pleasant, albeit harried. Great bar - I'd like to try it for happy hour sometime. A little expensive, but you're paying for location and a fairly nice interior. I think this restaurant competes with Park Grille and The Gage - they're all about equal to me.
(3)
Stacy C.
I've been here twice now, for a company happy hour and just a casual lunch. This place is nothing special, but I think it's perfect for business lunches or work gatherings. When my company visited we had a spacious area upstairs and excellent service. (Let's not discuss the fact that I threw up on the Red Line after one too many Petron margaritas on this occasion.) The appetizers were tasty but pricey, at least for my standards. On my second visit I had the delicious grilled vegetable salad and my mom had the grilled cheese, bacon and tomato, which was amazing. Once again, overpriced for my small salary, but if you're using your corporate Amex then who cares! Our waiter was great again; I noticed that they made a special point to ask if anyone at the table had food allergies, which I thought was a sign of their superior service. The atmosphere is cookie-cutter "antique" Chicago posters and photographs, but at least there's a nice view. It gets a little too dark in the evenings though, so if you're going on a date with a two-face then maybe this is the place for you.
(3)
Dan N.
We went to see the bean in our last trip to attend our daughter's graduation and happened to come here for lunch since it's next to the park. The food was mediocre at best (the service was okay) and the host was extremely rude (it was a hot day in june and we dressed casually for sight-seeing). Avoid even if you have to walk further out to find some food.
(1)
Heather H.
I had excellent service and a great meal when I was here, and the drinks were a strong pour. I took my mother for her birthday dinner, and she thoroughly enjoyed everything including the great dessert the waiter gave us compliments of the kitchen for her birthday. The waiter made modifications to my moms meal graciously and I would absolutely go back.
(4)
Jo Jo B.
If you want a sterile yuppie place to go to then this is the place for you. I went here the other night because it is in my neighbourhood and I wanted somewhere local where I could meet a client. This place really is a business place and I did not dig it even for my purpose of my meeting. We sat near the window, and throughout my time there I was bloody freezing! I was not the only one who was complaining they were cold either. Staff were attentive and friendly, but rightly so, when they are getting tipped on top of the prices they charge here. A glass of wine is approx $11 and up and the selection for a glass is very limited. Of course they have quite a selection by the bottle. I wonder why? I ordered a Cavattapi dish with artichokes and tomatoes, something I thought would be fairly tasty. This dish came out so bland, I was getting concerned about my sodium intake in order to make it palatable. Seriously when you have great ingredients in a dish, (especially tomatoes) NO dish should lack flavour like this did. My clients Ceaser Salad was so so, I tried it and it was a bit blah to say the least. This place is expensive for what they offer. It is convenient for locals and business people to hang out but as far as good food goes, I would pass. They have flat screens so you can catch up on a game and sometimes it can get a bit noisy to have a conversation here. BTW parking around here is insane unless you valet or park at Millennium Park. Add that to your bill and you could easily have spent $70 for a basic experience. Try Subway, it has more character and is a lot tastier. :O(
(1)
Joanne C.
Can't beat the location of this place. I came into the city to see the Grant Park Symphony one weekend and Avenue Q another. It is very convenient. The food is good, not fantastic. Portions are HUGE. And the staff is very nice. My sandwich was so big I couldn't finish it and the waiter offered to put the other half in the fridge so I could pick it up after the show on my way back to the car. The crab appetizer was very good. I had the club sandwich that I'm surprised for a restaurant like this was processed meat and not fresh. It tasted fine but nothing special. The whipped potato casserole was good but was cold.
(3)
CJ J.
Just went there for the first time and I must have got there when the wait staff was changing shifts because there seemed to be a lot of confusion on who would be waiting on us, Dirty Martini was fantastic but the chopped salad (which I had heard really good things about....) was not. I will go back though, as it's close to where I live and the martini was worth a second visit!
(2)
Kelli W.
We stopped in for a cocktail after walking from the Natural History Museum. I would love to say that it was bad, but we didn't even get acknowledged by any of the 3 bartenders. One of the bartenders picked up two cocktail napkins, looked at us, then put them back down. I felt that we weren't served because we were wearing jeans that day. After waiting for about 10 minutes for eye contact from someone, we decided to take ourselves elsewhere.
(1)
Jill S.
Four of us had an early dinner on a hot night, looking for light, seasonal, simply prepared dishes. We ordered a variety of starters and salads. The water was tepid, no ice. The waitress took orders for Prosecco and then said, "Oh, wait, we don't have Prosecco." The only dish that was right was the steamed mussels. The Farmer's Trio of chalky, bland chicken liver pate, "roasted garlic" puree that was mostly chickpeas, with no hint of garlic, and so-so eggplant dip was mediocre at best. The French onion soup was all wrong--why have it on the menu if you don't know how to make it? The side salad was limp lettuce topped with a tangle of gummy onions. The heirloom tomato caprese features chunks of underripe tomatoes topped by a blob of untangy, unfresh mozzarella. We tried to like it, but really--for the price, it was a disgrace. And there is no excuse. All these dishes can be made ahead and held and be delicious. Although the Alsatian Pinot Gris was nice, the wines by the glass were unappealing and overpriced. Pedestrian fare, with no heart and no soul, at premium prices.
(2)
Eugene E.
Always have a great experience here! Genuine service. The dinner food I've received a mixed bag of responses. From really well prepared to not so great, but they are attentive enough to make any change you may request. The do however have excellent desserts. The brownie is pretty on-point. To the credit of the physical location, a nice view. Also, be weary of the "tomato soup" - it is not vegeterian. They make it with chicken broth.
(3)
Joscelyn M.
I end up going here more than I could care to because I work in the building. Everything is just OK, but prices are a bit much. Good wine selection and the food is decent. Service is pretty slow.
(3)
Scott S.
A taste of suburbia in downtown Chicago. The dark bread is pretty good, but I'm pretty sure the culinary practice here is the same as it is when I cook at home: taking something out of the freezer, making it hot, putting it on a plate. The food here is about as innovative as the Catholic Church. But the weirdest part is the background music. It's all stuff from the 10 free CDs you got from Columbia House when you signed up back in 1994. If everything else in the neighborhood is closed and you're in the mood for a drink and a sandwich and your favorite color is brown, then come on down to Tavern at the Park.
(1)
Manda H.
I really enjoyed the bar post work. The bartenders were quick and really nice and my drink was the perfect strength. It can be a little bit pricey but I have to say I am not complaining on this one. Tried a few appetizers, nothing too special. Duck was an interesting choice. This place is huge, I like that there are a few private areas to have a smaller gathering. I don't know why I haven't checked this place out before.
(4)
S S.
I recently met 7 of my former colleagues here for a "going away" dinner. We were seated in a private room, just off the main entrance. The privacy was nice, but the food was the star. We split appetizers at the table - though I didn't sample, so I can't comment - everyone gave a thumb's up to the calimari. For dinner, I had the Chicken Pot Pie (made with fresh veggies, tender chicken, pitch-perfect sauce and a beautiful pastry shell). We split a large order of the Fondue for dessert, and all went away happy. Overall, service was great, and my meal was perfect -even if it was an American classic. (Yes, you can screw up a pot pie with too much cream and overcooked veggies - they didn't do that here). Perhaps the winner, though, was the Mint #2 Drink that I had (well, two of them) at the bar after dinner. Pomegranate, Effen Cranberry Vodka, and some other delish combinations in a nice, large glass would be my after-work drink of choice if I worked nearby. Delish. Great food, great service. Reasonable prices. Something on the menu for everyone. I'll be back.
(4)
Karen L.
I would give this a 2.5 stars. Really, the food was ok but not great. It was a lot fancier and pricier than what I was expecting, but then again, it is right across the street from Millenium Park. I only ate some appetizers there and I will have to say that the portions are pretty generous. The menu actually looks better than what you get. It seems like really fancy, innovative dishes, but when you taste it, it is just ok. It is a convenient location, right downtown, so if I end up going there again I would probably just go for drinks and apps again.
(2)
Jeanine S.
Meh. I met with family and their friends visiting from out of town. It was a great location, but that about all that I loved. The food was very good, but unmemorable and could have been eaten anywhere. service was slow and unattentive. We had a large group, but the place didn't seem very busy for a Friday night, so I feel we were a bit neglected. My dessert of bread pudding with blueberries and apples was enough to share with the entire table and still take some home (although it took 3 requests with 2 servers to have it wrapped to accomplish just that.) The size somehow made the treat less special though. The prices were a bit on the high side for the quality, wine nothing too out of the ordinary. Overall, I felt that the location beckons to visitors to our beautiful city, but that it is a shame that it doesn't represent our diverse and fantatic foods here in Chicago, nor did it represent our friendly and knowledgeable people.
(3)
Amy C.
We went here for lunch and the food was good but not great. I had the tomato bisque and it was delicious but my prime rib sliders were a little disappointing. It was not flavorful and was a bit cold. I had lots of fries so that was good. Overall, the food is nothing special...
(3)
Sam S.
On a Monday night, my 10 year-old son and I were looking for a place to get carry-out to take back to the lawn at the Pritzker Pavilion during a concert. We took a chance and went into Tavern at the Park. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, I fully expected to be rushed out of there. On the contrary, the host and hostess could not have been nicer. My son and I sat there and took our time coming up with a list of food to buy. They accommodated everything we ordered, and the host was very careful to make sure he understood everything and any special requests (eg. plain hamburgers for the kids, cut in half). Everything was prepared quickly and packaged up nicely into two shopping bags. The good was really good. I was most impressed with the care and attention that was given to the careful packaging of the food and all the extra items, so that there was nothing missing (utensils, napkins, condiments, etc.). They really did a fantastic job. My wife and I are looking forward to returning to dine in-house.
(5)
RJ W.
It is obvious the rating from Bobby S is a fake. I just wanted to make things balance out
(1)
Mike R.
I've dined here on more than one occasion, and I have never been disappointed. The food is excellent and the location is even better. The staff is very knowledgeable and the management is hilarious. I think some of the poor reviews given to this restaurant are from people who are expecting something out of the ordinary and contemporary. The reason for this is because many of the people who rate this restaurant are from out of town and have expectations for a Chicago restaurant based on what they see on TV. Tavern is not going to go out of its way to be famously artistic with the dishes; from my experience, they concentrate on comfort food cooked to perfection. They pull this off better than any other restaurant that is trying fit this same genre (i.e. Table 52). Try the Double-Cut pork chop, which is always a crowd pleaser. As is the chicken and fontina fondue. I've never been a fan of their chop salad so probably steer away from that, but I have enjoyed the grilled vegetable salad, which is fantastic and different. Like I said, don't come here if you want a menu that has been overhauled to squeeze in items such as "black truffle foam, creme fraiche coulis, duck confit-stuffed rack of lamb with a roasted puree of pequin capon," because you're not going to find that. Tavern will give you great dishes that you grew up with, incorporate a cool twist, and cook it to perfection (i.e. Ashley's Mac & Cheese, Coca-cola BBQ sauce, Prime Rib Sandwich). Enjoy it for what it is and you will truly enjoy your food experience. If you expect every restaurant in Chicago to be cookie-cutter uber-chic joints, then you will be disappointed.
(5)
Thomas W.
Initially the service was great. I got greeted by a nice man who showed me through the restaurant which had a nice atmosphere and ambiance to it. Upon sitting down and waiting several minutes the waitress greeted us by saying, "What can i start you off with?" Not even an introduction, no name, no specials of the night, nothing. I did not receive her name the whole night. A man (assuming it was a manager) came to the table and asked if the food was satisfactory and our table replied with a yes. He then walked away swiftly without any introduction of any sort. The food was mediocre and the menu sounds a lot better that the actual food you receive. I would not go back to this restaurant.
(2)
Katee C.
Yum yum yum! I was searching for a somewhat affordable place to take a friend from out of town while staying at the Palmer House and this was suggested. It was a nice walk from the Palmer House and, with reservations, we were taken right to our seats. It's a beautiful view and we enjoyed the time there. First of all, our waiter was great. Super personable and gave us plenty of time. There's nothing worse than feeling like you're rushed and that didn't happen here! We had the calamari for an appetizer. It was good, but nothing super exciting. My friend had the Chicken Piccata and loved it. I had the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich and OH MY GOD. It was so incredibly good. Great cut of meet, onion strings, truffle aoli, whiskey butter, toasted pretzel roll ... mmmmmmmmm. It was very rich so I could only eat half but I wanted to marry the other half. If only it were legal! :) There was also about a pound of very good fries. I will definitely go here again. A great all-around experience!
(5)
paul z.
Great dinner tonight. Crab cakes/sole wonderful. Lobster mac and cheese also great. Chicken Noodle/Matza Ball soup is the best. Big thanks to whoever found my cell phone left on the table and chased me down for a block to give it back...how good is that. They could have just waited for lost and found. Don't know who you are, but, thank you, thank you. Good food and customer service makes you very special.
(5)
Daniel T.
I had heard such great things about this place that I had higher hopes. Perhaps this was a problem. Had dinner there late after an evening in Grant Park. The atmosphere is dark and not very warm. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was very helpful in recommending some items. The food was decent, but way too pricey. Nothing exceptional. Doubt I'll go back.
(3)
Aimee C.
hmmmm, i love the slider plate, i attempted to order three pulled pork sandwiches, but then at the last minute decided to mix it up and get one of each, prime rib and cheeseburger slider... and boy was I pleased.. the pulled pork was my least favorite... and i'm a girl that has a soft spot for shoestring fries... (note: aimee can be bribbed with fries) any day or night a restaurant that can make a great shoestring is A+ in my book. I was meeting up with friends for a birthday drink but ended up staying for dinner.. was quite pleased for a tuesday night, it was pleasantly filled with people/travelers/businessmen and of course, us crazy kids... The one part that I will say I disliked the most was the slowness of our "new" server.. I hope that he will be up to par on the next trip.. and where, oh where is the bathroom, all the way upstairs in the back behind the curve.. i thought I was in an endless labyrinth.. luckily I was only on the pursuit of washing my hands... Note to self: remember to be prepared to make the venture way before it's needed. enjoy.. i know I did.
(3)
Beth O.
For what it is (downtown, thus frequented by working stiffs and tourists) the Tavern is great. Must dos include the chicken flatbread pizza. Although my drinks were ridiculously expensive, the flatbread was cheap, tasty and huge thus kept the tab down for a night out on the town with a friend.
(3)
Jen F.
I'm really not sure why I don't just trust the yelp reviews. This place is next to my apartment for my 2 months in chicago. Once I read the reviews and factored in the proximity, I figured I would give it a chance. It was pretty busy at 9 when I arrived, so I stole a place at the bar. Bad choice. I was next to two drunk women, on of which was describing her sex life in way too much detail. I ordered the rib eye and the creamed spinach. The spinach was very creamy and cheesy, way too cheesy. I ordered the rib eye black and blue, the bartender even verified exactly how I wanted it, too bad the kitchen didn't pay attention. The key to a black and blue is the black part, and my steak was missing the char. Once I got my food and my last glass of wine the bartender forgot about me completely. (pretty sure no one would care if I left without paying) The food, still in front of me, is a cold mess. Even my wine glass is empty. The annoying woman next to me finally realized that the guy she is sleeping with is married to someone else and her friend stumbled trashed out to a cab. This entire experience has been a waste (ok, the chili was pretty good and that warranted the one star.
(1)
Andy G.
Yesterday I took my team at work to Tavern at the Park for our annual holiday lunch. I hadn't tried it and was very excited to go, since I pass it on a regular basis. The entire experience started out on a sour note. When I arrived I checked with the host he mentioned I did not "see" my reservation and asked if it could be under another name. I had made the reservation weeks ago and asked for a table with a veiw of the park. I saw my name on the computer screen and told him it was the last name on his screen before he said, "Oh - I thought it looked like something else on the sheet." Sure. Anyway, we were seated at a table (without a view) in the downstairs portion of the restaurant. The service was adequate, but not overly friendly. The place was packed, but still, we didn't feel welcome the entire time we dined. The food was not the best I've ever had - but it wasn't terrible, either. It was pretty common, actually, nothing exciting on the menu and the prices were high for what we got. All in all, I'd probably go back again and give it another shot, but I won't be in any hurry. It's a good addition to the neighborhood, but nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)
Tuya S.
The three stars are really for the food not for the location and neither for interior decor. Should probably include the remarks that doorman made to my date for wearing his Burberry cap inside the dining area. Therefore, no hats, no designer fancy shmancy hot and trendy. Uptight and smart is the motto! or at least, it must appear so. . . The wine selection was not far distinct and even satisfying. If you want upscale-ish atmosphere and definitely not out-of college crowd, this is the place to stop by.
(3)
Quantas G.
I will give this place credit for having a great view from the second floor. You can see portions of Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue outside of the window. But the prices definitely don't match the quality if the food. Maybe it was my fault for ordering a lobster roll this far west of the Atlantic. But $20 is way too much to charge for the sandwich and fries I was served. The sandwich was like a lackluster seafood salad sandwich I could have picked up from Subway. The ambiance was nice so I guess that is what I was paying for but I would rather have better food at a lower price for my next Loop lunch.
(2)
Dane K.
Went here for a kind of late lunch... The place was fairly empty (maybe 2 other tables eating in the whole place?). With that in mind I'd call the service spotty. And it's a bit on the expensive side... It's clearly a business-expense-account oriented type place. I ordered a French Dip sandwich... which was $17. $17!!! that's f'kin crazy. it's a roll, beef, some cheese... and au jus. The sandwich was pretty good, though. Most of the other sandwiches were in the $15 range, and I don't think there was anything less than $12 on the menu. The appetizers were mostly in the $10-12 range. We ordered an appetizer and entrees... the appetizer came in a timely manner (10 minutes or so), but then I swear there was another 20 or 25 minutes at least before our entree came, which is just puzzling given that we had ordered it at the same time as the appetizer, the place was nearly empty, and we had both ordered sandwiches. Other than the slow food delivery the service wasn't overly impressive, I felt like I was eating at the bar with the bartender taking my order (though I wasn't). I work in Prudential Plaza, so I was hoping when they opened it would be a good place to go for an occasional somewhat splurgy lunch or a good business lunch... Apparently the place is very busy and you pretty much need a reservation to get a lunch table here (unless you're OK with eating at 2pm...). So that's a strike in my book, but I guess you can't fault them for success (or at least temporary rush success). It would be nice if they'd have a late afternoon special or something to get in more people, aka me. Given the extremely slow service and what not, we were there long enough to find that the place started really packing them in to the bar after 4. For fun, read the martini menu... there's a $199 martini on there, which includes "something special" from your favorite jeweler. Whatever that means. (And totally a copy off of some manhattanesque bar) ..The space itself is nice. I guess there's some sort of upstairs area too, which probably have decent views of... the street and the sculptures across the street. And let me throw in the cliched "really a 3.5 star"..
(3)
Connie W.
A little pricy but the service and food is always good.
(4)
Kodey F.
The girlfriend and I were walking through Grant Park one Saturday evening, and we decided to walk by, thinking it would be crazy busy and not even worth waiting. We were surprised to see that they had inside seating available. We were outside all day so we just wanted some air conditioning, but I can see how nice it would be to sit outside on a nice day/night. The place is very nice looking, but still has TVs playing the cubs game over the bar, so don't feel bad coming here in jeans. The service was suberb. The wine list had a good mix of inexpensive and expensive wines. I ordered the Lobster ravioli and it was one of the best I've ever had. Girlfriend had the caprese salad, and it was plentiful; big chunks of mozzarella and large fresh tomato slices. We were too stuffed to dessert, maybe next time. some of the dishes are a little on the expensive side, but for dining steps from Michigan Avenue, it seems rather reasonable. We definitely will go back, and might even pick up carryout sometime.
(5)
Michelle E.
There really isn't anything wrong with Tavern at the Park. But there really isn't anything phenomenal about it either. Perfectly acceptable food, a good place to go after work, or even for a work function. Or, in this case, a good place to meet the parental units for dinner! The one thing I found interesting was that the bar was packed with corporate guys in suits! So this is where they have all been hiding! I personally LOVE a man in a suit, and it depresses me that most companies now have a casual dress code. This place is actually pretty big, they have 2 floors of dining rooms. The night I was there the 2nd floor was closed for a private event, so consequently the 1st floor was a bit more crowded than usual. One thing that I thought was a nice touch was that each table gets its own bottle of water. One of my pet peeves is an empty water glass. I'm not saying you have to buy water either, you can have your very own pretty blue glass bottle of tap water on your table! The menu had quite a few sandwiches on it, which I found a bit surprising. We started with the sticky fried shrimp, which was fine. I decided to try the chicken milanese for my entree, which was GIANT! Giant and good. My dad had the double pork chop with the cherry cola BBQ sauce. The pork chop was also giant, I swear it had to be 3 inches thick! The BBQ sauce was super tasty. My mom had the fish of the day, which was nice. We had the triple chocolate cake for dessert, which was also good. Really, I can't complain about anything, perse. Everything was good. But nothing was mind-blowing, or anything that I would HAVE to have again. I wouldn't mind going back to try the filet mignon, as you can choose from several different kinds of crust, ie parmesan or blue cheese. But then again, would I go Tavern at the Park just for a steak? Not likely.
(3)
EV G.
Great location, overlooking Millennium Park. The food is really forgettable - not horrible, not wonderful, not interesting. But if you are looking for a place to have a business lunch, this is not a bad choice. Service was fine, prices for a sit down lunch are pretty average for the location. The same folks run Keefer's where the food is much better so maybe they just need some time to get their act together. Here is an arcane tidbit about this place - if you are wearing black pants, you can get a black cloth napkin so if any fibers rub off, they will not show up on your clothes. Just in case you are wondering why there are black and white napkins (as I was - OK so I am a freak for weird details).
(3)
Agnes F.
slight improvement from last time i visited i came here with a colleague and we shared the fried calamari appetizer, the breading was too heavy and calamari was not very meaty had the salmon for main course and it was ok, little flavor and slightly overcooked, my friend had the burger and she didn't say much about it so all in all, haven't changed my view about the place for a quick business lunch this is ok but i won't come back for anything else
(2)
Scott T.
Better than you would expect for a Millenium Park hub, their waitstaff is very friendly and attentive and the food has improved quite drastically over the years. Make sure you don't fill up on bread, however tempted you are. Drinks are portioned well, wine is cheap and plentiful, however they could use more local options for beers on tap (look into Half Acre, please!). A downtown staple that won't disappoint, expect a business-heavy crowd for lunch on weekdays and note that they're closed on Sundays.
(4)
James W.
My wife and I have been in Chicago for a few days seeing the sights. Today we had a great meal at Millers Pub on the loop (Best Prime Rib in a LONG Time), took a nice river cruise, and were walking and thought we would stop for a beer. It had been raining today and we were both wearing a ball cap. The gentleman at the door welcomed us in and told us to have a seat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and we were thinking we had walked into another cool Chicago establishment. We began talking to some others on vacation and we are all planning on spending some time and chatting with the locals. Then a real butt head came up and acted like we had pissed on his floor and was a complete jerk about our caps. Not sorry, and won't be back! No signs posted and our caps did not seem to be bothering others in the establishment. So, the six of us (four wearing caps) that were thinking on drinking left and found another friendlier establishment just down the street and once again were appreciated. Oh, and the caps on our heads was a problem, but the zombies sitting in there were OK.
(1)
David K.
I was very pleased with this place. I took my wife for her birthday dinner. One of the owners (Donnie) gave us a table that I requested and made sure to say happy birthday to my wiife. I really appreciated that. Great food. The fondue app is very good. Wife had a filet that she liked. Great night, we will be back
(5)
Joy K.
I went to Tavern At The Park awhile ago with a friend. She ordered the Chopped Salad and I order some monstrous burger. I definitely regretted ordering the burger. It was bigger than I imagined and I gave up trying to eat it a quarter of the way through. Also, I was bent of having dessert so I decidedly took most of my entree home. For dessert she had the Apple Crisp and I ordered the Homemade Brownie Sundae, which was more like a cake than anything else, in size and texture. Overall the food was okay it was nothing to write home about. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. The Host was amazing! We had made a reservation but suddenly decided to eat earlier than planned. I called and the host was extremely accommodating. When we got to the restaurant he greeted us warmly and immediately had us seated. Tavern At The Park has very low lighting and a mellow atmosphere in the dining room, but the bar seemed like it was fairly ruckus for a Thursday night. Although, it's kind of an inconvenience to have to take an elevator to the restroom, I felt very chic doing it so it made up for that.The wait-staff, on the other hand, is okay. I wasn't impressed. Our waiter seemed as if he would have rather been somewhere else. Perhaps he was having an off night... Who knows? Nevertheless, the food is ok at best but the portions are huge so bring your appetite with you. The atmosphere is appealing for a large group or an intimate dinner. (I saw both taking place while I was there and neither seemed out of place.) In the end, if you are near Millennium Park and don't feel like walking in the freezing cold to get a bite to eat elsewhere, stop here. You won't be raving about this place, but you won't be disappointed with your experience either.
(3)
Carlo S.
Stopped by for a midday bite. French onion soup was top 5 I've ever had. Ate at the bar...as an out of towner bartender was very helpful with city tips!
(4)
Rachelle T.
Went here for a work lunch meeting and had a good experience. The decor and ambience is great (love the blue glasses and water pitcher) and it has an upscale feel without being stuffy or uninviting. The menu was decent and even the strict vegetarian/vegan with us was able to find an entree without too many problems. I knocked them down a star because I will say the shrimp on my salad was overcooked and for an $18 caesar salad that shouldn't happen. But overall I was pleased and will definitely go back again!
(4)
Kevin C.
Hmmm....Tavern on the Park.....where do I start? First off, I personally like the decor . The interior is done in a warm mahogany finish and is dimly lit, my sort of place! Second, the service was decent though our waitress seemed inexperienced but there was another server watching over to ensure that she was doing her job correctly. Third, the food was decent but a little pricey for the money. Overall, I would come here for drinks and people watching rather than for the food.
(3)
Heather G.
We went to this restaurant on a Friday night with reservations and we were seated right away. The bread that came before the meal was great and we ate several baskets while we waited for the entrees. I had the grilled vegetable salad which was really unique. It was good and much more than I could finish. The self-proclaimed "chicken expert" that went with me found the roast chicken to be one of the best he's ever had. We shared a side of fries that were also fantastic especially considering I don't usually like the shoestring variety. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a quiet, nicer but less expensive night out. This dinner for two cost less than $50 even including wine.
(4)
Anne M.
Technically, I'd give this place 3.7. The food was good, not OMG (I know, is there an echo here?), the portions are biblical (and this is a NEGATIVE to me, but welcome to America), BUT the chef very kindly prepared a single order entree chicken potpie and made it in 2 small dishes. Potpie was OK. They have some good gin for martinis (Hendricks and North Shore). The waitstaff and floor mgr were very friendly and accommodating and let us drink/dine at our lengthy pace. It's a good option when it's 3 degrees outside and you're very, very hungry at Milennium Park.
(3)
murray r.
Love this place, take many clients, staff is great, food better..
(4)
Nancy M.
I like the food here. As others have stated, the Saturday night prime rib is a good deal. But, it was a bit salty. I usually sit at the bar and grab a bite before ballet or opera. Wines by the glass are a good bet.
(4)
Sam W.
After hearing Food Network Star Robert Irvine had dined here recently, I had to make a reservation and try it for myself. I made a 5:30pm "reso" on a Thursday and it was packed the second we got there. Granted, there was a large party occupying the entire upstairs room, but this place was still hopping all night long. My mom and I started off with the Blackened Ahi Tuna appetizer, and it was average at best. It had some type of green sauce that made it taste better, but the tuna itself was simply average and not spicy at all. For our entrees, I ordered the Marinated BBQ Chicken Sandwich, which came smothered in cherry-cola BBQ sauce that was honestly the greatest BBQ sauce I'd ever tasted. The chicken was thin and grilled to perfection. I had a giant baked potato with it, and I promise you, it was the size of a football, but I somehow finished the whole thing. My mom ordered the Filet with Lobster crust, and the bite that I got of it was super moist. For dessert, we shared the Fried Banana Split, which is basically two medium banana's coated in frosted flakes and deep fried. Then place them on top of two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzle it with chocolate and caramel sauce, along with a cherry and some whipped cream, and you have the ultimate dessert! This was fantastic and the sweet crusted banana paired with the ice cream was the perfect match. The service here was even better than the food. Nilo, are server, was so incredibly fast with our drinks, food, and was always willing to get whatever we needed. When I told him how much I enjoyed the BBQ sauce on my sandwich, he ran back to the kitchen and brought out a huge bowl of it for me to layer on. He also was relaxed, calm, and funny at the same time, never phased by the incredibly packed bar and ongoing demand of his tables. We rewarded him for all his hard work. Overall, Tavern at the Park is a must see place with amazing service and extremely flavorful food. Second Visit: This place was way less appealing the second time around. I went in there with two of my friends at around 4:00pm, with the entire restaurant empty. Our waiter was either high or really dumb because he seemed to have trouble talking. When he did, he spoke so softly we couldn't understand him. And remember, we couldn't hear him despite no one in the restaurant. Anyway, we ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it actually was pretty good, and the spicy dipping sauce was a good compliment. I ordered the Cherry Cola BBQ Chicken Sandwich again and this time it was so average I felt like they stole my $14. There was like a hint of BBQ sauce, and I would've asked for more, but knew our dumb waiter was unable to do much. My friends ordered the Whole Wheat Pasta and the Lobster Crusted Filet and both ate most of their food. We all shared the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert, and again this was a disappointment with the lack of strawberries and the over dose of tasteless pound cake and unbelievably heavy cream that had the effect of your gut expanding on the spot! Try this place once, come when its busy so you can be seen, but don't expect much else.
(3)
Bobby S.
This place is awesome. It's a block away from my work, so I go there for lunch a lot. The food is really good and at an average price for the location. The Management is really nice and always come by and make sure everything is fine.
(5)
K M.
Headline, great location, service, and atmosphere, downside being the food and the cost. It's clear that what you are paying for is the location. This is not to say the food isn't good. It's just fine, simple even. It's not great tasting. We went here this weekend and were immediately seated for our reservation. It was filled and the overall feel is a great place to take out of towners, family, groups, but maybe not a quiet date unless you go upstairs. The bar downstairs is large and I'd go back and entertain a drink or four there (on someone's else dime). We sat upstairs and we're treated to some tasty bread which was refilled when empty. We ordered course by course, which wasn't our goal, but I guess it was our waiters. I had many many raspberry mojitos and ended up rather drunk, but still recall the meal with indifference to disappointment. We had the crab dip appetizer, which was hot, crabby, and the best part of our meal. Then I had the Asian Shrimp Salad, which was huge, filled with chopped lettuce, and had weak dressing flavor and starchy cold hard shrimp. He had the grilled cheese sandwich and fries. Our meal with one appetizer, an entree salad and sandwich/fries, 5 drinks came to $130. Ouch.
(3)
Oona B.
it's a nice place for lunch/after work in the loop area.
(3)
Amanda L.
We stopped here for after work appetizers and cocktails. The chicken fondue, crab au gratin and grilled artichoke were all delicious. They have a great wine selection and the space has a warm lodge like feel to it. Everyone that worked there was friendly and warm and the server didn't skip a beat. This is a great place I plan to frequent a lot.
(5)
Mary C.
I have been here several times for casual drinks & apps at the bar, dinner in the dining room, and I even spent part of NYE here too. I have always been impressed by the service and atmosphere. It's elegant and comfortable. The grilled vegetable salad is a favorite (always enough to either share or take home), and the soup selections are always great. I'm a soup whore, so that is important to me.... random factoid: the French judge a chef on how they make eggs and soup. Mmmmm soup. I digress. The prices are a little steep, but so is everything in that area, unless you want to go to Bennigans. I do not recommend the soup there. Also, I hear Tavern might be adding an outdoor patio upstairs, which would make for killer views of Millennium Park.
(5)
Tim M.
The Tavern is a long over due addition to the dining scene in this part of the city particularly for business lunches. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and a bit "clubby" depending where you sit. I find the place very relaxing and if you get a seat with a view outside it's fun to watch the traffic on Randolph St. Service is attentive though not polished but this is a tavern and it is more than acceptable. Portions are more than generous and I have not been disappointed yet. Of course some things are better than others. They always push the Tavern Teasers but these 3 small sandwiches are not that great. The full size version of each of these is much better for a meal though these are fine for a snack. The chicken soup is outstanding, the tomato a bit too rich. The seafood has always been very good, I was surprised to see skate on the specials one day and I was very pleased with it. Highly recommended especially for business events.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Valet Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Classy Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : No
Michael S.
Went here for dinner on a Saturday night; we made an OpenTable reservation but were informed by the hostess that reservations are not valid for the rooftop and that there was a wait to eat up there. We said that was fine and that we would just wait around the bar area and drink until a table was ready; "No", the hostess said, "there is no room at the bar." We must wait downstairs. Ok...so we waited maybe 20 minutes downstairs until a table was ready. As we enter the rooftop we were expecting it to be mobbed considering the hostess said there were no tables or room at the bar: the rooftop was EMPTY. There were open tables everywhere and the bar was half full. What?? This treatment made a poor first impression, but luckily the service and food the rest of the night made up for it. We had two cocktails that were unique, tasty, and decent pours. For food, the fig & prosciutto flatbread was delicious; highly recommended. Unfortunately, the braised short rib was not good; I have had a lot of short rib in the city and this was below average; it was too chewy and tough (short rib should be tender and rip apart easily; go to Pinstripes for an example of a good short rib); the small piece of polenta that came with it also was underwhelming; short rib should come with mashed potatoes in my opinion. We also had a side of mac 'n cheese which was tasty. Overall, the rooftop really is beautiful; I recommend you go here for good food and drinks (although skip the short rib) and also be prepared to wait 20 minutes to be seated even if the rooftop is empty (I'm not sure what that was all about - let me know if you find out).
(4)David D.
Came here for lunch. Had a salad that was drenched in oil. So much even that I had to press each bite with my fork against the plate to make it eatable. Barely had any flavor aside from the bitterness of the vinaigrette. Our waitress was very nice and friendly. The burgers looked great but I wouldn't eat here again.
(2)Anna P.
Nice spot for a business lunch. Service is very attentive and fast, so you can easily get in and out in an hour if necessary. We both had salads that arrived very fast after ordering. I had a grilled veggie salad that was very good, big size, nice grilled chicken and lots of vegetables. They have a rooftop that looks worth checking out sometime as well.
(4)Katie P.
Nothing special at all. Came here last night for an early dinner before a concert. I had a side salad and the Turkey Burger and both were super mediocre. Our server was very sweet and the service was great but the food was underwhelming.
(2)Jennifer B.
Came in on a Tuesday, was greeted by warm hosts. We put our name on the wait for outdoor seating in the patio upstairs and had to wait, not a worry because if there is a bar, I am all in there. I got a drink that was their version of a piña colada, cruisin for the infusin'. Such comical names, I love it. man, was that delicious!! I had two and then another drink, which was their version of a margarita..was incomparable to cruisin for the infusin' For dinner I had their seasonal salad! It was to die for!!
(5)Jennifer C.
I have gone to Tavern at the Park on both of my visits to Chicago - in the summer and the winter. Both times I have been very pleased with the service and quality of food. In the summer, the best way to enjoy an afternoon at Tavern is on their rooftop deck called The Treehouse. It is filled with comfortable tables and lounge chairs, great background music, and provides a great view of Millennium Park. During my summer visit I had their Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread which was absolutely delicious. I'm a sucker for anything with truffle oil, and when you pair it with poached pears, blue cheese, and prosciutto... it's an easy home run. Their Tuna Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, and Shoestring Fries with Truffle Aioli were also very good. I have a major sweet tooth so I went to dessert heaven when I ordered their Warm Apple Blueberry Bread Pudding, New York Style Cheesecake, Key Lime Creme Brulee, and Apple Crumble. The bread pudding is MASSIVE and can easily be shared between 4 or 5 people. The cheesecake and apple crumble were probably my favorite. In the winter, I went to Tavern for a romantic dinner in their Tree House Atrium, which is an enclosed glass section on their deck. Very romantic, quiet, and intimate lounge area. For dinner we had their Wild Mushroom & Truffle Risotto and Lobster Ravioli which were both so, so good! I was so happy we took leftovers back to our hotel so that we could have the next day. The service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and accommodating. I will definitely we returning to Tavern at the Park in my future visits to Chicago.
(4)Timothy H.
My wife and I enjoyed an early dinner here that has put us in the mood to return very soon. My wife had the steak sandwich, which at $25, had better be amazing. It was. She only gave me a few small bites, but oh man, was that the best steak sandwich I have ever had. It's real steak, not hamburger steak. The aioli and onions on top just made it an out of this world meal. I had the fish n' chips, which was also very good. I found the service to be exceptional. We arrived during a shift change, so we got to experience two servers, and both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, polite, and funny. One of their drink specials was recommended to my wife, but after one sip, she said she just didn't like it. Without hesitation the server (Chris) said he would bring her anything else she wanted and that she wouldn't be charged for the drink she didn't like. That's just great customer service! The atmosphere is very relaxed yet professional. This is not a bar. I would recommend patrons wear something a tad bit nicer than you would if you were going out to Applebee's or TGI Friday's. But if you want to go casual, hey, that's up to you. You're in The Loop, so remember that you will be spending a bit more to eat here. We reported a bill of $89 (including tip), which I thought was pretty good.
(5)Lexi T.
Would have been five stars but the host and hostess suck! They just stared at me when I walked in, no greeting. They gave us the worst seat in the restaurant, dead center when everyone else was closer to the wall. Didn't even ask us if we wanted to sit outside. The food was amazing, Jose was on point with refilling my water, service was okay
(3)Ed A.
Hawks Win! After spending too long waiting for the Hawks to parade past Grant Park, I headed to the nearest place for some grub and alcohol. It was great to see the Hawks parade by. Well, I should say it was cute to see the top 3 inches of their heads. The crowd was stacked, whacked and white teenage suburbanite. No alcohol within sight but ganja was in the air. The restaurant was full of hockey fans. It was pretty cool. There was like a hive of red and black bees. The upper deck was pretty cool with a great view that we were unfortunately too late to get. The food was tremendous. My turkey burger was by far the best I've had. The bun was fantastic and held together, a rarity with huge hamburgers. Most of all, the wine selection was very nice. The first floor is more formal and stuffy, yet still contemporary. I'll be back next year after they repeat. Go Hawks!
(4)Asenath N.
My fiancé brought me here for my birthday! We sat outside on the roof top. The view of the city was beautiful as always! They had great beer selections and the cocktails were good also. The cocktails were a bit pricy! I ordered the surf and turf ($38), it came with a 4oz steak and 3 large shrimps that's it, it came with no sides: it was good but I was disappointed with their surf and turf. Next time I will try something new. Since it was birthday,they did give me brownie and ice cream dessert that was beyond delicious!
(4)Chris M.
Save the drama for your momma. Came in for a conference and was attracted by an open air bar. Being from Colorado I wanted to drink outside. Bartenders seem to have issues with management, patrons or something. Instead of making drinks, a soap opera behind the bar is whats served. Heard nothing but restaurant b.s. which i do not care for. Was going to stay for food but Nick gave me a headache and had to go elsewhere.
(2)Emily H.
"Take these fine people to the rooftop!" Well, didn't we just feel so special. The rooftop was gorgeous and had a balcony with a bar. Unfortunately, it was a little chilly to be out on the balcony but the wall was all windows so we still experienced a beautiful view of the lake, towering buildings, and the touristy bean. Service was great. The woman poured my beer straight up. No foam. Impressive. The dinner menu had a nice selection of apps, sandwiches, and plated entrées. I browsed the Tavern Favorites section and spotted the Santa Cruz Turkey Burger. A 10 oz. turkey burger loaded with provolone cheese and guac on a brioche bun. You better be hungry if you order this burger...this thing is a monster. It was absolutely delicious! It came with a side order or fries which were prepared to a crisp. I applaud you Tavern and can't wait to make a visit on your balcony in the summer!
(5)Veronica S.
The host guy here is a real dick. You seat people for a living, don't act so pompous about your middle wage job filling out seating charts. Your job requires the skill level of a 16 year old girl.
(1)Jeff L.
Arrogant and Overpriced. ToP's close proximity to Millennium Park should not allow them to provide such poor service. Server 'David' cleared all the fun+energy from our party because HE wanted to be the show.
(1)Patrick W.
My wife and I visited Tavern at the Park after eating at Wildberry (which was right next door). We had some time to kill and figured we would get a few drinks. When walking in it felt like we needed to be way more dressed up than we were. The place has a very upscale, formal feel to it with the staff in white button downs and a black tie. There was a decent rush on a Monday around lunch time which made a service fairly slow - especially since we were only ordering drinks from the bar. My wife ordered a couple White Sangrias and seemed to really enjoy them. I just ordered a Whiskey/Pepsi which came in a fairly tall glass. The bill was over $50 after tip and just four drinks which was a little surprising. Other than the high cost and slower than average service it was a decent experience.
(3)Jenn W.
I came here with a few friends and my husband just to grab a few drinks. It has a very upscale look on the inside. I ordered their sangria which is actually a white sangria. It was absolutely delicious! However is was a bit more on the pricey side than I usually care to pay for a beverage. Overall not a bad place at all.
(3)Jasmine S.
This is mainly a review for the rooftop section of Tavern at the Park. We came on a warm Saturday night around 11, and it was pleasantly not as packed as we had expected. The view is great, the seats are super comfy, and the drinks are delicious though maybe not that strong (about $12 a pop which is very much worth it for the atmosphere and location). PS. they're pretty strict about their last call for food at 11 and last call for drinks at 11:30. They also will make you leave right at midnight. I wish the place was open later!
(5)Catherine P.
This review is more for The Tavern Tree House above Tavern at the Park... Are you looking for a great spot to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, baptism, or other special occasion and want excellent service with even better food and an amazing view? Look no further. I have been dining at Tavern in the Park for several years and most recently celebrated a baptism at Tavern's Tree House this summer. I couldn't believe the amazing view overlooking Millenium Park and Michigan Avenue. The background for photos was breathtaking. The service here is top notch and I couldn't make food like Tavern if I tried. The Tree House can be completely enclosed in glass and heated during the colder months we experience here in Chicago or they can open it up during the summer temps so you can eat, drink and be merry with the sun on your skin and feel Lake Michigan's breeze upon your face. There is a full service bar, restrooms and kitchen on the same level as their Tree House all of it very well maintained and beautifully designed. Check it out for yourself next time you're in the downtown area and grab a bite while you're there. You won't be sorry!!
(5)Jake J.
Great food but the service was a tad slow. Nothing terrible, i just thing the waitress had too much going on. All in all.. Would happily go there again.
(4)Greg S.
Great food and even better service. The place was busy and they made us feel like we were the most important guests in the building. The rotisserie ck was a huge portion and had a nice spice. The braised short rib was tender and juicy.
(5)Terry L.
Location, Structure and Food! After flowing through my Yelp feed, I stumbled on this place and became very intrigued by the rooftop benefit. This location is directly across from Chicago's Millennium Park and externally is a beautiful building. As per recommendations from Yelpers, I made a reservation and noted that I wanted to be at the rooftop. Upon entering, my reservation was confirmed and coat check was available, as the hostess was about to sit me down at a table, I asked if the rooftop was available - she checked with her manager and it was!!!! I was then led to an elevator and escorted to the infamous rooftop... Unfortunately, due to the weather, the rooftop was enclosed but you still had a view of the park and city, however I was not able to get the same experience that other Yelpers had spoken about (ex: bar area, plush seating, closer views and airiness). I knew exactly what I wanted so I got the following... Smoked Pepper Wings - I asked that these be well done. They came out piping hot and were great! I wouldn't say that these are "jerk" but they are seasoned very well, I have to say that I was surprised with the quantity given... it was a lot... enough to share between 2-3 people. The Traverse City Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce that is givin on the side takes the wings to another level, I could swim in a bowl of it... it's sweet and has a hint of spice, you will enjoy it. The Tavern Steak - A 16oz Prime Ribeye, I ordered this well done, this is a lot of steak, lol, I loved that there was more meat than chewy fat and that it was grilled to perfection. It comes with a house made butter which compliments the steak well. I opted to also get a side of onion straws to place on top of the steak (which IMO should come automatically). I know many have concerns about customer service but I had no issues, in fact, my waitress was on it. She overheard me saying that I needed to be quick as I didn't have much time and came back to check on me as I was waiting on my food to ask if I was OK as she did not want me to be late, she kept my glass full and checked on me throughout the night. I did not encounter any issues with any staff and all requests were answered and accommodated without any attitudes. I will most def be back when I return to Chicago AND the weather permits the rooftop to actually be open in it's true element.
(4)Jackie C.
This place was great! I met an SMU colleague here for dinner and the service was wonderful. The food was delicious! We will definitely be back for dinner and can't wait to try the rooftop.
(4)Ed D.
Went here for work lunch. First thought was prices are expensive but on second thought once we got the food was it was worth it. My other co-workers agree. We sat inside but it's in a great area for people watching if you happen to sit outside. The ambiance is ok. The service was great. The waiter sold us on the "best" chicken wings in your life...needless to say they were good but definitely not the best. We also ordered the Flatbread and a bunch of entrees. I picked the ginger shrimp salad and it was delicious and very filling. Very nice place to eat lunch.
(4)Sonny C.
A dinner that begins with the server support knocking a drink squarely into the lap of a patron may be jinxed from the get-go. In this case the original sin was reaching over the table to pour water rather than coming around to the side of each person. So let's talk about the food. Our table had steak Diane, salmon, chicken and fish & chips. Since veggies were not part of the meal, a side of grilled asparagus provided the one not-buttery vegetable option. All round the food was pretty good so I regret the experience was marred by the spilled drink episode. But since eating out is an entertainment experience, it is not just about the food. It's theater and this was not one of Chicago's better productions. The table was soaked as was my companion as the water pouring from the carafe missed the water glass in the ensuing chaos. The server sprinted away to get help. That took 5 minutes for both server and manager to arrive to assess the situation. We asked for a different table. Rather than just move us immediately to the adjacent 4-top, they disappeared to consult their computers. Now another 5 minutes later we were moved to the adjacent table. My companion is still wet and drying off with table napkins. We got the apology, one fresh drink and an offer of free dessert. Free dessert? Well, thank you, but dessert was not on our agenda. What about an offer to clean the clothes or comp the injured individual's meal? Maybe a round of drinks to lighten the mood? Some gesture other than what we're not going to have. Nevertheless, when the meal ended and, well, maybe we might have dessert, no server or manager was around. Ultimately we got up and found a different server and requested they find our server. Check, please and we were gone. One of our party spent the next 4 hours with wet pants. Pretty uncomfortable. Maybe an isolated case? Perhaps. We think the response could have been both prompter, a little more sincere and empathetic for what turned out to be a much less pleasant evening than anticipated.
(3)Sara P.
I went to the treehouse at tavern at the park last week, this was my second time here. It started off very unpleasant as we were on a waiting list for a table, and they never called us when our table was ready. After awhile I went back to the hostess stand and they did skip over us and forgot to give us a call. I was assured by the hostess our table would be ready in 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes she said someone sat in our table and they weren't going to ask my them to move. We waited another 5 minutes and finally received a table. After we were seated, I spoke to the manager James, who completely turned our night around. He was very apologetic, took charge of the situation and assured us things were going to get better. He brought out several complimentary appetizers, was persistent with checking on us and seeing if we needed anything. James was helping the wait staff clean our plates, grab us drinks. If it wasn't for James compensating for the disaster in the beginning of the evening, we probably would've left or not even come back. Every restaurant needs a James.
(4)Lisa P.
I have been excited to try this spot because it always looks so fun and it's always busy. My friend and I went on a Wednesday night, it was not crowded at all and we sat at a table on the rooftop without waiting for a table. It took over 15 minutes for a server to come to our table. When she did, she was pleasant and we placed a drink order. Our wine took 10 more minutes to arrive. Eventually, a different server came over and took our food order (she said our server was in the bathroom)...I ordered a hamburger and my friend got a pizza. Our old server kept walking by and saying hello/saying our food was coming out as I watched every other table (ones that were sat and clearly ordered well after we had) get their food. I asked 3 different times where our food was. She kept saying it was coming. Our food took exactly 1 hour to arrive and it came out wrong. Then, yet another server came out to ask how the food was and we ordered another glass of wine to accompany our meal. That glass of wine came out 15 minutes later after we had already eaten most of our meal. Since we had been at the establishment so long the sun had gone down and it was getting cold and all around, waitresses were providing/asking guests if they wanted blankets..we were never asked. In my opinion we should have gotten one of our glasses of wine comped or something for waiting so long but that was also never offered. This was a bad experience and while the food was good, the service was subpar and prices aren't cheap so it was not worth it.
(1)Rachel K.
Went for lunch on a Monday. Service was pretty quick. I ordered the goat cheese salad, which was good but nothing too special. The Tavern is great for a solid business meal as the noise level is perfect for chatting over food. But if you want to be wowed, you might want to take your party somewhere else.
(3)See Taste Love ..
We ran into this beautiful romantic spot across from the millennium park and we are so glad see taste love got to experience this! To see the city at a different view was a delight of an experience and the dishes are to die for!
(5)Shayla J.
Excellent restaurant! The food was amazing. The service was very awesome and the view is spectacular. This was my first visit to Chicago and with so many places that serve steak, I'm glad I chose Tavern at the Park to be my dinner destination. The smoked pepper wings appetizer really lived up to their reputation and the steak encrusted with Bleu cheese was delicious. I would definitely visit again whenever I'm in Chicago
(5)Ayrin B.
This is a great spot for lunch. It is very easy to find (across from Millennium Park) and the decor is beautiful (lots of wood). The staff is excellent is as well. They are attentive, but not worrisome. The food is reasonably priced for Chicago with good sized portions- not too big or small. I have only been here for lunch, but will have to try dinner some night. My favorite lunch choices are either the Chopped Salad or Seared Ahi Tuna. I'm sure everything else on the menu is great as well. It sure does look tasty.
(4)Grant P.
Amazing views, delicious food & drinks, great service and horrible dismal attitude from the front-house staff that almost ruined everything. I guess 3 of 4 ain't bad. And had I read many of the other reviews, I guess I would've known what @$$holes the host and hostess were. I hate to start a decent review with the bad stuff, but chronologically that's how this is going to go. Thankfully things greatly improved as the night went on. I made a reservation several days earlier and was informed that reservations aren't taken for the Tree Top, but they would note that we wanted to sit there on our reservation. Unfortunately when we arrived, it wasn't acknowledged whatsoever. No mention of it. The hostess began to seat us and I asked if we were going upstairs per our request. "No, we only note that on the reservation," she said rather rudely. I told her we'd wait for a table up there, which seemed to shock her. "It could be an hour," she said. "I have no idea. But you can sit at the bar." She pointed to a packed bar. "Where?" I asked. "Well I don't know. It's first come first served." No shit, lady. But don't tell me to sit there if it's obviously full. "So what do you want to do?" I said we'd stand there and wait for our table, which seemed to put her off even more and she walked away. Well, we waited for a spot at the bar to open up, and before our drinks even arrived Friendly McCrabbypants arrived to tell us there was a table available upstairs. Once again she showed annoyance when I mentioned that we hadn't gotten our drinks yet, but my wife absolved the situation by telling me to go ahead upstairs and she would follow when the drinks came. The hostess didn't go upstairs with me or show me to a table, as she did with every other guest that arrived after us. Instead she simply pushed the button on the elevator and said, "take whatever table you want." Jerk. Had they simply said something like, "I see you'd like to sit in the TreeTop. Unfortunately there's no table available right now, but I can seat you in the dining room right away," I wouldn't have been so put off by their behavior. But simply ignoring our request was downright rude and uncalled for. But once we were upstairs things changed. It was another world. It was elegant and warm, with an amazing view of the skyline, picture-perfect lit Christmas trees and a roaring pillar fireplace. Everyone upstairs was delightful and friendly, and our waitress couldn't have been more helpful and attentive. When my wife showed up sans drinks (they were missing an ingredient for one of their signature cocktails at the bar downstairs) our waitress told us they absolutely make it upstairs. The food was divine. We had the duck egg rolls, my wife had a burger and I had the barbecue brisket. Everything was flavorful, delicious and wonderful, and our waitress Nashley checked on us and saw to it that we had an exceptional time. She really turned things around and made what started off as a horrid dining experience into a spectacular one.
(4)Brittany L.
Great atmosphere, a lot of business men go here for happy hour and its a good vibe. Their beer and wine selection are phenomenal as well as the friendly staff. I live close by so have been coming here more and more. Definitely would recommend!
(5)Angela S.
On a sunny weekday afternoon with colleagues, coming here for lunch was a real delight. We had a reservation upstairs on the second floor, and it was nice to see a view of the city all around us. From what I understand they have a fantastic outdoor rooftop deck, and I think that must be spectacular. This was my first time dining here, and I have to say my experience was perfect, other than I wish I would have followed my gut and ordered the short rib sandwich, because I'm still thinking about how good it must be. Overall, the menu had so many options that I truly had a difficult time deciding. It's not an overwhelming menu and it's well organized, but it all looked beyond delicious to me. They have a great selection of salads, and for lunch you can choose from an entree or a list of delectable sandwiches - like the short rib. I decided to go with a meatless option today - the butternut squash ravioli dish. It's my fault for assuming, but I thought the ravioli would be made from butternut squash and stuffed with some kind of cheese. It was plain ravioli stuffed with butternut squash. Here's the thing. The ravioli were just okay. The stuffing, however, was a mix of sweet and savory. The sauce, when blended together was a tad more on the sweet side, but a nice summer dish. Not super filling. Our server was professional, friendly, gave us plenty of time to search our menus, and I appreciated that he asked if any of us have allergies, because I'm allergic to soy. Great experience, and I hope to get back for that sandwich!
(4)Grecia P.
After a walk through the beautiful Millennium Park, we were looking for a place to stop at for lunch before heading to our River Architectural Cruise. Fortunately, we came across this lovely Restaurant, TAVERN AT THE PARK. We got there right before the lunch rush and we were able to get a nice table outside. The food was delicious, the portions were very big for a lunch menu, but we were hungry so that was great for us. The Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread was phenomenal!!!! We also had a Cup of prime rib chili, which was good, the duck egg rolls although great in flavor, lacked a little in the amount of meat, and last we had warm goat cheese starter, which was just ok. The service was really good, and the white sangria was even better!!! The prices are a little up there for lunch, but the portions make it worth it, so go there HUNGRY!!!
(4)Ivy R.
When we arrived we were stared at (not greeted) by a host (older guy) and a hostess. Only the other host (younger gentleman) who talked to us. We were told to wait for fifteen minutes. And both of these "starers" just stared at us and did not say a word at all throughout this time. So we waited for a minute or two but it's getting so weird with these two catatonics staring. When the other couple who were waiting ahead of us left. We decided to leave too. Management should look at this. Went to Chucks (Michigan Ave) instead and got a much better service.
(1)Richard D.
Stopped in for dinner and drinks after a fun first day on our vacation. This place is enormous - there are several levels as well as a rooftop patio that overlooks Millenium Park. Cocktails were inventive, and I appreciated that these drinks were described in detail (with pictures) on the restaurant's website. I knew before coming in that I wanted the Chicago Fire Burger: it was a superb blend of heat, sweet, crunch, and richness. A lot of places now are incorporating something akin to the Sriracha aioli, but the fried avocado element put this burger over the top for me. I tried a bite of the generous portion of steak frites my girlfriend ordered, and it was well-seasoned and full of flavor. Our server (think his name might have been John) had a lot of personality - he was hilarious! He also gave us some helpful tips for us on our trip, which was an added bonus. Would definitely return.
(5)Sarah V.
I'm not very good with numbers, but a couple thousand dollars divided by a couple dozen people almost guarantees a good night. A friend of mine invited me to a work sponsored happy hour. They rented the entire Tree House upstairs which apparently requires a pretty hefty minimum. When I arrived there were already appetizers on the tables and bottles of wine everywhere. We had one main server who was absolutely amazing despite already being guaranteed a large tip. Get this, she memorized ALL of our names! Unfortunately, I've forgotten hers. But for the entire night it was, "Miss Sarah, can I get you another one?" I ordered my first drink off the menu and it was pretty terrible. It had a gigantic aloe leaf which made the drink pretty slimy. I looked for a better drink to order and really wasn't finding anything. Our waitress informed me that they have a fully stocked bar and if I didn't want something off the menu I could order absolutely anything else I wanted. I eventually settled on a Mojito, but before that she offered to have the bartender make me a special drink if I just tell her what flavors I like. Well, one Mojito turned four which turned into more appetizers which turned into more drinks. Overall, it was a great night and from what I can remember everything was pretty delicious!
(5)Emma K.
My boyfriend and I came here before a show at the Chicago Theatre, and everything was great. Particularly the Caprese Salad. I will definitely be returning here for that specifically. It was HUGE and delicious! The normal caprese stars of mozzarella, tomato, oil, and balsamic, but the additions of avocado and manchego cheese crisps were phenom. My boyfriend ordered some sort of sandwich (I was so involved in my own food, I can't even remember which one!, but I think it was the steak sandwich) that he really enjoyed. He also wanted to try the buffalo chicken mac & cheese, so they created a special appetizer portion for him so he didn't have two gigantic meals. I got the butternut squash ravioli which was yummy and I was glad it was a little smaller of a portion given the size of the Caprese. Great service and cozy sit in a booth next to the bar area downstairs. I will totally be back to check out the terrace next summer to enjoy a Caprese & some wine :)
(4)Chris M.
Bookmaker sandwich was phenomenal! One of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Atmosphere is fantastic. Only reason I am not giving five stars is because it took 25 minutes longer than they quoted me to have my order ready to go. If it had not been for that it would have been perfect. I will give them another shot soon because the food was superb.
(4)Carol K.
Updating my review to include "Treehouse at Tavern" their rooftop bar that did a great job of taking care of my friends and I the other night. It's a bit complicated to know how you get up to this place. On some nights you put your name in and wait for your entire party to show up and enter through the main restaurant. And on our recent visit- they directed me a little east of the regular doors to climb up a metal stairway on the outside of the space. No matter- the ending is the same as you find yourself in a cute rooftop bar with comfy seating clusters, cozy sofas and a bar to gather at. Since we were a party of 5, we were able to secure one of the table and sofa areas which was just perfect as it offered us a view of the park. Know that after work and later in the day- the sun moves behind the buildings so it can get chilly up there. Service was attentive and the manager stopped by a couple of times to make sure we had what we needed. This place will definitely go on my rooftop list for Summers to come!
(4)Rielly M.
Okay first off they do accept reservations, but not for the outdoor seating. The service was absolutely amazing- our waiter went out of his way to recommend drinks and appetizers based on our alcohol preference. The food is a tad over priced, but man was it good. I had the flat bread as an appetizer and the ahi tuna tacos for my main food. The ahi tuna tacos were amazing and covered in teriyaki sauce. Overall great experience!
(5)Akta D.
My husband and I went here on a Friday night. There was a crowd , but didn't seem overly busy. We only ordered 2 drinks, the Rye, Rye Rye and Check yo self before you wreck yo' self. Both were bad. In fact, the check yo self was just terrible. I haven't had a worse drink. It came with a candied or burnt or dried lemon. It didn't look very pleasing at all. I would NOT recommend it. The worst part was the waiting for our waitress. It first took her about 5 minutes to see us. We ordered the drinks. We never got water as we were waiting. She didn't come to check on us as we were waiting for our drinks. Usually I don;t mind it, but we waited for our drinks for over 20 minutes. That is just unacceptable no matter where you are. Afterwards, she didn't come see us until we were ready to get the check (maybe 45 minutes later). In fact, we had to flag her down. I understand she is busy, but a look over to see if we needed anything would have sufficed. The only reason I can't give this place a 1 star is because we didn't try the food. The one positive note was the music was good. I don't recommend going to this place, even if your looking for a good view because it just isn't a good view of anything
(2)Steve M.
Don't think this place is just for tourists because it's so close to Millennium Park. Tavern serves up some seriously good food. Pete will always greet you like a good friend and make sure you want for nothing! Steaks are terrific, but there are lots of non meat options. Don't forget about the desserts either. The blueberry bread pudding is NOT TO BE MISSED! It's seriously large and loaded with fresh blueberries. They make it themselves and you'll end up eating way more than you thought you could. It's that good! Apple crumble also gets a thumbs up! Wait staff couldn't be nicer or more skilled. I also appreciate the wine selection. Some joints only offer really expensive options so you buy lots by the glass. Not so at Tavern. They also have a wonderful rooftop dining option in the nice weather. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)Jeff S.
OK place. I go here roughly four times a year after our quarterly technology users group meeting is held in the Aon Center. So in winter months we can take the pedway to stay inside and in Summer months we can head up to their rooftop bar. Since I only ever go there for drinks then this rating is based heavily on their craft beer selection which is pretty light. Granted 4 years ago they where carrying Lagunitas IPA and Half Acre, but not much had changed since. The roof bar also has a subset of their main draft list so keep that in mind if you head up there. Personally I'd like to see more Chicago breweries represented and more rotation as the beer menu is 90% unchanged over the years.
(3)Brooke A.
I went out to specifically find Tavern Treehouse with a girlfriend on a Saturday night. On the walk there, it looked as if the Treehouse was empty. We were excited that we might be able to get seated right away. We when finally found the correct hostess, she told us it would be a 15-45 min wait. Since we weren't in a rush, we gave her our cell number and went downstairs to the Tavern at the Park bar for a glass of wine to wait. The bar was nice, not too loud, but the bar tender was very rude and not at all attentive. It took him a good ten minutes to take our order after it took him more than five minutes to get us a wine menu. Since we were in good company, we gave him two bucks, and then ignored him (like he noticed anyway...the bill sat next to even as we left over twenty minutes later). After a while I called the hostess to inquire about our wait time, she said we were next on the list if no one in front of us responded to her calls. Five minutes later, she called back and said our table was ready. Then she told us we could grab the hostess downstairs, and he/she would take us to the elevator, so we didn't have to chug our drinks. How nice! Then...we got upstairs. The view was awesome, and the atmosphere was very nice. However, the place was EMPTY! EXTREMELY EMPTY. Like, I could probably count the number of people on just my fingers, including the staff. We would have been pissed, if it weren't for the wine we had already drank. We really could not figure out why we had to wait when there was absolutely no one there. We came to the conclusion that maybe the restaurant like to keep people waiting to think the tables are more in demand then they truly are. Either way, it was fairly annoying and pretty dishonest. There is no way that 20+ tables are got up and left in the same half hour time span we were waiting. To sum up the rest of our experience: the two apps we got were very good - shoestring fries with aioli and the margherita flatbread. However, the service was awful. So awful in fact that I had to physically find someone to get the check (our server was no where in sight). Then, I had to waive the check in the air toward two or three servers standing and talking (again, not our server), just to pay them. I would have to say I wouldn't mind going back because of the food, the view, and the atmosphere (for us old people, you can actually hear each other talk). As long as I am willing to put up with crap service the entire night. However, I am still not sure why we had to wait when the place had over twenty open tables... This will continue to baffle me...
(3)Christy L.
This review is for the service at The Tree House, the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I met my friends there after work on a Thursday. My friends were told that at least three people in our party of four needed to be there in order to get a table. I was #3, but a table wasn't available. No big deal - tables filled while they waited for me to arrive. However, the host hesitated in letting me up to the rooftop, implying that they were at capacity. When I finally was allowed up, I was shocked to see empty tables and a rooftop that was not at all crowded. Not long after I arrived, the hostess came over to tell us our table was available. But she immediately hesitated when she saw that we had an appetizer, and said because we had ordered food (it was all eaten), she couldn't seat us at a table. This is their policy, which was not explained to us. We asked her to double check with her manager, who confirmed that they would not move us to a table because we had eaten an appetizer. What a ridiculous policy! Finally, our fourth friend arrived. The bar was no busier and they hassled her. One of my friends had to go talk to the "doorman" to let her in. The Tree House has miserable service and policies. I will not be returning despite the nice view and atmosphere.
(1)Tiffany M.
Went here just after the river dying ceremony, and got there before the crowds. They had specials for St. P's like drinks and dinners and the whole place had green, orange and white balloons. The staff cheerfully served us. I had the corned beef and cabbage which was pretty good. But the cabbage itself was a disappointment. It was a scoop over cooked something or other. My boyfriend had a regular menu item, the buffalo chicken mac and cheese, which he ate to the bottom of the plate. The mixed drinks were great, and they had a decent beer selection. They also have a few floors, the roof top seating wasn't available when we went, but the view of the park looked like it would be fantastic. I'd go again.
(4)Carol M.
Eh. That's all I have. Because the GD are in town it was very busy. I kinda feel like I wasted a meal here. We had the chili, French onion soup, and fig flatbread. Not blown away. Just eh.
(3)Natalie H.
The food was nothing I couldn't throw together in my kitchen in 10 minutes. The chopped salad was bland, at best. But it wasn't just the food that makes this place a total waste of time and money. There were plenty of tables open when we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday, yet we waited a full hour for a table. The prices undoubtedly don't match the food and service. Will not be returning.
(1)Rachel S.
Went with my boyfriend while visiting Chicago after his 21st Bday. Recommended by the concierge @ the Renaissance Marriot. Great twist on regular American food. I got the Hippy Burger (vegetarian. Basis of it was quinoa and black beans) w/ fries; it was delicious. My boyfriend got the Great Chicago Burger and said it was the best burger he'd ever had. Calamari was also delicious, as was the apple crumble crisp.
(5)Gerry A.
The BEST wings I have had in some time, including my own. Marinated, smoked, a little char, baked not fried, THREE dipping sauces, about $11 for a dozen. We love the Treehouse, everywhere else is just loud and crowded imo. Opens at 4pm. Drinks are a little pricey. Their weekly specials change all the time and are fantastic if you like to try something a little different. If you come thirsty it's going to cost you. Excellent service and helpful recommendations. Coming back for the Black Truffle Chicken Hash. Beet salad and Blistered beans are a nice healthier cheap appetizer. Ryan was the perfect server tonight.
(4)William K.
This was a very consistent place... everything was very good: location (great actually), service, food, ambiance. I had the mini-burgers and TY had the lobster ravioli. Yum! T at the P was a great dinner choice for us before seeing Wynton and the lads play at CSO. It's a $6 cab ride from Union Station, and we just walked to CSO after dinner. Huzzah! yow, bill
(4)Greg L.
We decided to try the roof top area (Tavern Treehouse) when we saw the sign at the doorway that stated it was open. (It was a little difficult to find the entrance as the sign said "around the flower bed" which meant we had to go back several steps from where we came and then up the stairs to a building next to the Tavern to see the entrance hidden on the side.) All of the staff were very pleasant and did a great job which contributed to the enjoyment of our dinner. We shared a meatball flatbread as an appetizer which was very good with a sufficient amount of meatballs, cheese and sauce. My guest had the steak diane which I tasted and loved. It was four beef tenderloins on little beds of mash potatoes and gravy and it was good. I had the chicken pot pie which had a great flaky crust and it was full of white meat chicken and vegetables. We also had the Cloudgate martinis - a mixture of peach vodka and champagne. Yummy for the summer day! The price on the menu is $221, but that is if you want a Tiffany necklace also supplied with the drink. We settled for just the drinks and had a good laugh on that. The view is nice and it was a beautiful sunny day in Chicago, not too hot or humid, which really made this roof top experience a lot of fun.
(4)Melissa M.
We lucked out and ate here during restaurant week. Have a lovely 3 course meal. Pork belly appetizer was amazing. The server was great and even the busboy was friendly and engaging. Overall an excellent experience.
(5)Erica H.
I had the mushroom risotto. I did not like it ---Way too salty.
(2)Tennille T.
The drinks and food was not horrible but definitely not the greatest...basically nowhere near worth the price. I ordered a margarita which tasted like anything but (it is my signature drink so I should know). I also got the lobster ravioli & for 8 small pieces with a few "pieces" of mini lobster bits on top it was not worth the money. It tasted ok but I could have gotten better at Olive Garden. My husband ordered a long island and half chicken dinner. He had pretty much the same experience. He did say half of the chicken & have the rest 2 homeless person. Our meal costs $114. Waste of money.
(1)Desiree B.
I had high hopes for this place and nothing disappointed! I had a drink at the bar while I waited for the rest of my party and I was greeted immediately, and the bartender addressed me by name after I paid (I like little things like that.) I was a little disappointed by our booth because we were squished in behind a large party but I chose to ignore that. My party opted for dinner salads instead of appetizers. The traditional dinner salad is delicious. Very light and flavorful, but not too filling. And though our server was prompt and friendly, instead Of explaining the specials, he just pointed to the table tent that listed them. Oh well. Both of my colleagues for the ahi entree and I got the filet, we then ordered the garlic parm broccoli and fries as sides. My medium rare filet was probably one of the best I have ever had. Perfectly cooked and seasoned, and was a thick 9 oz cut. So. Good! The ahi was extremely fresh and served with an edamame purée that I tried and really enjoyed. My boss had to have the key lime creme brûlée so we ordered one more to share (between 3 of us), so we got the carrot cake! Omg. Insane! The Tavern is definitely pricey, but the food is fantastic! I was very impressed with the bartender and food runners, but our own server was lacking a bit and our table was hard to get into for us and the staff, making it noisy and semi-awkward (hence the 4 stars). Other than that, I will definitely go back on my next Chicago trip!
(4)Brad S.
Great late lunch. Hummus plate and cauliflower plate both were incredible. Hummus can easily feed 4-6 people. Big bar with window booth over looking Millennium Park. Heather was a wonderful server!
(5)Jenny K.
Lovely restaurant ambiance, service and food. Got the chicken caprese - a giant plate of fresh tomato chunks, perfectly salty balsamic, tasty mozzarella balls and shredded chicken. Was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away for table for 3 during lunch rush hour.
(4)Mel S.
Ordered a meal for carry out here on a Friday evening because I felt like staying in and having a fancy meal all to myself. I chose tavern at the park as it's located right across the street from my apt complex. I ordered the 8oz prime rib with two sides. The sites are enormous and I ate a few stalks of asparagus and maybe 1/2 of the baked potato so keep that in mind. The prime rib was good, maybe not the best I've had but I also ordered it to-go so it may be juicier served right away. The staff here take pride in what they do and I noticed that in the detail of how they packaged my food. Overall, this place is decent. I saw a large Friday night crowd so this place is definitely popular- think 30 min wait for a Friday evening. Share the sides, get your meat rare, and grab a seat on the rooftop.
(3)Christina L.
Our friend took us here praising the filet mignon and meat entrees. The appetizers were good but not great. We ordered the duck spring rolls, crab stuffed artichokes, and tuna tacos. The tacos were a must try. The entrees were the highlight of the restaurant. I ordered the petite prime rib medium rare, which was full of flavor and juicy. The sauce added even more to the delicious experience. I highly recommend the meat dishes here, particularly the filet mignon and prime rib! Besides this, the wine and service is superb. Without a doubt, I had an overall great dining experience here.
(4)Anthony M.
A VIEW TO A DRINK We stopped in here on a Friday night after attending a show across the street at the Harris Theater. I was excited to try this place because who doesn't love an outdoor deck with a view. I am giving 4 stars for the view. Location location location and this tavern has it and more. You can see Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue from here. The moon was even out the night we were sitting here. This space is amazing and a perfect place to relax. Now the prices on the drinks are expensive. Yes you are paying for this view. The staff was okay. It seemed like it took a while to get our drinks even though it was not crowded up here The manager came over and said hi which is always nice. We did not have any food, so I'm not even sure what they have to eat here or if its even good. I highly recommend this place if you want to grab a drink with a view but beware of the prices. I say grab one drink and get out. There's more bars in Chicago.
(4)Leslie J.
Sat on the roof. Spectacular atmosphere, great service, not rushed at all. Good, fresh food, nice presentation. Reasonably priced for downtown Chicago. Looking forward to returning. Only negative, soft seating could have been cleaner.
(5)Elaine D.
They had a special with their brunch items. I didn't really think the brunch item I ordered was that great. This was a month ago, however. It may have gotten better. The atmosphere was a little too stuffy for me as well. I didn't really think the name fit how the place looked inside. I usually think of taverns are more of a casual dining place, but it seemed a bit more on the high end side of things. Then again, it's right on Michigan, so walking inside shouldn't be a surprise to see despite the name of the restaurant. Service was pretty decent.
(3)Kristin S.
Cool rooftop bar, good food, overall great atmosphere. Great location for a parties and special occasions, with accommodating staff and good service. Really cannot beat the view or the location!
(4)Bev W.
A friend and I tried to have lunch at Tavern At The Park today. We got there at a quarter to 12 - the place was pretty empty plenty of tables and views. We were taken upstairs to a empty banquet room with no windows or people in it. We asked for a better view and were told that where we were seated was all that was available. I repeat - most of the first floor and all of the second was sparse. Not sure what this was about, but we left. I would give this place no stars if I could and will be sending management a note on our attempted visit as well.
(1)Fran D.
Atmosphere & decor was fun. Our waiter was great. Food was spectacular! We had the fig & goat cheese appetizer. It was full of flavor. The breaded meatball appetizer was seriously lacking in flavor. For dinner I had the linguine with mussels, clams, scallops & shrimp. Fish was fresh & abundant. Hubby orders the scallops. He loves it. Portions were good. Overall a great restaurant to visit in Chicago.
(4)Kelsey J.
By far one of the best places if you want to eat outside in Chicago! My boyfriend and I came here two weeks ago, and it was the first truly nice day of the year. I'll break down our visit for you Service and Ambiance: We had a reservation for 7:00, and when we arrived they said they could seat us immediately inside, or if we waited till 7:45 we could eat on their rooftop patio. I'm so glad we waited! It's directly across from Millennium Park, so it was so easy killing some time there, and then the hostess called my cell when the table was ready, about fifteen minutes earlier than they anticipated! The whole experience was wonderful. We were taken upstairs in an elevator, and the hostess gave us great recommendations on the way up. We were seated at a really cute table by the glass wall of the patio with the most amazing view of the city skyline. It was dusk, and everything was gorgeous! Very romantic. I wish I could remember our waiters names" (that's right plural, waiters, we had two super awesome and attentive gentlemen serving us) because they both did a fantastic job. They answered all our questions, service was fast, and they made us laugh with their good-natured ribbing of one another. Food: This is why my review is 4 stars instead of a solid 5. We both got beers, they have a pretty ecletic and unique selection. They were large and priced right. We also got the calamari appetizer to share, and it was delicious. The aoili was flavorful, the portion was big, and the calamari was done to perfection. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich (I believe it was called the Blackhawk) and he said it was really good. I got the Hippie Burger, which was a veggie burger, with rice, beans, and chick-peas, and I wasn't impressed. It kept falling apart and made a mess! I couldn't pick it up and eat with the bun and toppings, I ended up scooping the bits of burger up with a fork. It was a little disappointing because everything else was perfect. I'll definitely be back this summer, I would love to try it for brunch, I'll just avoid the Hippie Burger in the future.
(4)Kay K.
This review is for the Treehouse at Tavern - absolutely wonderful place to take in the city! We stopped by late night a few weeks ago (toward the end of the outdoor bar season) and were so pleasantly surprised with the cozy, fun outdoor lounge area. The heaters were on, it was pretty quiet, and they had great music playing! We ordered a few drinks (which were pretty pricey), but the ambiance alone was totally worth it! The staff was friendly, too. We can't wait to come back in the warmer months and enjoy this great spot!!
(5)Matt O.
Stopped by the Tavern at The Park this weekend and when me and my date arrived we were greeted by the floor manager with a less than personable attitude. We had never been there before so we asked a couple of quick and easy questions (what time does upstairs open, do we need reservations, etc) and they were answered by short and abrupt answers that really didn't help us. It wasn't particularly busy so we weren't taking too much time away from him. Now with that said, we took a seat at the bar before the Tree House upstairs opened. We were served quickly by the bartenders who were both great energy. The drinks were great (whisky ginger and a sangria). Once upstairs opened, we were quickly seated and greeted by our server who we both knew we would like immediately. Drinks came quickly and all of our starters and sandwiches were killer! Despite the little speed bump right at the beginning I enjoyed the environment on the outside patio upstairs and the drinks and food were great!
(4)Michael C.
Food tasted great! My favorite was Sea Scallops. The place wasn't busy on Saturday night so we just got a table right away. Calamari was good too. We enjoyed our dinner here.
(5)Maureen W.
Old school, that's how I would describe this restaurant. I went on a work related dinner. It was dimly lit, all paneling and glass. The service was impeccable. We had a large party and two very capable wait staff handled us well. The wine and water was never empty, lets just say. The food was good. It wasn't surprising or original but it was good. The best thing was the fig flat bread appetizer which was crisp, gooey and scented with truffle. Really yummy. I also tried the stuffed mushroom which was only ok. I had the prime rib, cooked medium. It was good. I also got a baked potato which was huge and a side salad. Nothing out of the ordinary and it all tasted good. Come here for a good old school steak and the nice service. And try that flat bread.
(3)Jean P.
Not bad! Great service and nice atmosphere. Wasn't thrilled with the chopped salad, but that's just me. It was fresh and well presented, but am not a fan of pasta in a traditional salad.
(4)Blake S.
Delicious food and friendly service make dining here a treat. The menu is diverse with interesting twists on traditional bar and steakhouse fare.
(5)Gregory C.
I think Tavern at the Park is a great place to grab drinks and business dinners. It's great for large groups. The food is good and serving sizes are pretty large. The service is great. I haven't had any issues every time I go here.
(4)Emily J.
I had a nice couple of afternoon drinks here the other day and I would certainly be back. Our server, Toby, was great and let us enjoy an upstairs table for about 3 hours, even though the section was technically closed. We wanted to use the patio deck overlooking Millennium Park but unfortunately it only opens at 4:00pm on Fridays. I didn't have the food but joined a group who did and they loved it. The burger comes highly recommended from them. Certainly a great place to stop and get lunch either on your lunch break or after a jaunt in the park. If you want the patio though be sure and call ahead as it's often closed for private events.
(4)Susan S.
Service is great, but food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the most recommended bookmaker burger but it's just so-so. And the risotto is very different from what I had at other Italian restaurants. I don't like it very much.
(2)Kevin N.
This review is for the restaurant, and I was able to be seated on the rooftop. The view is mighty beautiful, but I wish it was a tad higher up! Service: 5/5 nothing I can complain about. Servers were courteous and prompt. Atmosphere/decor: 4/5 the location of this place is spot-on, right next to the coolest park in the city! I would recommend wearing something a little more dressy to this restaurant, it's time to break out that navy blazer that you've had stashed away in your closet for years! Definitely fun to dress the part when you're at this restaurant. Food: 4/5 a tad pricey, but what do you expect? The food came out delicious though, I had the halibut and it was perfectly cooked. However, the portions were a little on the small side! And this is coming from someone that doesn't eat a lot! Whoa! haha maybe I was just really hungry that day. The fries were cut really thin and small, so it was pretty crispy when we ate them, but they cooled down really fast though! I've been back twice to this restaurant. It's a foolproof place to go when you don't want to hurt your brain thinking about where to go when you have out-of-towners visiting.
(4)Jenna S.
A friend and I walked here after attending a graduation at the Harris Theater. We needed a drink and this place seemed like just the place to go since we were wearing some fancy-ish digs and looking for good times. This place was way better than I thought it would be. We sat outside on the patio, which I highly recommend. The night was a bit chilly, but have no fear! The bar has amazing "lap skins" that you can rent with a credit card (no charge, just a hold in case you decide to steal one). Yes, I said LAP SKINS. They're really, soft, warm, faux fur blankets that do the trick when you aren't close to one of the outdoor fireplaces but you're chilly and need some warming up. Oh, and there's outdoor fireplaces if you're lucky enough to score one of those tables. Service was fast enough (could have been better), prices were decent and the food was delicious. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to have some appetizers, drinks and conversation with friends. We even witnessed an almost-fight between two rich WASPS over something dumb, like the way one of the guys was looking at the other guy. It was totally hilarious. I would definitely come here again. The atmosphere on the outdoor patio really did the trick for making an already great night even better. The views of Millennium Park and the city's skyline are wonderful and everything on the patio is modern, clean and fancy, so it all feels like something that should cost more but doesn't.
(4)Bobbie A.
My go to place before an event at the Harris Theater, it's right across the street. I had the Chicago Fire burger and it ranks in the top 5 for me. Can't recall all of the toppings but avocado and sircha sauce made the fire. Gooood. There's outdoor seating upstairs in the summer, craft cocktails. This place has it all
(4)Alfreda D.
Good spot for drinks after work. I've been here numerous times... in the Tree House during the summer, by the bar inside, in the main dining area. Last night, I came for a friend/coworker's going away celebration. We had a private room booked and a server. I don't recall his name but he was solid. The fact that he literally took everyone's name with their drink order and cleanly/easily kept everyone's check separate was fantastic. It's not that separating checks hasn't been done before but he was on point. His book was organized and ready to go... much appreciated. You know how that goes... 15 people show up for drinks and when the check comes the last 3 people standing are like "Wait, what? What's the balance?" LOL. Now that I think of it, most of my after work drink visits were work related and we've always had private areas and whatnot and the staff has always treated us right. I remember the appetizers being really good too but I can't review that right now because it's been a while. Anyway, the cocktails I had were good and reasonably priced, so no complaints on my end. And our server kept bringing out those warm bread baskets to help coat our stomachs since it was pre-dinner time. Ha... also much appreciated. We tipped him well... I hope he thought so anyway!
(4)Cassie G.
The tavern is right across from the Randolph train station and millennium park. So walking out of the station it's a short walk, which was very convenient. Loved the atmosphere, great service. A little more fine dining bar. But no need to dress up in your best suit. Food was pretty delicious. We enjoyed the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and the club. The club was alright, a little dry, not worth $17. But the Mac and cheese was very delicious. I would definitely come back :)
(4)lori c.
Another night of light bites! The complimentary dinner rolls & bread is delicious. We ordered the wedge salad, duck rolls and seared tuna. The duck rolls had an interesting pineapple dipping sauce that I didn't care for too much; but we enjoyed everything we ordered. Service was excellent (thanks Chris)! We would come back here again.
(5)Nick T.
Was visiting Chicago recently and hung out at The Plaza at Park Grill. A couple we met there recommended we try the Tavern, and while The Plaza was great, I wish i had saved more of my appetite for the Tavern! First and foremost, the smoked chicken wings were the best wings I've ever tasted anywhere, and I'm no stranger to wings. These alone could have garnered the Tavern a 5-star review, but everything else was great as well. They came with tradition hot sauce as well as a cherry cola BBQ, but they were so good plain I was neglecting the sauces. I paired the wings with a Kentucky Bourbon Ale, which was as flavorful as it was smooth. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding (made with apples, blueberries, and lemon curd sauce) and a drink called The Peach Around. I'm not usually a fan of peaches or baked apple, but both were great and they paired fantastically. The bread pudding must have the size and weight of a cinder block, I've seen mixed reviews regarding the service, but I had no complaints. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were knowledgeable, jovial, and welcoming. While the atmosphere is definitely more upscale, I never felt out of place despite the fact that I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Will definitely be returning the next time I'm in the area.
(5)Andrea H.
I went here with my work team for lunch. This place has good and bad qualities, which is why I am giving it 3 stars. The venue is great, as you would expect for the trendy location (right across from Millennium Park.) Upscale atmosphere and nicely decorated. Out of six people, our lunches were all huge portion sizes and all consistently mediocre. The food was underwhelming in terms of freshness, flavor, and presentation. I got the Louis salad with shrimp and it was two days worth of lunches for me for a pretty reasonable $14. The shrimp was huge but smelled fishy, which to me says "Not Fresh". The girl who ordered fish tacos got tons of bland fried fish in a soft shell taco. Um, yuck. The sausage pizza looked really tasty though, and the pot pie was good, hard-core comfort food. Everyone agreed the best part of the entire meal was desert, which was a freshly baked chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. It was the size of a truck but since it was feeding six people, that was ok! I would come here again for drinks aand an appetizer (ie the sausage pizza) and desert.
(3)Tim O.
Unbeatable location and great atmosphere. Service was exceptionally friendly. My guest and I both had steak sandwiches which were $25 each. The meat was indeed actually steak and it was cooked correctly. A little pricey for a "Tavern", but most definitely not a tourist trap.
(4)Sherri K.
This is one of those places where, traditionally, you know you are going to get great service and great food. Presentation is important and the staff works hard to maintain the integrity of the establishment. My dining partner had some gluten free restrictions and the waiter went above and beyond to confirm what dishes she could eat or not (even down to the teriyaki sauce). We enjoyed a couple appetizers - the dry wings were a little crispy for my taste, but the flavor was well done. The ahi tuna was perfect and the petite side salad that came with it not only offered a little color on the plate but was delicious and fresh as well. I also enjoyed the french onion soup which had an amazing cheese top, perfectly cooked onions and a tasty bread. It is the kind of onion soup I expect every time I think about and order onion soup. Great wine list! On point service! Bravo!
(5)Leang E.
We came here for a coworker's birthday lunch in addition to it being Administrative Professionals Day, and I believe our little lady felt extremely special as we were seated at a table for 7 in a private room. It was so incredibly nice, and I didn't even mention an occasion. I love the little touches they do here. The manager had also come in to check on us and see how things were going. The waiter made sure our water was filled to the top of our glasses. I had the Chicken Hash that was recommended by our server and it was pretty good. I think if the dish blew me away and we got our food a little quicker I would have given the place the 5th start. The portions are huge here, and the service was outstanding. The prices are comparable for downtown, and I'd love to come back and try other dishes.
(4)Leslie K.
Looking for a safe gluten free meal, go somewhere else. Party of three, one gluten free. Ordered a short rib burger without the bun, but romaine lettuce to make a wrap. Was served a different burger with a bun on it. Sent it back, got the short rib burger with no bun visible. When I picked some of the meat up to put it in a lettuce leaf I found that the bottom of the bun it had been on was still there. This is spite of making it very clear that gluten/wheat/bread was a huge allergy problem. Sent it back. In the meantime the rest of the party was served their entrees 10 minutes apart so that the tree of us all had to eat a different times. A wholly unsatisfactory experience even after the manager got involved. Will never go back. One star for location, negative stars for attention to allergies.
(1)Julee W.
Our food was not good Our service was mediocre Our cocktails were watery Our wine had turned Even after saying the wine was bad the server kept asking us what we want to do. So awkward, no one even apologized to us and we had to pay way more for a not spoiled bottle??? The brisket was hard and overcooked. The snapper was served in an overly acidic sauce.... Everything was bland. The only good thing about this place (not the seven TVs glaring in your face) is the location.
(1)Rose T.
We came here for a little break from the art museum. It is a really beautiful restaurant. We usually prefer a bar top, but we randomly decided to get a table. This is the only negative part about our visit because we sat in a booth right behind the host stand. Our server Marc and the busser were great, very professional and helpful. We never needed anything and timing was great. Our food was cooked to perfection.
(4)Scott J.
So we read that this place was good so we stopped in on our way to The Bean... It was very upscale inside without being pretentious...and I have to admit that although my fish and chips had a great batter, my date's Shrimp Louie looked phenomena!! We enjoyed good drinks and great service!!! A great place for a solid meal when touring the park/shopping!
(4)Abishek M.
Good food. Excellent service. HUGE menu. Went here because we had a gift certificate and was pleasantly surprised. The French onion soup is amazing! RATINGS: French onion soup gratinee: 5/5 Brick Chicken: 3/5 Chicken Hash w/ black truffle: 4/5 Chocolate Peanut butter pie: 4/5
(4)Amanda J.
Review for Tavern Treehouse: Mediocre and over priced food. The view seems like it would be better from the street; once you get upstairs it's a letdown. If you must go avoid any pasta dish. The tuna tacos are pretty good ONLY if you REALLY like mangoes. Service was decent. Overall a big pass.
(2)Renee H.
The food and service were excellent! They apparently have a new chef so if you didn't like it before you may want to try it again. Hummus plate, beet salad and butternut squash ravioli were all device. Service perfectly timed.
(4)Patrick B.
For many years I have been a big fan of Tavern at the Park, as well as its parent restaurant Keefers. I come to Chicago a dozen times a year and always find time for lunch there. I've hosted business events in its second floor private space and on its rooftop patio. But I recently had as disappointing a dining experience as ever there. And blame it all on the manager. Although my first luncheon choice was not available, I happily ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon. The salad came, but the salmon did not. No problem. Kitchen mistakes happen. The waiter took the salad back to the kitchen and a few minutes later the manager returned with it. In a restaurant known for large portions, I've never quite seen as small and thin and burnt shard of salmon in my life. So I asked the waiter if this was the standard portion. He said no; apologized and summoned the manager, who gave me a lecture on portion control. Then bashfully admitted that the piece of salmon was indeed small. And overcooked. He then half heartedly offered to get me another piece and discouragingly said "but that would take some time." Instead he said I won't charge you the extra $9 for the salmon -- the small thin burnt piece of Inedible salmon. Thanks so much for the great customer service! Then he turned and walk away! So I paid the bill and I turned and walked away, never to return to Tavern at the Park!
(1)AJ M.
Great drinks! We watched the world cup here and enjoyed some unique drinks.
(4)Jay C.
Solid old school Chicago vibe. Steaks thick. Drinks stiff. Prices stiff too..but. not an everyday place you visit. Right across Randolph from Harris Theater..park. the bean...parking garage right there too... Grilled salmon was good. Food was good. Vibe made it great. Views are killer will return
(4)Nicki P.
I am a regular here since its right next to my office. The service is top notch, and the food is good, just good though. Portion sizes are huge and the general ambience is lively but casual. The typical crowd during the week are suits but the happy hour and patio crowd is a little more casual.
(3)s b.
Inattentive waiter, dirty glasses, warm whit wine, loud, very rude manager who wouldn't take feedback. Food was ok. But not for the price and experience.
(2)Andre W.
This place has one of my favorite things: a rooftop for warm summertime drinking Since it was hot as hell out, I decided to go with one of my favorite summer drinks: white sangria. It was very good and refreshing...me and my party of 6 had 2 rounds and had to roll out because the heat was ridic! Service was ok and they seem to be very meticulous when it comes to seating a group. Good stuff here
(4)Giovanni M.
Excellent experience: great drink menu (and dining menu) and courteous, talented bar staff. I enjoyed the atmosphere when I had dinner at the bar, it was happy hour, so the place was fairly busy, but I wasn't lost in the shuffle or jostled by the crowd. I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Chicago. If you happen to meet Donnie (owner/manager?), you're in for a treat, he's really smart, funny guy with a wealth of knowledge and humor.
(4)Ed B.
Great food. Excellent service. Steep prices. Try there custom brewed beer (excellent!)
(4)Bobs C.
Tavern is an awesome place. The location is absolutely phenomenal. I took my gf there and we ordered the filet mignon and the chopped steak burger. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection and is easily the top 3 filet in the city The chopped burger was awesome. Very flavorful and would order again.
(5)Pat K.
Food was good, but our credit card was hacked. Our server took our credit card to pay our bill and a few minutes after that, over $700 in purchases (that we did not make) was charged to our account. Our credit card company picked up suspicious activity and stopped further charges. We called the restaurant and talked to the manager. He did not seem to care. He never even asked for the server's name. We will not be going back to this restaurant and warn you to pay with cash here or not go at all.
(1)Brandon B.
Finally stopped in here after living right by it for a few years: I always assumed it would be a rather crowded and touristy place based on location; however on a late Saturday after a concert they accommodated us quickly at 11pm. Nice service. We enjoyed a drink and desserts. The desserts are massive: about 4 times the size of the usual expected portion at least! The bread pudding was quite good, about 8 servings and this wasn't too expensive, and the key lime creme brûlée was decent but the key lime aspect was not as expected (just a few lime rinds glazed on the top). The biggest turnoff was the decor in the main bar up front: combination of aged smoky hotel lounge meets tourist show (with pictures of the biggest tourist destinations hanging around--not really great pictures, they didn't match the rest of the place), mostly clientele of foreign visitors and post-meeting business types in suits. Not trendy or snazzy at all, a bit on the dark side. I will check out the patio and other rooms when the weather gets better but I am not too motivated to return based on food, since glancing on the food menu it looks rather overpriced as well. But lets try again later
(2)Kim K.
We absolutely loved everything about it! The best salmon I've ever eaten! Prime rib outstanding also. Beautiful place! Great service! Wonderful location! Wirth every cent! Will definitely return!
(5)Chicago B.
Excellent food, excellent service, and a great place to go for any business deal meeting anytime. I was there for lunch last Friday, and even though it was the start of a holiday weekend the restaurant served up the same great meal with impeccable service that I have grown to expect and respect time after time. This is an awesome place to get an unbelievable meal.
(4)Steven E.
I was in town for a conference and found this place a walk down from my hotel. I was greeted by a racist yuppie whom promptly passed me off to the next available server. I opted to sit at the bar. Bartender was cordial and quick to meet my needs. Book makers sandwich was great. Beer selection was limited and under stocked. Would visit again for the sandwich. However, I have a small tolerance for racism; as that is the lowest form of ignorance. Not to typecast of course.
(1)Linda F.
This restaurant is at the corner of Randolph and Michigan Avenue, across the street from Millennium Park. It couldn't be more convenient. I've been here several times and have to say that it doesn't disappoint. The food is consistently good. Try the chili or the chili, especially on a cold evening. Those at our table had fish and chips, chopped salad, and the cheeseburger. All of these meals got good reviews. It appeared that our waiter was new on the job. He had a few challenges and had to correct bringing the wrong soup to the table. Service was a little slow but this was very busy place to be since it was dinner time.
(3)Jennifer A.
First, I will say that the food was very good and the ambiance was just right. We made reservations for our family of 6 (siblings and spouses) and asked for a 'good table' and they gave us a private room circular table, which was fantastic. I am only giving it 2 stars because the service was TERRIBLE. We waited about 10 minutes at our table without anyone greeting us or taking a drink order. We went and spoke to the concierge who would 'take care of it' and that is when he sent in 'David', our waiter. We were happy to see him and joked that we 'only waited about 2 hours for someone to come say hi'. He said in response 'well, then, you can wait 2 more hours and walked out of the room! He didn't come back for about 3 minutes to which he said, 'I hope you learned your lesson'. We apologized and told him that we were just joking and he said 'well, it wasn't funny'. That moment set a very somber tone for the rest of the evening and it was very tense in the room any time he walked in. A few days later we called the restaurant to speak to the manager (as I think they would want to know about this rude wait staff person) and the manager was 'too busy to talk'. We asked if he could call us back and the reply was 'no, you can just continue to call and maybe one of the times you call he will be available'. We told the person on the phone that we would rather talk about what happened on the phone rather than on yelp, Trip Advisor, etc., to which he replied "you have to do what you have to do". So that is what I'm doing. It is a restaurant in a great location with really good food, but I don't think anyone needs to be treated like we were treated when spending over $300 for a meal.
(2)Chris A.
Food was decent, but nothing that would have us recommending this to our friends who visit the Windy City. We both got steaks, and they were seasoned alright. Nothing was particularly wrong with our meal, just nothing stuck out to us and made us think that we should come back. The location is a big plus, although we did not have a view in the room we ate. Also had no trouble making a reservation just a few hours before dining.
(3)Illinois C.
We arrived for our 6:45 reservation an hour early and immediately found a seat at the bar. Good thing... Because this place became very lively quickly. A couple martinis later we were seated at a window booth. Fantastic wine selection and excellent service! I had the Halibut over asparagus with a lemon cream sauce and my husband had the Blackened Grouper over sauteed spinach. Both dishes arrived hot and were gobbled up in no time. So goooood!! We were seeing a performance at the Harris Theater across the street at 8:00 and got there right on time. Wonderful dining experience! The owner of the restaurant even checked up on us to make sure everything was perfect. We will be back!
(5)Lin C.
I had been here about 5 years ago while on business. This was a trip to the Windy City with my Dad and surprisingly I remembered the name of it and how to get to it! I guess it was because this place is a gem. It's spendy for sure, but the service is fabulous and the food is fantastic. We started with what my Dad thought would be the grossest appetizer on the menu....the fig proscuitto flatbread. He reluctantly tried it and ate half of it....he loved it! We then had their slider sampler...turkey, beef and I forget the other type of burger- i just remember that they were all very good. I was disappointed as they no longer have fat tire beer (New belgium beer isn't available in Ma) but the server helped us select some other brews....he made great recommendations. (we went with their private label goose island) Make this a stop when you visit Chicago!
(5)Mallorie R.
Wonderful! Came here for a bachelorette party. We got perfect seats with a window view of the city. Their cocktails are creative and delicious. The food was incredible. Service was excellent. Very attentive and fun. Highly recommended.
(5)Melanie S.
With its proximity to Millennium Park, you'd probably think Tavern at the Park would be a bona-fide tourist trap. And you'd be right. The food actually isn't bad; it's just completely overpriced for the portion sizes. The menu is full of "safe" choices meant to appeal to those with an unsophisticated palate. This isn't necessarily meant to sound derisive; sometimes I rather enjoy "plain" food (for lack of a better word) and I certainly don't mind spending money if food is tasty, well-prepared and fills my stomach. The latter is the biggest issue I have with TatP. Today, for instance, I ordered a grilled vegetable salad. For $14, I expect it to fill me up. Now granted, I did not add on a protein to the salad (mainly because it would have turned into a $20 entree), but I foolishly thought a salad with grilled zucchini, peppers, corn, and tomatoes would suffice. My friend's caesar salad, to which she added salmon, came with a hefty price tag of $21, and it was the teensiest piece of salmon I've seen. Ridiculous. My salad was fine, but the portion made it look more like a "side" salad than one meant to, I don't know, actually fill me up. I'm back in the office after lunch and I feel as if I didn't eat anything. I'm on the verge of breaking my cardinal rule of scrounging in the office kitchen looking for whatever leftover food there might be from one of the lunch meetings we always seem to have. Normally, the thought of that horrifies me, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Service is perfectly fine. It's efficient and professional; no complaints there. They have a nice rooftop area to sit when the weather cooperates. That's pretty much all of the positives I can come up with at the moment. You could do worse. But you definitely can do better.
(2)Amy Z.
Great service, though we were seated in a fishbowl type room. We had requested patio space but they were unable to accommodate the request. It was understandable since we were a rather large group (6 total) and it was beautiful out on a Friday afternoon. The special of fish tacos was okay. The breading was slightly off-putting and strangely crunchy. Another member of my party ordered the buffalo mac and cheese, which did not include buffalo sauce mixed in as expected. It was a few peices of buffalo chicken strips over mac and cheese. She indicated it was good, but unexpected.
(4)Megha S.
Our second visit to the Tavern with an international guest was a complete embarrassment. Drinks were ok but came in as slow as 20 monocytes after order was placed couple times. Food was worse than what I can get at one of the Italian chains-watery chicken and the pasta dish were just bad. Worst $130.00 spent
(2)Jackie K.
Tourist in Chicago, end up hungry, must have food, end up here and annoyed. Most expensive cappacino in the world (more than nyc) and the food was only okay. Service was great---we sat at the bar and he was available but not hovering. Food was not that good which is surprising because I was so hungry so I cannot image what would have happened if I wasn't starving. I would never come back.
(2)Publius K.
In the tradition of a 1920s speakeasy run by soulless gangsters, this boisterously crass establishment excels at rolling the drunks, short changing the chumps, and shearing the tourist sheep who have the misfortune of being steered here by complicit huckster concierges at the nearby hotels. Their glorified pub grubby burgers at a Jackson per cheap smeared bun are cynically crafted to club you into a food coma while rolling you pickled and salty over a barrel with the stingiest pours of mediocre California wines I have seen anywhere, ever, in a lifetime of travel. You can feel yourself being brutally ravaged into parched penury milliliter by milliliter, as you watch your wine grudgingly dribbled from a small flask into large glasses as if to mock you, the victim, with your debauched and masochistic consent. Definitely for a boorish younger set that will burn through piles of money for the merest of satisfactions, indeed out of feckless self-indulgence when little or no satisfaction is to be had. The help seemed as brutalized as their clientele were indifferent, while wolfish managers stood watch like gangster thugs. Not Chicago at its best, more like a stockyard brothel, and you, my meaty tourist friend, are the one on the menu.
(1)Brian K.
We had a work function here and had half the terrace reserved so I don't know if this is the best review to describe Tavern at the Park for individual outings. Service was good and overall, an enjoyable place for good conversation with a great view. "The Park" being Mil. Park. The food wasn't impressive but then again, we weren't there to eat but to catch up and network.
(3)Brandon L.
Met for a Saturday night dinner, did make reservations, but found out that we could have just showed up. She had a steak and I had halibut. The steak came out smaller than expected, but was good and the halibut was great. The wait staff was attentive almost to a fault. For dessert we shared a piece of bread pudding, which was huge. It was a bit drier than I like, but still good. All in all it was a great place to eat and talk.
(4)Justin B.
Tavern on the Park, located right across from Millenium Park, offers a great location for business lunches, client dinners, or after work cocktails with friends. Serves an array of contemporary American dishes, I love their French onion soup, which you can get in a cup (even though a bowl is the only thing listed on the menu), and their bookmaker steak sandwich. The goat cheese salad is also a nice weekday lunch entree. I, and everyone I know that's eaten here, consider this a "very good place" to dine. Service has been pretty top notch. Each time I go, it's been good. The bar can get pretty crowded, so don't expect to get in and out quickly. And, this place gets pretty crowded just about every weekday. Lunch reservations are HIGHLY recommended. They also have one private room, which seats a max of seven (?), and can be reserved. Be sure to check out their rooftop deck! It's a great place to show off the city while enjoying a dirty martini! A lunch for two without cocktails can run about $40-50. Televisions are at the bar only. (If you're looking for a sports bar, this is not the place.)
(3)Kassie D.
Stopped by for lunch on a Monday; the service was very attentive, and large portions of tasty food. Seemed a favourite place for a business lunch. I liked the layout and decor of the place, and with reasonable prices. Ideal place for a great meal with friends without being overly expensive.
(5)MoMo K.
the environment is really nice but the service isn't the best. we had to ask our Waiter three times for bread. and we ran out of water, but waiter didn't refill it. she was more occupied with the other tables with older folks. it was probably because she wanted to get their tip money and thought we wouldn't tip well because we are college students. And it took forever to get our food! at least 35 minutes. Also, if you want to sit on rooftop on a busy night, you need to get there an hour ahead an pit yourself on waiting list. The view from the rooftop is AMAZING! I went in on a Saturday night.
(3)Jazmyne M.
I made a reservation for my birthday and had to wait a couple minutes but that was okay because the wait was over an for those who didn't! The food was AMAZING! I had the warm goat cheese and butternut squash ravioli ! So yummy! Our waiter Cory was excellent as well!
(5)D B.
Had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport and stumbled into this spot with the help of Yelp. Was a beautiful fall day so I sat on the sidewalk patio in the sun. Was just in for lunch so I didn't get a whole lot. I ordered a steak salad that was delicious and served with plenty of steak. Others eating around all had good looking meals on their plates.
(4)Janet E.
We came here to try out their restaurant week menu. Here is what we had: APPETIZERS: Crab Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms with Béarnaise-Blue Crab & Bardai Crab in a Vegetable Confetti Stuffing, Topped with a Béarnaise Glaze (this dish was somewhat bland to me and came out luke warm) Duck Confit & Onion Tartlet- Pissaladière Crust, Carr's Valley Ménage a Trois Cheese, Crispy Duck Confit & Caramelized Sweet Onions (this dish came out straight from the oven and was hot (temperature). It tasted really good but the duck was somewhat dry and ended up very chewy (like jerky)) ENTREES: Seared Striped Bass with Wild Rice & Fried Apple Hash-Allagash White & Shallot Crème Fraiche (this dish was very good) Tournedos a la Forestiere with Pommes Rissolées-Tenderloin Medallions with Crimini, Oyster & White Cap Mushrooms in a Whiskey Demi With Roasted Potatoes (the meat was too dry for me) DESSERT: Banana Cream Pie- The Classic with Caramel Drizzle (delicious! fresh whole chunks of bananas slathered with whip cream on top) OMG Devil's Food Cake- Dense, Rich Chocolate Cake Ganache Fudge Filling & Vanilla Butter Cream (delicious! -more delicious than the banana cream pie) The ambiance here was really nice. I enjoyed sitting at their booth tables facing the park. Also our server was very attentive to us and he always had another service person to take away our dishes when we told them we were finished with our dish. The majority of the patrons here seemed to be professionals getting together after work for drinks. Although the restaurant is located next to Millennium park, it was not touristy at all.
(4)Jacob A.
Ive been a here few times for cocktails on the rooftop and it was a decent time. We went for lunch today as our office is close by and it was a great meal. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very prompt and knowledge about the menu. Gave us some good suggestions on what to order. My glass of water was never empty. The food was really good and a generous portion for what we ordered. Will definitely be back!
(5)Daniel M.
This review is for the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I went to check out the rooftop but was denied entry. My boyfriend and I were dressed in formal wear. The hostess was very rude and simple said we couldn't go up there even though the whole place was empty. I asked if there was a private party and they said no. I feel like they discriminated against us or at the very least were giving us the shaft. I understand if you want to make your place exclusive and high end but this establishment is not at that level. Furthermore, both of us were dressed in formal wear and dress shoes. I will never return to this place because there are so many other bars in the city that provide respectful service, better views, and actual high end services.
(1)Christine M.
While on Michigan Avenue shopping (Saturday afternoon) three of us decided to stop and eat (walking makes you sooo hungry). The food was GREAT, service was GREAT - the only downfall was outside seating only had like 5 tables and the upper outside seating "doesn't open till 4p....otherwise we were all VERY HAPPY. Be prepared for a wait approx. 20-30 min BUT well worth it!
(5)Brittany Y.
The food: I ordered the dinner salad and swapped out the vinaigrette for blue cheese dressing and I got the Ashely's mac and cheese. My salad was a decent sized portion for 7 dollars, bueno. The mac and cheese though looked delicious "looked"...it was bland though. My sister had the chopped steak burger, she also said her food was bland. My mother had the smoked pepper wings and the ice berg wedge salad. She said her wings were awesome but....she has lost her sense of smell so smell and taste go hand in hand. The iceberg wedge was ginormous but, it's iceberg, I personally don't eat iceberg but if you want to get full from eating salad that's the ticket. The Staff: From the reviews I was kind of worried. I was expecting to run into some snobby waiters/waitresses with horrible attitudes. Complete opposite bro. Our server, Jimmy, was probably one of the nicest, friendliest and most helpful waiters I have ever had in my entire life! He was super attentive and he kept bringing us refills *without us having to ask* and pouring my water for me. The hostesses were very kind as well. Even other people's waiters were nice to me. I think about 5 of the other staff came to tell me happy birthday and they gave me a ballon when I turned down the birthday dessert *I was stuffed*. The interior: Those carpeted stairs won my heart! I had on the most slippery shoes and I was horrified when I saw we had to use the stairs but they were covered by nice plushy carpet...praise Yoda. The booths are nice and big. I'm tall and sitting in a little booth makes me feel awkward so that was great. And there were mirrors everywhere I looked...AWESOME!
(4)Beau E.
What a great place to hang out, enjoy some people-watching, and have some of the best food and beers in the area! I tried the wings, which were excellent. They smoke them and then bake them, so they are lighter and crispier than fried wings. Then we moved on to the Bookmaker steak sandwich, and it was fantastic! Truffle oil, steak, and onion straws on a pretzel bun. Best steak sandwich in Chicago! Best rooftop in the area as well. Great view of the park so go around sunset and enjoy this awesome spot!
(5)Caitlin G.
There didn't really seem to be anything special about this place. The food was good, but not great and the atmosphere was nice, but nothing special. It's a pretty great location though, across from the park and ideal if you're headed out to a show later on.
(3)Julie D.
Came in without a reservation on a Thursday night with no issues. We were seated outside where we had a view of the tour buses in front of Millennium park. The free bread was really good -- a raisin bread and some sort of garlic roll with whipped butter. We ordered one of their specials, a smoked salmon flatbread appetizer. It was basically like a salmon pizza without the tomato sauce. It was REALLY good... had to contain myself because I still had an entree coming. I got the Lake Superior whitefish since it was something I couldn't get very fresh in California. The fish was very tender and plentiful (couldn't finish it). It came on delicious whipped potatoes and some sort of ragu which was flavorful but sort of weird with the fish. My fiance got the little steak dollars, or whatever they are called, with whipped potatoes. The meat looked well-cooked. The final damage was about $100.
(4)Tim R.
Food = decent. Service = meh. And meh is being nice Wanted to take out a group from my team including out of country guests to see Chicago and picked a restaurant that I hoped would have a view. Got to the restaurant and was unsympathetically (I'll stop short of saying rudely, but it was close) that while we had a reservation which in the comments asked for outside or nice view, they do not take reservations for outside seating and we were out of luck. We were told to enjoy our viewless crappy table by the bar. (Since the Blackhawks were on and it was near a TV we stayed, otherwise would of bolted). I was told that this is clearly stated in Opentable and when I said no its not I was rudely (I will now say it was rude) told I was wrong. Except when I explained you do not see this warning when you book open table from yelp, then the host had nothing to say. No apology, no offer to do anything to make us have a pleaseant experience, or any care to fix said issue. (So yep reader beware) Big fail as any attempt to make us feel better will be welcome. I entertain a lot of clients downtown and this would of been a great option for the future. After last night, no thanks. Waaaaay to many other nice restaurants in Chicago who would like my business and would not let a simple misunderstanding hurt the customer's experience. The original misunderstanding was a chance to do something to win us back. They failed. I will say the food was good, though. I enjoyed the halibut and most of guest liked the food. Beer selection was okay enough to find some options. Service was ok. Our server was training another server. I am not sure who was the trainee and the experienced. They were not rude, just neither added much to the experience and they where clumsy on the script. (Like at the last minuted remembered there were specials on the table , but not understanding of what they were or what they recommended) It a shame because the location is awesome (well, not our cramped viewless corner table, but other seat locations and the roof) and the food was more than decent. Other's be warned your better off NOT having a reservation and putting your name is early, kill some time at the park, and come back if you want a view. If the restaurant would like more details, I am glad to share. I am an honest reviewer and rarely post negative comments but in this case, yelp readers need to be aware.
(2)Amelia D.
Mediocre and greasy food. The chicken wings were decent but everything else we ordered was pretty subpar. Booked the reservation mostly for the view... Which unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy because it was raining out.
(2)Grace E.
I had a lovely dining experience at Tavern at the Park. Before catching a 7:00 show at the Oriental Theater, I sat out on the patio at 5:30pm to enjoy a glass of wine, side salad, and Halibut entree. The service was polite and courteous, and I really enjoyed watching tourists walking to and from Millennium Park. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was pleasant and left me content. For its price point, there are certainly better places to dine in the city, but for the convenience of location, patio view, and service, Tavern gets 4 stars from me.
(4)Michelle F.
Yum, Yum, Triple Yum!! My friend has a condo right down the street, and when he asked if we had ever been to Tavern at The Park, we said no. He was delighted to bring us, and we were delighted to be eating/drinking there. WOW, was this place fantastic!! Our server was attentive, fast, and the drinks were very strong :) We ordered a round of wine and my husband loved that they had his coveted Matilda! My moscato was delightful! I know it's technically a "dessert wine" but I like to consider moscato to be an "anytime wine". I also had a martini on their specials list--it was cinnamon something. It was strong!! So don't be the DD after drinking here! Now onto the food! My friend had the chicken picatta--I didn't try it, but he said it was amazing! My husband ordered the Max Burger. DO NOT ORDER THIS IF YOU ARE SMALL. Seriously, the thing was bigger than his outstretched hands (go look at the picture if you don't believe me!) and the fries it came with were delicious, too! I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. It was good, but I don't really know why they were called "crispy" meatballs. There really wasn't anything crispy about them...I mean don't get me wrong, they were really good, but not crispy. But the sauce was good, and the noodles were al dente which I really liked! For dessert, my friends ordered the fried bananas, and my husband and I ordered the carrot cake that was on the specials menu. The fried banana was cool and different, but the carrot cake is the BEST carrot cake I have EVER had!! And it was HUGE!! I wish I had a picture of it! But I was too busy nomming on it to grab the camera :)
(5)Jacques M.
After my previous review one of the mangers reached out to me, in order to better explain the situation. Our room was not in fact sold to another client, despite my previous understanding. To the best of my knowledge, you can comfortably reserve a private room at TATP. That being said if your unable to get a private room for your party (I'm talking about 20 or more people here, not small groups) , I wouldn't recommend trying to hold a private party in the bar area for some of the reason previously stated. Again, the service was excellent and the food was good also. The manager reaching out showed me they do care about feedback from the customers.
(3)Drea K.
We chose Tavern at the Park for our Wedding Rehearsal dinner and were thrilled with the results. Their mid-sized private dining room is very nice and accommodated our party of 40+ well. We chose the family style dinner, starting with caesar salad, prime rib and whitefish paired with green beans and mac n'cheese and had the carmel apple dessert. Everything was sensational! Truly, all of our guests were chatting about how great the food was. Additionally the staff during planning and on the night of our rehearsal dinner were all attentive, efficient, and very easy to work with. The staff on the night of was great in terms of making sure that everyone had drinks, that everyone was eating at the same time, etc. We were very, very pleased and would absolutely recommend this as a spot for large party dinner.
(5)Jeb B.
The shrimp Louie is a mess. Overall subpar for the price. Nice location and decent service.
(2)Lawrence C.
Tuna taco appetizer is great! Grouper was great and the service was outstanding. This was a month ago but I do know I said I would go back.
(4)Melanie V.
Best service EVER. The bf picked Tavern at the Park for Vday 'cuz he saw that they extended their Restaurant Week menu. We had a little bit of a fail for Restaurant Week, so he thought this might make up for it. First off, service was incredible. For this location, I assumed that we would be dealing with snobbiness all night, but I was really wrong. Everyone was really friendly, especially our darling waiter. We were seated in one of the large booths (which was perfect for sharing convo AND people watching). For the Restaurant Week menu, I choose to the duck confit flatbread and the bf ordered the crab stuffed artichoke. We ended up swapping apps, though, as we liked each other's picks better. The flatbread was good, but I really liked the crab/artchoke combo. My main entree was the sea bass which came with this apple hash, rice and amazingly addictive spicy sauce. I have no idea what that suace was, but it pretty much made the dish. The bf ordered the beef medallions, so when they brought out this huge piece of beef, I thought to myself, "Wow, they don't really skimp on the portions here." If you know me, you know that I have no clue about steak/prime rib/cuts of beef, so I didn't realize that they brought out the wrong thing. Neither did my bf, apparently. When the waiter came by, he was absolutely appalled that they brought out the wrong dish. A couple minutes later, when my bf was mid-bite, one of the managers came around with the dish he actually ordered. I thought they were just going to swap out the items, but the manager actually wrapped up the initial dish for us to take home! Amazing! I was pretty food coma'ing at this point, but I couldn't refuse taking a few bites of the fantastic banana cream pie. It was probably the hugest slice of pie I've ever seen. Since my bf wanted an after dinner sip of something (and I did NOT want scotch), the waiter suggested Frangelico. When I admitted that I've had grappa and limoncello, but never frangelico, the waiter offered to bring me out a sample so I could figure out if I liked it. It was honestly the best thing ever (and I started wondering how I've never had it!) and it was the perfect way to cap off the meal! Lovely. So lovely.
(5)Poloprincez Z.
My fiancé and I came here for dinner the other night. The service was great, but the food was mediocre. I had their chopped salad which was flavorless and felt like the salad had been sitting for dAys. My fiancé had the lobster which was obviously the better choice. For dessert, we had carrot cake which was huge but also mediocre. The good thing about this place is the service and atmosphere.
(3)Susie C.
I love the atmosphere here. This is the second time I've been here for lunch around the holidays. I don't remember what I had last year, but this year I ordered the chopped salad. I came with few co workers, and we shared two appetizers. One was the onion straws and the other was fried calamari. Both was delicious! My chopped salad was good. I asked the rest of my co workers what they thought of their food, and they all loved it. Always heard good reviews about this place. The only thing that does stop me from coming here always is the price. It is relatively expensive, but the food is good. Inside the restaurant it's very warm and cozy..and since it's the holidays they put up Christmas lights and other decors. Our servers have always been nice :)
(4)Jennifer S.
Lobster and salmon and ribs...oh my! On a recent Saturday evening, I had the pleasure of experiencing dinner at Tavern At The Park for the very first time. It was magical like The Wizard of Oz! My party arrived before I did. When I walked in, I was led through a gorgeous dining room. Warm, dark woods. Interesting wall art. Large booths. And...wait for it...comfortable chairs! I sat in one of those for quite a while over a leisurely dinner with family and friends. We started with crispy meatballs and smokey chicken wings. The meatballs definitely were the real deal! Crispy on the outside. Soft and moist on the inside. Expertly combined with a rich Sunday gravy (like Grandpa C. used to make). The wings really surprised me. See, the apps were ordered before I arrived. Honestly, I never would have ordered these. I would have missed this life-changing experience had it not been for my dining companions. Thanks folks! The side sauces were fantastic, but almost unnecessary. Don't misunderstand me. The sauces were spot on, but those wings were seasoned beautifully and the smokiness had me eating every single bite and maybe even licking my fingers. ...Allegedly. ;-) Don't skip the bread and butter. This is very important, so I will say it again. Do not skip the bread and butter. There was a variety of choices available. My favorite? The pull-apart rolls with a bit of cheese melted on top. I indulged in the broiled king salmon. This was the most memorable entree that I have eaten in years. Literally. The cherry and apple glaze on this huge piece of salmon was light, but definitely present. This was served on top of a crispy hashbrown, an onion chutney and a fabulous sauce. I ate every single bite. I'll share a secret with you. I took one of those crazy good rolls and basically wiped my plate clean. I'm not ashamed. There was no way that I could waste a single morsel of that yummy goodness! I nibbled on a little of almost everything that hit our table. I was in heaven. Smokey ribs (another finger lickin' good dish). I had a lobster ravioli. The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente. The sauce was unique in the most deliciously memorable sort of way. Then, the desserts arrived. We tried three of the most luscious sweet treats I have ever laid a fork on before. I can't even tell you which one to order because I would probably want a bite of all three again. First, was a blueberry bread pudding. Fresh blueberries among perfectly executed bread pudding. Not overly sweet. The perfect temperature. Fantastic! Next, there was a slab of carrot cake with caramel sauce. I should use a word other than slab to describe it, but it was a huge piece! How about hunk? Aw, forget it. This carrot cake had the best surprise throughout. Pineapple chunks! Perfect bites of fruit helped to keep the cake moist. The frosting was a cream cheese base with a hint of something else that I couldn't put my finger on. Good? Understatement! If I hadn't been so full at that point, I probably could have eaten a bowl of that frosting. Finally we had a strawberry blues. Imagine blueberry scones (really they are hoecakes, but it was just like a scone), with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. Fantastic textures had my mouth dancing for joy! Service was delightful! Our server was helpful, courteous and on top of everything that we needed before we needed it. The manager stopped by a few times over the course of the (leisurely) evening to check on things. He had his eye on every detail and really seems to keep the operation in check. One of the owners also stopped by. He was friendly and down to earth. Obviously attentive to his guests' needs. I waited a couple days to make sure that I wasn't dreaming this whole amazing experience up in my head. I wasn't. I'd like to go back right now. In fact, I'm going to grab my ruby slippers... There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park...
(5)Peter K.
Based on review on Yelp, made the decision for a last minute reservation before theater. Had never made a reservation using yelp. Easy. and when we got there ( it was a snowy night in Chicago, so I thought it would be busy...it was.) We were offered and accepted the only remaining table at the time .../bu the window..a booth..cozy on a snowy night. French-onion soup was great...one of the best ever..nice and cheesy..richly flavorful. Had not seen the "iceberg"lettuce with blue cheese on a menu in ages..so jumped at that.. It was enormous..bacon crumbles, lost of crumbled blue cheese., lumpy blue cheese salad dressing. The combo of onion soup and the salad was MORE than enough. didn't finish the salad..just to much as I had eagerly sampled the rolls and bread nice assortment. But did finally opt for the Key Lime ( a nice twist )Creme Brule.. Service was attentive...and will definatlely have this as a "go to" restaurant before theater/symphony etc again. Nice "Clubby feel to the surroundings in the bar area, with the view..GREAT !
(4)Kevin L.
We had seen Tavern At The Park on one of the foodie networks and marked it down as a must visit. My wife had seen their special martini that was laced with silver and included the special gift from Tiffany's. It's located by the park and is convenient for drinks were pretty good. The silver was weird but she really wanted the silver 'bean' necklace so was pleased. Fairly pricey of a place for what you seem to get vs other places on the mile.
(3)Nicole L.
I don't know much about this place, but I do know one thing. I ordered the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich after the waiter told me it was the best steak sandwich in Chicago. I found that hard to believe until I tried it. OMG it's been over a month and I'm still raving about it!!! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
(5)Bryan S.
Had dinner on the roof top with a bunch of work colleagues while in town on business. Wonderful atmosphere, great views, great ambiance. I do agree with a lot of the other reviews about the door/hostess staff. They're a little fussy, but once you smile and make a joke with them, we got upstairs quick, even before everyone was there. Policy about full party is weird when your restaurant is empty. Food was okay. My ceviche was excellent, but pasta was horrible. Waitress was great. And dessert was outstanding.
(4)Sam K.
Thought my cab driver recommended this because it was the closest place where he dropped us off (across from millennium park) so I was a bit weary. Boy was I wrong.. This place is amazing! Wings were excellent. I had the fillet mignon sandwich for the main course and it was amazing. Do yourself a favor and eat here!!!
(5)Mark H.
I was in Chicago for a conference and didn't want to stray far from my hotel one evening so we walked to Tavern on the Park. Aki was our server and he was fantastic and certainly did his part to make the meal very good. I ordered a seared scallop salad and it was absolutely fantastic! The scallops were fresh and cooked to perfection. Presentation was also done very well. Cocktails weren't under poured and they had fantastic blue cheese stuffed Olives for our Martinis. I was really impressed here and didn't expect to be. Nice surprise and I'll certainly be back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)Karlee Q.
Very nice experience. I went here with some friends before the ballet on a Friday night. The atmosphere is great...cozy, yet sophisticated. I also liked how the tables were not crammed together, there was nice spacing. I sat at the bar while waiting for my friends to arrive and had a drink. The beer menu is selective, but covers all the bases. Both at the bar and at our table, the service was excellent. We were seated even though we did not have our full party, which is a plus compared to some other places I've gone that make you wait. The food was well prepared and beautifully presented. The menu is a little on the pricier side, but it is well worth it. I recommend the house-made hummus as an appetizer, and do NOT leave this place without ordering a brownie sundae. It is to die for. I took the blue line and walked from Washington, which was not a bad walk, so I'm not sure about the parking situation. The reason I gave this restaurant 4 stars instead of 5, because really I have no complaints about the service or the food taste and presentation, is because the menu has limited vegetarian options besides salad and one veggie burger. I would like to see a mushroom sandwich or some sort of delicious pasta dish, but obviously I ate something and it was fabulous. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)Julie Z.
This review is strictly for the Tree House which is their rooftop. I think it's pretty fair to say that most Chicagoan's love a rooftop, including myself. This one is great b/c it's in the heart of downtown and across the street from Millennium Park. The view is legit. The drinks are pricey but that's no surprise. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. I did not eat here so I can't review the food but if you're looking for a happy hour spot or to grab a few drinks before dinner, check this place out. Arrive early too! It gets crowded quickly.
(4)Eric L.
We went here last night on Valentine's Day, and it was awesome! I had fried calamari and a medium steak burger with cheddar. The burger was so juicy you didn't have to add anything to it to make it great, no sauces or salt or anything. My girlfriend had the chopped salad, which was large and tasted great. Also, this place has good beers on the menu, which we had a couple of. We will definitely come back to this place. It was a pretty big bill but well worth it. The service was good and quick as well.
(5)Tom D.
The owner is terribly inappropriate, and he has the worst sideburns that I have ever seen. Corey is a great server The owner used the "f" word at the table towards us and proclaimed how classy he is. If the place is so classy, they should turn down the music.
(1)Kacie B.
Had an amazing dinner with excellent service and atmosphere! Everyone's meal was delicious, between our table we had calamari, the pasta, port shank (which was huge) and brisket...divine! Get the potato pancakes ( came with the pork but can also be ordered as an app), you'll thank me! Their desserts were great also. We all split the carrot cake and red velvet cake, not too sweet but full of flavor. Watch out, though, they are also huge! Will definitely be going back!
(5)Janette W.
All I did all week was read reviews and see signs for this new Treehouse rooftop bar at Tavern. Sadly, it was closed for the day when I went by! We opted to pop inside for a quick drink. A little corporate but not a bad choice.
(3)Eric B.
Don't eat here. But they have Templeton Rye and make reasonably good Manhattans . . . Don't eat here. But they have Domaine Dupage and Dead Guy by the bottle . . . Don't eat here. But they have New York Strip specials and cook a fine rare steak . . . Don't eat here. But, but, but . . . When your steak arrives and you want to wash it down with a lovely Malbec, your waitress will not bring it out to you, because you haven't finished your Manhattan. Your waitress will refer to some nonexistent city statute she isn't intelligent enough to cite, which states you can't have two drinks in front of you at once, and you must finish your cocktail, which you wanted to save for after your dinner, before you'll get your wine with dinner. This sort of nonsense is why the terrorists are winning. Pink Floyd would not stand for this nonsense and neither should you. Don't eat here.
(1)Kristy A.
The view was pretty awesome - the service not so much. I showed up pretty early having heard that the place gets busy. There's a hostess (gatekeeper) at the entrance downstairs, who needs a walkie talkie to know what's going on upstairs. She didn't bother to ask me whether I wanted inside or outside seating and I didn't know to specify, so I ended up at the outdoor bar rather than being sat inside by the hostess at the top of the stairs. The only seat available was the one next to the service bar - not something I usually mind, except that I spent the entire time listening to the servers bitch and complain about their customers. Another patron at the bar (a regular) recommended that I didn't eat there (not a good sign) and I was annoyed with the servers, so I left after one drink and went elsewhere for dinner.
(2)Samantha H.
I was in need of a pre theater dinner and you can only go to Petterinos and Atwood so many times so I decided to check this out. As expected, tons of tourists and suburbanites on a Friday, but that is due to the location. I actually really liked the ambiance in there. I expected it to me more bland and touristy but it was quite charming. They have a huge menu, which I am actually not a fan of but if you like that sort of thing, plenty to choose from here. Kudos for having Pride Merlot on the wine list. The food was okay. I got the scallops, which were supposed to come with habenero but I got no spice. They were decent though. My husband got the French dip. The bread was massive. Again, it was okay. Nothing special but not bad either. The fries were the same. The real star was Nicholas, our server. Very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Not a place I'd go out of my way to get to but decent if you're in the neighborhood and ask to sit in Nicholas' section.
(3)Victor P.
Post SAIC Graduation dinner. We were very hungry after a long day but I also wanted it to be a great dining experience. Was not disappointed. Alright it is on the expensive side but the food and service was worth it. The graduate had the sliced Ahi Tuna..."cooked" to perfection. I had the Filet. Also perfect. Wife had the roasted beet salad. Another winner. Hummus and pizza were the starters. Great. All food was tasty and satisfied my desire for a grand dinner. Which was aided by great service. I recommend the Tavern, but don't forget a large roll of cash (of course they accept plastic) but well worth the expense.
(5)Alicia C.
Visited the restaurant on a whim after a walk in the loop on a Friday afternoon. They have prime real estate to capture all the tourists coming out of art institute and millennium park. Great outdoor seating --- street and rooftop available although good luck getting it on a nice day. We had a very solicitous waiter and seemed well trained in the necessary chit chat. Took the payment before my partner was done with his beer. Poor form. Food: The bread tastes very processed--- and it was the kind of warm where they let it stand around and get cold and stuck it in the oven for a minute before it was served. It was also really shiny--ie greasy? Kind of scary when my bread is shinier than the bald head of the guy sitting one table over. I had the black truffle chicken hash while my partner had the chicken pot Pie. We also shared a calamari appetizer. Food was very bland -- especially my chicken hash. Calamari was a bit too greasy for my taste although I did appreciate that they fried the spices with the squid. Pot pie was probably the best item we ordered although it wasn't the kind of creamy pie I was expecting. Everything felt very greasy-- and not sure why it all had to be. I would say this place is pretty standard in the restaurant desert of southern Michigan Av. I think it tries to go for atmosphere more than food. And unless you are a tourist wanting a close place to eat, not worth it.
(3)Lauren F.
To start on a good note, the bread and service were impeccable. The ambience is nice and it's in a convenient location. Unfortunately, this place lacks a good dose of originality. Most of the drinks on the menu looked appealing, but none were creative. I decided on a drink that is normally served with a $200 necklace (though I went sans Tiffany). It was pleasant enough, but it was on the flat side. The house infused pair of vodka used in the drink, however, was tasty. The food menu went the same way. Everything that was on the menu I have seen a dozen times at other restaurants. We ordered an appetizer, which was presented very well, but it wasn't special enough to convince us to stick around for the main course. Overall, a solid restaurant with no pizzazz.
(2)Jennifer M.
Great location as they are right across from the park and near many theaters. Perfect for dinner before the show. I ordered the blackened grouper which was delish and not too heavy. I don't know if there was anything that truly standout about my experience, but I would go back when I'm in the area.
(4)Lily N.
We stopped by to grab a drink and some appetizers after visiting the CloudGate (Bean). Our waitress, Louisa, was awesome! She was nice and gave her honest opinion. It wasn't hard as the food is quite good. We ordered the Fried Calamari and Warm Goat Cheese. The latter was delicious! I had to slow down to ensure I didn't eat it all. The goat cheese flavor was not overpowering. Plus it was a great vegan option. (The word gravy had us uncertain). The Calamari was just so-so. It included the tentacles (Warning!). So if you are not a fan, specify. The reason for the 3 stars was the texture. Somehow it tasted almost soggy with oil. The flavor was a good balance of lemon, but the oily taste/texture made me unhappy. Then the dip was not anything special. It didn't offset the oil. Maybe marinara would have been better. The drinks: was great!!!!!! We ordered the breast cancer special and the cloudgate without the jewelry. (Tiffany's bean) definitely going back for that!
(3)Tricia D.
"Burger, get in my belly!" - my conscience to myself during dinner last week If you're going to have a burger with foie gras, duck confit, bacon, and cheese, what can you expect? To pay a lot ($21), to leave with a food baby (check), and to not crave a burger for a while (maybe). The pretzel bun was a great call, and you'll get more fries than you could ever want with this! My burger was prepared medium, like I requested but the bf's Max burger (like breakfast on a burger - fried egg, bacon, sausage patty, cheese atop TWO patties) was a preparation fail. He ordered it well done, and it came out pinker than mine. The manager came by to apologize, the kitchen redid it, and the burger and our (read: my) choice of dessert was comp'ed. If the prices weren't quite as high as they are, I'd dine here more often.
(3)Candia M.
Nice mix of teenager friendly pasta and mom friendly seafood on the dinner menu. Collin is a friendly and knowledgable waiter. The blueberry bread pudding is enough for a party of four.
(4)Belinda A.
My new favorite downtown Chicago rooftop restaurant. The halibut was out of this world and the strawberry breeze dessert left me speechless. Great service and prices are well worth it.
(4)Teresa L.
We were staying at the Hyatt nearby, saw the reviews, and decided to walk over and try it. So glad we did. The ambiance, service and food were fantastic. Would definitely visit again.
(5)Belle L.
Absinthe in Escargot! The only one in Chicago. Absinthe cuts the butter and garlic a bit. Woo hoo! Do request extra bread for dipping. The string fries can be a bit more crispy, but still addictive. Excellent service as we were never rushed even though its last call for the kitchen. Takes initiative. Knowledgeable between the Tavern's Lemonade versus Minute Maid Lemonade.
(5)dean d.
Fancy-pants lunch spot: make sure someone else is picking up the tab then enjoy. I had the Chopped Steak CheeseBurger and asked for Brie (you can pick any cheese you want: loved it.
(4)Dallas M.
This is my favorite place to go after work. Friendly, attentive and professional bartenders. Food is excellent. Wine selection is fantastic. Management is spot on. Try the lobster roll. One of the best I've had outside of Maine. It's the size of your head!
(5)Randolph W.
Excellent filet (lots of garlic butter on it so beware), awesome fries (shoestring style). Excellent service and atmosphere.
(5)Casey M.
Stopped in after a day of shopping and wandering around Millennium Park. Definitely a tourist trap considering the prices you pay for the quality of food. Don't get me wrong, the food is good (not great), but not worth the price. Try the hummus, the fried calamari, and the rotisserie chicken and you will be satisfied. Our waiter, Michael, was nice. Would probably return if someone else was paying (haha), or just for drinks and appetizers. I hear they have beautiful rooftop seating.
(3)Valerie W.
Very cool outdoor patio area that has a great view of the city scape. Service here is friendly and the drinks are good. Can't review the food, but the evening was pleasent and it is certainly a hot spot. Only sad part is that it started to rain on us right when we were finishing our drinks. No biggie, but it was a mad dash to the inside!
(4)Cheryl R.
OMG. We ate here New Year's Eve.. early before the crowds, and sat in the bar with a window seat overlooking a beautiful Chicago view. Our party had the Ashley's mac n cheese. Which was made with a sharp cheddar, and had the option of adding chicken, meatballs, mushrooms, shrimp, beef tenderlion, etc... simply amazing! Also we had the blackened grouper w sauteed spinach, cooked to perfection.. The most amazing burger was the Road house BbQ burger. .. crazy good, and the Book Maker Steak Sandwich was pure heaven. You can't go wrong here people. This will definitely stay on my list of favorites. The service was impeccable! Thanks to Collin for an amazing experience!
(5)Stephanie L.
Went today for lunch. Great ambiance food and staff. Our waiter AJ was great. Definitely coming back!
(5)Rachel S.
Very beautiful inside but wish I would have sat in the upper area outside with the view of the park. Sat at the bar. I ordered "Nectar? Damn near killed her?". Was effing delicious - kind of a gingery taste served with a black cherry. Date ordered a margarita on the rocks and that was very good as well.
(4)Veronica Z.
The roof top is cozy classy just right for a Chicago summer afternoon and evening. Food is fantastic ceviche was DELICIOUS and I am picky when it comes to that dish. Most of all the service, staff and Manager Peter especially makes us feel welcome ALWAYS!! I LOVE THIS PLACE* Great date spot or just to hang out in our beautiful city*
(5)Band E.
Only giving 4 stars because our server (young kid who traveled a lot and had been in the restaurant biz since he was 10) was great. Knew a lot about the food and was able to work it in to the conversation. Had the Portuguese mussels (fantastic). Had the lobster ravioli which, while had plenty of what looked like langostines, was a little heavy and needed seasoning. Kind of bland. Had trouble getting a last minute reservation before a concert but this place had plenty of room, good ambiance, lots of attentive help. Would definitely go back.
(4)Jonathan K.
I went to this place with good hopes, and happily had those hopes met. I figured any place that had half of the venue closed off for a private party for the Chicago Bears wouldn't be a bad place to go. I wound up having the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich along side an Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was kind of "meh" but the steak sammich was tasty. It was also huge, and I had to split my method of eating it between fork and knife and squishing it into my mouth.
(4)Leslie G.
I have been here dozens of times because it's in my office building. The location is a huge plus. Another positive is that I've never had to wait to be seated here--the place is huge and I've rarely seen it full. Normally, I just come here for drinks and an appetizer (usually the calamari, which is delicious every time). I've also been here for business lunches a few times and thought the food was good. However, I recently came here for dinner with a friend and was rather disappointed. I ordered the ricotta gnocci, which turned out to be enough food for about 3 people. I probably ate about a third of it. I guess they're trying to justify the incredibly steep prices by piling on the food, but I would much prefer a normal portion size with a normal price. The gnocci also seemed overcooked to me and the sauce was overwhelming in taste and in quantity. There was probably a pound of sauce alone. If you're looking for a full-fledged meal, I think there are better restaurants around. If you work in the area and want a nice place to have drinks with a few people, this is a good option.
(3)Christine C.
Checking out the rooftop on a Tuesday after rain and the place was not busy so I thought we would get our appetizer quick. No such luck. Hostess was snobby and every seat was open! Great music and views of Millenium park, but slow bad service. Can't comment on the food yet because it's still not here. Food just got here. BBQ short rib sandwich Is delicious. Ok. Food and cocktails were good.
(2)Kimberly S.
We went to this place last night for dinner... When we checked and we did not have a reservation and they told us the wait would be very long... However it was only about 15 minutes. We ate on the second level, the balcony was closed because of rain... But, the waitstaff was a little strange. They had a served by three separate waiters one who just had taken her lunch and I don't know how the third one came in, but each one was super nice and very accommodating. The second waiter was named Chris, he was a real nice and funny guy. He gave some really good suggestions and suggested I try the goat cheese salad... Salad is not my favorite thing to order, but sometimes we need to watch what we eat. The appetizer was a fig and prosciutto flatbread.. It could have used a little more fig but it was delicious nonetheless. I also ordered a cup of French onion soup, which was decent. The atmosphere was really nice, and I really liked and enjoyed the food. I would definitely suggest this place for friends, the lounge area was classy and cool.
(4)Emul M.
Pros: convenient location next to tourist attractions (i.e. Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate etc), service is quick and pleasant, the ambiance is classy but cool, big servings, appetizers are of decent sizes, beer special was awesome, decent pricing Cons: Special request will cost at least $6 and they won't mention it. Their fried chicken special was to die for! It was still tasty the morning after, without being heated. ;)
(4)Megan L.
Great experience at Tavern at the Park! A friend of mine were meeting for dinner before a show at the Harris Theatre, and decided to go here based entirely on location, so I made a reservation and off we went. However, my friend went to Kansas and as such is a HUGE Jayhawks fan and they were playing in the Big 12 tourney last night... something that wasn't scheduled or really even considered when buying the show tickets. What's this got to do with Tavern at the Park, you say? More than you'd expect. We get seated in the back dining area, and to our very pleasant surprise there's a tv near our table! So we ask if they can change the channel to the Kansas game when it comes on and our server very accommodatingly says he'll do so. Unfortunately when he comes back, it turns out they can't change it as it's tied to another tv and people who got there first requested something else. Which would be a huge bummer, except he talked to the manager and it turns out there are also tvs in their upstairs area and there's a free table so we can watch whatever we want if we don't mind moving. Seriously, they would not have been any nicer to us, or more eager to help us watch a basketball game. This, friends, is what customer service is about. WAY TO GO, Tavern at the Park! We ended up with a different server upstairs, but she was just as great - they were also very conscious of the fact that we had tickets to a show and made sure we were all finished up in time to get there. In addition to the service, I have to say that the food was also great. I had chicken piccata, served with angel hair and I loved it. I have absolutely no recollection what my friend had (sorry, it's been a month or so... I'm a little behind on reviews), but I do remember that he was equally pleased with his meal. Definitely worth a return trip, especially in the summer when you can enjoy the upstairs patio - nothing like sitting outside with a drink, overlooking Millenium Park!
(5)Mark F.
Based off of near-the-theater yelp reviews, we took a chance at this tasty-sounding, food and drink stand. Tavern @ the Park was oh so close to that illustrious 5th star but the really awkward server quickly brought it down a star (so close...) along with a consistent lack in use of salt and pepper. The biggest surprise to me were the prices of the drinks. Incredibly affordable for that area. The beer, cocktail and wine consumed by us was delicious and my wallet only took a paper cut rather than a financial gashing. As for the food, it lacked a sprinkle of pepper and salt. That little shake of s&p could've made the meals amazing. They were, however, quite delicious in my tummy. The pork belly appetizer provided a much larger portion than anticipated for $8. The mustard-vin dressed salad it comes with was the tastiest surprise on that plate (the bread with raisins didn't make any sense). If you like chicken and want something hardy, I recommend the chicken hash. Everything went really well together. It was like having dinner and breakfast all at the same time. My wife had the lamb shank special and though tasty - she craved some good ol salt n peppa. (You can Push It, Tavern, Push It real good). All in all, it was a delightful experience before seeing a show just down the road. It's not too loud, the food's great and everything was very prompt. I'll recommend it and I'll most likely go back again if for nothing else but affordable drinks.
(4)Linda H.
The ahi appetizer is fabulous! But the service is mighty slow and mighty surly about it. Our waiter seemed quite put out that we actually wanted to order food. And wanted water. And perhaps some sugar for tea. Don't go if you have a time limit or are terribly hungry.
(2)Lauren D.
my family and I came here after my younger brothers graduation from Naval bootcamp up at Great Lakes. Firstly we were almost an hour early for our reservation and they still sat us right away and in the private room which was great ! Our Server (eddie) was kind, funny, and knowledgeable and gave GREAT recommendations on what to eat. The food came out fast and tasted AWESOME best steak sandwich id ever eaten and the chicken hash was something I don't normally eat but was glad I did!! After we were all stuffed the Server nicely informed us that my brothers meal was on the house per the management team and sent him great wishes and support on his new military journey. We had to track the manger down and my brother personally thanked him and what a gracious man he was, giving words of encouragement and thanks for his soon to be help to our country. I HIGHLY recommend this great establishment to anyone looking for great food and friendly environment with a great view of the popping Millennium park with a wonderful staff. If ever in the Chicago area again we will for sure be stopping in and giving our business to this great restaurant!
(5)Bruce M.
6 of us had dinner at the Tavern At The Park. The service started out great. But after we placed our order, we became invisible. It took forever to get our food and not once did anyone stop by and give us an explanation or see if we wanted anything else. The food was good - but not sure it was worth the incredibly long wait.
(3)Matt G.
I had hoped for something a little better, so I would say this place was just OK. Nothing that I would leap out of my seat for and come back. The Duck Egg roll was quite good, sauce was a little thick. I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. While the portion was HUGE, the meatballs were anything but "crispy" so not sure where they got the name for the dish. I was expecting them with a crispy Parmesan coating. Service was adequate, not phenomenal. The restaurant is a nice space and the location is great. Maybe a bit more touristy than I'd like and possibly what is driving traffic to the place.
(3)Jim K.
Came here for a business lunch. Conveniently located on the Pedway, this place features huge sandwiches and burgers. I had been traveling for work, so I was more than tired of massive portions. I went with the scallops for lunch, and they were very tasty. Could have come with a side for the price, but with the bread on the table, I was satisfied. The service was also top notch here. Very attentive and informative.
(4)Amanda K.
They have my favorite salad in the whole world - The Chopped Salad (I get balsamic instead of sherry vinaigrette) but don't bother showing up here for lunch without reservations or you will be brutally rebuffed. The hosts (and owners?) are a bit on the snooty side.
(4)Lisa S.
I had a great time. Awesome location great service. We went for lunch and we had a steakburger with fries and it was delicious. Best steak burger ever!!!
(4)Tisha K.
If you are in the Millenium Park area then this is in the area. I think the place looks nicer than the actual food. I had a friend in from Dallas and he wanted to eat around Millenium Park area and so I took him here, but I wish I had done a little more research as I think Chicago has a lot more to offer than this restaurant. I will say the service was amazing. My waiter was phenomenal and very friendly and helpful. I had the fish and chips. The chips were a little too thin for me and the fish (I think it was cod) was a little bland and honestly nothing to write home about. We did get a dessert and I will say their portions for dessert are HUGE!!!! Definitely share a dessert (four people can share one dessert easily). We got the apple crumple - and again nothing amazing. :/ It does have an outdoor area so I think on a nice evening during the summer this would be a nice spot for a date (drinks), go some where else for dinner!
(3)Katie S.
If just going for drinks, 5 stars.... great location, views, and staff. But the kitchen is completely lacking. I went with a large group of friends for dinner and two of us ordered steaks medium rare. When they came out...both came out well done (no pink whatsoever). We sent them back, and 20 minutes later new steaks came out and the manager asked if they were ok... this time they were RAW... looked like a good seared ahi tuna... unfortunately had to send back again. For $34 petite ala carte pricing... I don't expect the best, but I'd expect a kitchen to know temperatures. Many of my other friends said the food was OK, but had very little seasoning. however the desserts were a completely different story... absolutely amazing.
(3)H T.
Only had one day to spend in Chicago and really glad we picked this place for dinner. We had the crispy pork belly for an appetizer. We thought it would be like tripe but it was really just thick pieces of marinated bacon. Too heavy for an appetizer, but very tasty. My dinner was the short rib with vegetables. The short rib was very tender and the sauce it was stewed in had an amazing flavor. Very generous portion of meat, plus it came with vegetables, so I got a lot of food for the money. My brother had a steak and said that although he has had better, that the steak was still a high quality steak. Finally we had the key lime creme brullee for desert, and we both agreed it was some of the best creme brulee we have ever had. Be sure to dress kinda nice otherwise they will put you upstairs with the drinking crowd, where the furniture is uncomfortable patio chairs with metal bars and mesh. (that's what happened to us). We both agreed that this place was worth coming back to. Good food and the server was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)Jeff W.
If you're downtown and looking for a higher quality restaurant with much less of a wait, you should definitely check out Tavern at the Park. It's located in the heart of the fun stuff and has a great menu. The service was wonderful and the food was really pretty darn good. The menu isn't anything revolutionary and it's a bit expensive but the food is tasty and well prepared. The one unique thing you'll have to try is the Prime Rib Chili. They use actual cuts of (presumably) the unsold prime rib to make their chili. Instead of ground beef, you get huge hunks of steak in your chili. Yum! My fiancee and I got the lobster Mac and Cheese and while 30 bucks is expensive for Mac and Cheese, they certainly did not skimp on the lobster. We also split several appetizers with friends which were all very good. Definitely worth a stop during a fancier date night in the city.
(4)Justin P.
I did not feel welcome here at all, and will not be going back. Every host I interacted with was smug, and acted as if I was in the wrong place. When I finally got to their rooftop where my buddy had a party, I was told by two different employees "there is a private party outside, so no one is allowed on the roof." So I go "yeah, that's my buddy's party." They acted as if I was crazy... For it to be overpriced and in an area with slim options to park, they should be more appreciative of clientele.
(1)Monica S.
Come here for the Bloody Mary's - Stay for the Bloody Mary's (oh and the food!) They make their own Bloody Mary mix in house which has been perfected with the perfect amount of kick. Each drink comes with your choice of vodka (their well vodka is Svedka...which is not too shabby for their cheapest vodka). I got mine with Absolut and it was perfect. The garnishes also make this a must drink - hot pepper, cheese cube, olive, and lime on a seasoning-dusted glass rim. (hey, stuff some blue cheese in that olive!) I ordered the chopped salad which I could barely make a dent it. This is no side salad here, you get a huge mountain of food. (Shoestring fries on a salad? madness.) Our server Brian was great. Very attentive and showed up at our table at all the right moments. He must have had some sort of alert system to notify him when my drink was getting low. I'll definitely be back hopefully sooner than later. Also, the Tree house roof top seems tempting for an after work happy hour. Apparently, they have a whole different menu....very intriguing.
(4)L T.
Love a place that has the Smiths playing!
(4)Patrick F.
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, but since I keep heading back it must be 4 stars....right? I've really only gone here during business lunches and is a great reason to be out of the office on a work day for 90 minutes. It's hard for me not to start with one of you hearty soups or house salad and then dig into the lobster roll with a healthy side of asparagus or some other green. In fact, I do this most times I there. I swear next time I'm going to venture outside of my comfort zone and try one of your many overpriced lunch dishes. Well till next time Tavern at the Park - I know that I will be seeing you soon! I also hear great things about the rooftop, but have yet to enjoy this experience.
(4)Jenna K.
I never write reviews but I feel like the service that I have received at Tavern at the Park deserves one. My company hosts client outings fairly often so I have worked with quite a few event coordinators and restaurants across the city. That said, I have yet to experience the level of service that I have at Tavern at the Park anywhere else. Tabitha, the event coordinator, has been wonderful to work with and is extremely responsive via phone and email. Every time we hosted an event Tabitha stopped by before our guests arrived to thank us for our business. She also went the extra step of staffing our event with the same server (Ryan) each time which added to our experience. Ryan remembered me and my co-worker, and even called us by name which was impressive. I truly appreciate the service that Tabitha and Ryan have provided and will continue to give them our business moving forward. If you are looking to host a party of any sorts I would recommend Tavern at the Park over anywhere else.
(5)Abby M.
I've been here for lunch a few times and like others have noted, it is pretty pricey. But the food is good, and the portions are large - so you're definitely getting what you pay for. They honor my seating requests with no complaints (sunny room, please) and everyone is friendly. We went yesterday and I had the steak burger salad - I asked for it Medium and it came out rare (in my opinion - I know this varies from place to place). They took care of it without batting an eye - even when they didn't have to, especially because I had ate at least a third of it! I thought that was going above and beyond to make their customer happy. They also have some seating up on their roof, which is great in the spring/summer time. From what I've heard, it's open all seasons - so we may have to stop for a happy hour sometime soon!
(4)Rick C.
They would get at least a 4 for their service and food. Outstanding. I am giving them a 5. I left my prescription sunglasses at their establishment. They found them, kept them and I had the pair in my hands instantly. Fantastic!
(5)Cissi C.
Seafood items are well prepared here. They taste fresh and lightly seasoned with refreshing taste. Nice environment inside and outside (at the patio), too.
(4)John R.
I was in Chicago last weekend and was dying for a steak. We went to The Tavern and had their NY. It was excellant.
(4)Chantelle A.
The rooftop is where its at! It took us awhile to actually find the entrance to the Tavern Treehouse but, once we arrived....we ARRIVED! Gorgeous views of the city....so posh...so relaxing.. It was a Friday night, the first night of Lollapalooza, and you could see the back of the Bud Light stage where Black Sabbath was performing. We ordered the Ceviche with huge pieces of Halibut, Cod, Scallops, Shrimp, tomato and cilantro drenched in this awesome lime vinegarette served with crispy tortilla chips. My friend ordered the Type O cocktail, which was made with their housemade Blood Orange Grenadine....it was pretty tasty. I ordered The Flying Zombo...made with ginger....it was very refreshing on this perfect night.
(5)Katie V.
If this place were cheaper/not trying to pass as fine dining, I might give it 3 stars, but everything was pretty underwhelming, especially given the price point and the ambiance they are striving for. Heavy-handed is the word that comes to mind -- the portions are huge, the plating inelegant, and the menu, while expansive, lacks focus. The special pizza, which came with lobster, pancetta, tomatoes, and spicy onions, was almost too spicy to eat, and I'm not a sissy when it comes to heat. There were jalapenos sort of randomly on there, too, despite no mention of them in the description. The combination of flavors was unusual, but not really harmonious. Felt like a kitchen sink pizza that could have used a little more thought/finesse. Beet salad: good, but standard. Chunks of beets were pretty clunky/big, not pretty to look at. Sockeye special: Fish was good, not overcooked, but the whipped potatoes it came with were cold. The other things on the plate included two sliced tomatoes, some cucumbers, olives and frisee. Weird set, didn't really go with the fish. It was sort of like a nicoise and a Greek salad got together and procreated. For $28, I felt a little cheated that my salmon basically just came with a side salad. My date got the truffle chicken hash, which looked good. Huge plate of food, and he barely made a dent, but it looked more interesting than my dish. The service was pretty good -- only annoying thing is the server kept asking us when we wanted our entrees to arrive. Right after she brought out the apps, she asked if we were ready for entrees. No, we said, we'd like a little time to eat the apps. She asked again 5 minutes later. The kitchen was closing, but still....it's the server's job to time the courses properly. Don't ask me when I want my entree -- bring it after you've cleared the first course, duh. I would like to check out the roof deck. For cocktails and a good view, I might return, but not for a nice dinner.
(2)Stephanie H.
This place is A-OK. I took one star off for the prices and another star for the food. I've been here several times since I work nearby, but last week was the first time I came here and paid for my own meal. That was a mistake. This place is really really pricey and this is quasi-upscale American food. For example, the last time I was there I had the chicken pot pie, this was $22 and sadly I've had better at Mystic Celt of all places for a lot cheaper. I also had the ceviche to start which "was sooooo good" according to the waitress who claimed that she had never had it before and when she tried it here she asked the chefs to give her the recipe. Clearly she really never had ceviche before because it was really weak, and as you can guess it was pricey. Other times I've been here I've had the bookmaker burger which is really good, but again this is a $20+ steak sandwich. I understand this is in the tourist area, but all of your dishes aren't worth shelling out the money.
(3)Matthew T.
Great food and service!!! The prices are sightly higher, but worth it. The atmosphere was very nice. We sat in the back so the lighting was dimmed, which was very relaxing, and then there is seating close to the windows overlooking Millennium Park. I ordered the turkey club, which was huge, and it came with a side (stacked higher than the sandwich) of fresh cut fries. My wife ordered the BBQ beef sandwich also came with fresh cut fries. Great wine and beer list (lots of different craft beers). Next time we visit Chicago, we will go back here again.
(5)Cody F.
I wish this place was good, but it simply is not. My experience was so terribly mediocre and at such a high price. The service was odd, the waitress literally tried to talk us out of our initial orders. The food is exceptionally uninspired, which is totally absurd considering the price. I would not recommend this restaurant, nor will I be returning.
(2)Liz K.
I've had two good experiences here. The first was for lunch, the second, dinner. Both times I've been overwhelmed by the amount of food on my plate, and when you consider that with the quality, I think the prices are fair. I don't remember the name of the salad I got at lunch, but there were four chicken breasts on the plate. FOUR. For one person! That could have fed me for 4 separate meals. In any case, the salad also had goat cheese and apples and it was just yummy all-around. For dinner, I got the vegetarian lasagna, and again, it was enough for 3 or 4 meals. This is nit-picky, but I would have liked bigger pieces of veggies so that they wouldn't fall off my fork after the noodles were cut...but anyway, it was delicious and I can't wait to eat it for lunch today. My dinner guest was also impressed with her sandwich (the short rib, I think?) and had the same feeling about the portion. We both had the Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc and enjoyed it. The service was friendly and quick both times. It was a little bit loud, which is my only complaint.
(4)Mahsa T.
Surprisingly, I actually liked this place, it didn't feel touristy at all on a Wednesday night. I was greeted warmly by the host. We sat at the bar and got great service from the bartender. I ordered a glass of wine (which is more like two glasses of wine because they bring you a full glass plus a little carafe) and he ordered a Guinness. Not much of a beer selection on tap, but they have a pretty good selection of wines. Dark woodsy interior was cozy and charming. The place was decorated beautifully for Christmas so that totally upped the ambiance. I didn't get to try the food, so I will have to update the review when I do, but the four stars is based on ambiance, service, and drinks. Great happy hour or date spot.
(4)Tsveta V.
The atmosphere is a little stuffy for me, but the food was good and it wasn't as packed as other restaurants around the New East Side making it a good pick for a business lunch. I got the Chicken Black Truffle Hash which was recommended by the waiter. The portion was very large, and it was pretty good but nothing to rave about.
(3)Johanna L.
Came here for the "groom's dinner" before my sister's wedding two weeks ago. There were passed hors d'oeuvres and wine available. I had the sliders (YUM) and the various fruits and cheeses available. There were also bacon-wrapped scallops, which I'm not a fan of in general, but I'm told they were lovely. Great food, kind of cramped (we were upstairs) though. Might be nice to come back when there is room to sit down to enjoy more of the food. The service was great, and everyone working there seemed very intent on us having a good experience.
(3)Jenny P.
the only place in Chicago that makes a pina colada the way I love it topped with whipped cream !
(5)Stephanie H.
I had been aching to try this restaurant out for ages after constantly passing it on the way to and from work. I absolutely love outdoor seating, which is what I think draws guests to this restaurant. I finally had the chance to go a few weeks ago. My friend and I shared the butternut squash ravioli and chopped steak cheeseburger. The cheeseburger was delicious, but the butternut squash was very mediocre, and the portion was rather small. Our server was attentive, but his behavior was a little odd. Overall, I don't think the outdoor seating is enough to bring me back.
(2)Trey M.
Great menu. Service was very good. We had the lobster ravioli and Cajun prime rib. Huge chunks of lobster in the dish, and the prime rib was cooked perfectly.
(5)Will D.
Nice location, upscale atmosphere and attentive service, but very disappointed with my entree. The brisket was rubbery and fatty, but at least the mac and cheese and cole slaw sides helped salvage the meal. Somewhat expensive to boot, so it was not a good value for me. I expected a lot, lot more. Note to self: don't ever order brisket north of Dallas again.
(2)Scott Y.
We had an enjoyable meal. Too bad the place is so noisy! It was difficult to have a normal conversation.
(3)Chelsea B.
Delicious food, great location across the street from millennium park, generous portions. Tabitha, our waitress was phenomenal with our 2 kids. Even though there is no kids menu they were very accommodating. You cant ask for a better place. It was fabulous!
(5)Sean N.
I've been here a couple of times for drinks and food. I give two stars because I feel that if you're going to offer something it should either meet or exceed expectations. Alcohol and ambiance are nice, so it's great if you're looking for an after work spot to unwind, however, the food leaves much to be desired. Typically bland, and although at times eclectic, you get the feeling the chef in the back less a culinary artist and more a kid in the sandbox.
(2)Jennifer T.
The rooftop deck has a great view and the service was good. My issue was the food. I ordered the blackened grouper for $29. The seasoning was bland and the the size of the fish was 3" x 2" with a couple pieces of spinach and a small nibble of rice. I would not come back because of the food.
(2)Nina M.
I still don't think I can improve my rating, but I did want to at least mention that the owner contacted me regarding my experience. I always see it as a good sign when a business cares enough about comments to respond and use it as a training opportunity for his staff.
(2)Jaime G.
This is my go-to place by the office. Always consistent food and service for entertaining clients and friends with such a great ambiance to match. For starters, the must try is the grilled pallenta in a garlic and Italian sausage sauce. Wow - really full of bold flavor and spice that everyone just loves. My favorite entree is the Seared Ahi Tuna. Very basic but it hits the spot every time. Comes lightly seared with just a little salt and pepper on top of a delightful cabbage salad. Salads are ginormous - the ceaser salad can easily feed 2 people. I also like the fish sandwich that comes with a load of fries. You should try creamy potato side though too. Sometimes i just have this as my entree. So creamy, garlicy, and cheesy that is so satisfying. Bar is ok to just have a drink but tends to get crowded fast. Beer and wine selection is good. Has a nice little outdoor area and the second floor has a fantastic view of Millennium Park but beware - can get full of tourists fast.
(4)Heather H.
Chicken Noodle/Matzoh Ball soup was outstanding. French Onion soup was outstanding. Main Dishes: Mac & Cheese w/Filet, Chicken with Black Truffle Hash were very good. Chicken pot pie was good as was fish and chips. Kyle was the waiter and he delivered STELLAR service. Glad we went here, had a good meal for the price, lovely location and leisurely stroll back to the hotel. The service really was tremendous.
(4)Cerene P.
Great after work spot. Stopped here after work on Friday. Good food, drinks and atmosphere!!!
(4)Mary Ann C.
So...I have been wanting to try this place for the last few years, as I have a yearly conference at the Hyatt. I ate at the Gage for lunch the day before, and it is hard to top the Gage. Anyhow, I was dining solo, so I elected to eat at the bar. A glass of wine and Millennium Burger made up my forty dollar lunch. Pretty pricey in my opinion, especially compared to the Gage. The burger was quite good, even though it was not prepared medium as ordered. Loved the duck confit, cheese, organic greens, and other tasty toppings. It is a fork and knife burger! Huge. The fries were quite good. Other than the price, my other complaint is that I was in the middle of taking a bite of my burger, when the bar tender wanted to start a tab on me and asked for my credit card. Very odd, as I had ordered wine and waited for my burger, which took at least 15 minutes. Why ask for the credit card when I was mid-bite?! Pretty unprofessional even for a meal at the bar. In fact, all of my years living and dining in Chicago and all of the years that I have traveled have never brought on such a request mid-bite. Better training for the staff could improve such things. Would have given the place four stars, even with the burger that was not medium and high prices, but asking me for my credit card in the middle of my meal is over the top! Three stars for Tavern at the Park! Plus, the Gage is better and more affordable!
(3)Barb B.
I actually would've given this restaurant 5 stars if not for the one super important detail to service which you will learn about later. I visited on vacation and was celebrating my friend's 40th birthday that evening (it was just the 2 of us, not a large party). I'd gotten a recommendation from the concierge at my hotel and after reading the reviews on yelp thought it sounded perfect. Walking distance from my hotel, great view from the rooftop, known for great food and service. Once we arrived I let the hostess know we were celebrating a birthday which she then shared with our server who was excellent throughout the entire time. The food was fantastic, everything was cooked perfectly, other servers in the area were also very attentive, even had a visit from the manager asking if everything was OK, which up to that point everything was great. We hadn't finished our meals in order to save room for dessert and while getting that packed up we asked our server for the dessert menu. He then informed us the kitchen was now closed (it was 10:45pm on a thurs and they close at 10). He did say he'd go and speak to the chef and see what he could do. He was gone for awhile but in the meantime we just chatted and enjoyed the view. About 10 or so minutes later he arrived to inform us the chef would not serve us dessert. At that point, feeling somewhat dumbfounded we asked for the check and left. I did leave the server a 20% tip because he was excellent. We however left feeling very disappointed and turned off from this restaurant. Our complete experience went from absolutely perfect to less than just OK because we couldn't believe they wouldn't serve us dessert. The bar was still open with plenty of guests being served. What about a birthday drink offer? Or an ice cream scoop with a candle? or a chocolate cake slice? Something to show that you care about the special occasion. It was my friend's 40th birthday and we celebrated while on vacation, out of all the restaurants we had to choose from we picked this one and this is how it ended? Pretty sad actually as I've worked in the hospitality industry my entire life and service is a huge deal. I was feeling rather embarrassed and felt bad for my friend. Some things only happen once and this was it. This is the last memory we will have of Tavern on the park because we will not be going there on our next visit to Chicago. I understood if the desserts have to be cooked but seriously, any effort would've made us leave with a smile instead of a frown that night. This is just a warning for anyone celebrating any type of special occasion or romantic event, or anyone who is looking for a special night. In the least I would've appreciated a "we're closing the kitchen at 10 so if you want dessert, tell us now" but nope, nothing, nada, zilch.
(3)Katherine R.
My mom, sister, and I ate salads with Ahi tuna here. Mom had an individual pizza and my sister drank an assortment of red wines. The server was very nice and humble. I think the ambiance was elegant with the long quiet narrow table layout along tall windows to see out to Millenium Park. The fruit and vegetables in our salads was just a colorful and fresh and crisp presentation and taste. I don't drink but they had a non-alcoholic light ale Guiness that taste like butterscotch and it was very good. Thank God he brought that out instead of the high sugary virgin pina colada that I was thinking about. He was right on track. The dessert was good. The banana split with fried banana was drizzled in chocolate syrup and as usual we shared it with three spoons. I thought the Ahi tuna in the appetizer could have been sliced thicker in the salad.
(4)Michael F.
We dined there last night and while I'm a vegan and my coworker is a vegetarian, they were able to accommodate us nicely. I had a margarita pizza with extra tomatoes and no cheese. Had a salad and side of broccoli...which was cooked perfectly and a generous portion. My coworker had the blueberry bread pudding and he said it was great. Even more than that our waiter was very, very kind, helpful and courtious. While a bit spendy, the food and service were top notch. I'd recommend if you're in the downtown area. Next, off to the Chicago Diner for lunch and really looking forward to it.
(5)Tom Y.
On a recent business trip to Chicago, My buddy and I wanted a comfortable grill/restaurant where we could enjoy a good meal and watch a hockey game. The Tavern turned out to be a perfect choice. When we arrived, we were hoping to find a table or a couple seats in the front lounge (with the TVs over the bar). Unfortunately, it was completely jammed. The host, knowing we wanted to watch the game, said he cold find us a spot. He took us back into the dining room where there just happened to one empty booth with a TV right in front of it. We each enjoyed a few beers and a nice meal while the game played on. Our own luxury box! The food was quite good. The menu includes a variety of items sure to please a mixed group. I had the brisket which was served with a large side of mac cheese and coleslaw-very tasty. My friend commented that his whitefish was the best he ever had! Portions were large. Our server took excellent care of us. Prices seemed in line with other Chicago restaurants. If youre looking for good food and great service in a comfortable setting, I highly recommend the Tavern at the Park.
(4)Chamell B.
Tavern At The Park brings back the joy of dining out. My fiancé and I had the best dining experience ever thanks to our server extraordinaire, Luisa. She was truly interested in making sure our dinner at Tavern was top notch. Before we ordered she asked if we had any time restraints, any food allergies and most importantly for me, how hunger were we so she could provide menu recommendations. She had a fun personality and knew the menu. The drinks were outstanding; we had the Alison in Wonderland and the Shake Down. The food from the starters to the dessert were perfect as was the pace of the dinner. We never felt rushed. Luisa and the manager checked on us during our meal without being pushy. If you have one night in Chicago, I would highly recommend Tavern.
(5)Laura F.
I took my parents here over the weekend and it was fab. Everyone loved it- the food was delish and the waiter was super nice. We were a bit underdressed as we had been at the air show all day- but nobody seemed to mind. I ordered the Chicken Milanese that was very good and I also have to recommend trying the Mac & Cheese side- it was heaven! We skipped on dessert but the coffee was really yummy and I'd love to try the Cookies and Cream fondue. This is a place that could be a nice place for a date or somewhere to take your parents. All in all a nice experience, highly recommended!
(5)Ingrid G.
Not an upscale dining experience, but certainly tavern style food with the potential of great views. I should remark that if you're looking for a well executed dining experience with more upscale choices, the Park Grill is a much better choice than here. But if you're looking for a casual place to relax and have some drinks and dip the Tavern at the Park is the place for you! We had a party of 6. I had called several days before and requested a table with a view. We were seated promptly, though to my dismay, our only view was of a plasma TV in an odd windowless room on the second floor. The appetizers are all about the dips. Crab dip, chicken cheese fondue (skip it) mac and cheese, artichoke, etc. Main courses: Most of us stuck with the tried and true fillet which was pretty good. You order sides a la carte, and you are offered the typical steakhouse fare of creamed spinach, green beans, broccoli with cheese etc. My bf had the pasta with scallops, it was huge and pretty good. My aunt had a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon which looked really good. Overall: The service was marginal. Our waiter, bless his heart, was very inexperienced. They were featuring a heart of palm salad, and he volunteered that though he had never heard of heart of palm before today he thought it was kind of like asparagus. He was very eager to please but unsure of what to do almost every step of the way. The one very important exception to this was at the beginning he made a point to ask if there were any allergies (there were) and he was very intent on making sure that the allergy sufferer was taken care of. Our dishes were cleared promptly. Once again, not fancy schmancy but definitely OK, and the prices while steep aren't outrageous. I am looking forward to returning in the fall, when the leaves are changing.
(3)Joseph E.
Took the family here before an opera at the Harris Theater across the street and we absolutely loved it. Great food at a good price. I only wish I'd ordered a steak instead of the Ahi tuna. The latter was good, but the ribeye my wife had and the filet my daughter had were wonderful tasting! We'll definitely come here again.
(4)Amanda D.
Tavern at the Park had the best grilled calamari. What a great way to start the meal. The food here was decent, but nothing to write home about. Service... worse. Our waiter seemed like he had just started and was very clumsy with everything which was not comforting. They perk up their "view of the park", but most of the seating is hidden and has no view. Overall feel: meh
(2)Tasha H.
Loved this place. Went there last night, the first time for both me and my friend. We both had steaks and salads, and vegetables as sides. First, I have to say that our waiter was outstanding. I tend to be a bit of a smartass, and from my starting out by asking for a very pink drink (for Pinktober, which I consider a month dedicated to me and my cancer), and then going on to ask what specific kinds of tomatoes were in the heirloom tomato salad, he totally went with it all, good-natured. His recommendations were great as well. The steaks were perfect, and the grilled veggies were some of the best I've ever had. I know, how can veggies be that great? But they were. Oh, and at some point someone who i assume must have been the owner stopped by our table to ask how everything was, which was a nice touch. Overall, I'd definitely go back. And the pink drinks were excellent! Oh, and how can I forget the bread pudding! Best. Ever.
(5)Joelen T.
The Tavern at The Park can certainly cater to a large group of women who love their drinks! Having been here with girlfriends, we enjoyed the service provided as we spent several hours here chatting and drinking away. Some menu suggestions we thoroughly enjoyed: Warm Goat Cheese Parmesan Bread Crumbs & Tomato Fondue $10 Chicken Pot Pie Braised Chicken, Wild Mushrooms, Thyme, Madeira Wine With A Puff Pastry Crust $17 Blackened Sea Scallops & Fettuccine Tossed In A Spicy Vodka Sauce With Mushrooms & Spinach $27 Chopped Steak Cheeseburger American, Cheddar, Bleu Or Swiss $12 Braised Beef Short Ribs Boneless And Slow Roasted In A Red Wine Demi-Glaze $25 Lobster Ravioli Lobster Meat, Mascarpone Cheese, Asparagus & Lobster Cream Sauce $28 Whole Wheat Penne Pasta Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Shitake Mushrooms, Fresh Mozzarella & White Wine Garlic Sauce $17 Warm Blueberry Apple Bread Pudding Fresh Blueberries & Lemon Sauce $6 Triple Chocolate Cake Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Fudge Icing, and Chocolate Cake $8 One downside: this restaurant doesn't offer any happy hour specials, unlike the many other places in the area. Despite the lack of drink specials, the food and service made it worth it!
(4)Ryan M.
The girl and I celebrated our anniversary last week and part of our celebration was dinner at Tavern at the Park. All in all, the meal was just fine, but I think my dear friend Keara's review below caused me to get way to excited about it. It didn't live up to expectations, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. We began our meal with some drinks. I ordered a scotch and water and to my dismay, it was served to me in a regular drinking glass rather than a rocks glass. I'm not normally a snob (when I'm at home, not owning a rocks glass, I drink from a Shrek glass I got at McDonalds), but at a nicer restaurant I would like to have my drink served in the proper glass. For an appetizer, we had the grilled polenta. This was a part of one of my new years goals to try a new food every month. I'd never had polenta before, but understanding it to be basically uncooked corn bread (sort of) I thought it might be ok. Texturally, I didn't care for it, but if I got a piece of sausage and some cheese and a just a little polenta, it wasn't too bad. I didn't care for the sausage served in the chunky tomato and pepper sauce, but that's my own pickiness. From there, we moved to main courses. The girl had blue cheese crusted filet mignon and absolutely raved about it. I had the prime rib, which was outstanding. Cooked right, tender, flavorful. Just great. The star of this portion of the meal was the Ashley's Mac and Cheese. Some of the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. Let's finish with desert. It was the highlight of the meal. Our waiter told us "Our deserts, with the exception of the cheesecake and the crème brulee are huge so you're only allowed to order one." But at the recommendation of Keara, I was having the key lime crème brulee. Holy balls. It was fantastic. The lady got the cookie ice cream sandwich, which she could barely finish, but since my crème brulee was light, I made quite a dent in it myself. I can say we were satisfied, but I think for the price tag that came with the meal, it may have been a little lackluster. I think we paid about 35 bucks too much, in my opinion. No biggie, just my opinion.
(3)Nick K.
Went here for dinner and had a great experience. The place wasn't all that busy so we got seated for our reservation right away. The service was absolutely great and the food was excellent as well. We were started off with a basket of assorted breads, which were good. I had the Filet Mignon with the parmesan crusted topping. I have had this before at Wildfire and this was very similar and just as good if not better. The steak was cooked perfectly to how I ordered it. We also got the whipped potato caserole as a side and that was delicious. We were both full after dinner so we skipped on dessert, but they had something that looked delicious that I've never seen before. They had a cookies n cream fondue which is served with assorted fruit, marshmallows, rice krispie treats, and pretzels. Being the sweets lover I am, this sounds delicious and I want to go back and try this sometime. Overall, this was a great dining experience. Hopefully, more people start going so that it stays open.
(5)Annie S.
I only like this place because it's a block away from my place. The drinks are pricey and not very good. It was kinda funny, one time I was there the waiter carded my friend and she was like "how old do you think I am" and he's like 18. HAHA! And she's 24. I thought that was hilarious. They have this $100 drink (not sure if they still make it but they had it a couple months ago) and I don't know who would spend that much on a freakn drink. I think it had diamonds or something inside... haha =P The place is pretty big and it's nice inside. The bathrooms are large, which is always nice. I do want to try this place again to get food because they've gotten good reviews for that.
(3)Jen K.
This place gets 5 stars just based on the crab dip alone. It was absolutely amazing. And it tasted just as amazing when I ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I had the French Onion soup as well which was good. I also had the filet sliders with blue cheese. The sliders were a little overcooked and the blue cheese wasn't quite as flavorful as I normally prefer. The wine list gets an extra star since it had one of our favorite bottles on it that is hard to find. Finally, the service was perfect. Our waiter Tim was very friendly and helpful and always looking after us but not intrusive. Two managers stopped by our table as well to ask us about our meal and our night. I'll definitely be back again soon.
(5)Ellen H.
Not bad. Wait. Quite ok, actually. I'll be honest, I was skeptical when the place opened. I work in one of the office buildings next door and am ALWAYS looking for non-Bennigans options, which seem to be the norm in that neck of the Loop. But, Tavern at the Park is a fairly solid spot....for the following: Lunch with co-workers (they have a great chopped salad and the fries are awesome...although I think all fries are awesome.); Casual dinner with visiting P's during the week/after work (dads will find ok steaks and moms will find decent chicken/fish options); After-work glass of wine (or two) and some appetizers at the bar (the goat cheese/tomato sauce is surprisingly tasty). The place is clearly not something to go nuts over but in the winter, and given it's location...for those "where the h*ll am I gonna take so-and-so after work" moments...Tavern is a safe bet.
(4)Faith G.
Great location and GREAT food. We had the polenta app, Big Mike burger, Petite Filet and the broccoli. I have to say the food was amazing from start to finish. We spent 6 days in Chicago and after visiting all the "recommended historical" restaurants.. this was by far my favorite. The service was great and I would highly recommend giving this restaurant a go!
(5)Zack C.
The menu at this establishment is somewhat of a limiting factor if you're looking for a smorgasbord.
(3)Sarah Z.
Horrid! The food here was absolutely terrible!! Our waiter was nice and the atmosphere was ok- has a nice view overlooking Randolf Street... but the food was soooooo bad, I would never go back!
(1)Todd C.
There's a ton of great steakhouses in the area, but the New York Strip at Tavern At The Park might be the best steak buy downtown. The service is great and the have this great whisky cocktail called "Them Apples". Mmmm, it's good. This place is also close to the Millennium Park, so you can walk over to The Bean afterwards. It's a great date spot.
(4)Giri C.
The food and service were both excellent! We ate dinner in a private dining room with a group of about 20 so it may not be reprensentative of the main dining room, but I found the whole meal very good. Definitely get the Apple Crisp for dessert! I'm partial to apple desserts, but this Apple Crisp topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream was incredible!
(4)Suz C.
This is a preliminary review based on two visits. It was OK - I think they're still working out the kinks. Hey, is it Tavern at the Park or Tavern on the Park? Not to be confused with Tavern on Rush. I wasn't blown away, but I will probably eat here again. I've been here for both lunch and dinner. For dinner, I ate the grilled vegetable salad. I hated the dressing, and the food tasted overgrilled, if that's possible. My friend got a grilled chicken sandwich and loved it. For lunch, I met a colleague, and I tried the sirloin burger salad and I liked it, although the sirloin was a tad too overcooked. My colleague opted for the braised beef short ribs, and she thought it was OK but thought it could have been better. Gorgeous, dark wood interior. For the location, you'd expect an amazing view of the park, but you really don't get any view in the back dining room. I hear you get quite the view if you eat upstairs in one of the rooms. Good loop location, nice interior (safe for a business lunch or after-work drink), but the food was ehhhh and the waitstaff seemed pleasant, albeit harried. Great bar - I'd like to try it for happy hour sometime. A little expensive, but you're paying for location and a fairly nice interior. I think this restaurant competes with Park Grille and The Gage - they're all about equal to me.
(3)Stacy C.
I've been here twice now, for a company happy hour and just a casual lunch. This place is nothing special, but I think it's perfect for business lunches or work gatherings. When my company visited we had a spacious area upstairs and excellent service. (Let's not discuss the fact that I threw up on the Red Line after one too many Petron margaritas on this occasion.) The appetizers were tasty but pricey, at least for my standards. On my second visit I had the delicious grilled vegetable salad and my mom had the grilled cheese, bacon and tomato, which was amazing. Once again, overpriced for my small salary, but if you're using your corporate Amex then who cares! Our waiter was great again; I noticed that they made a special point to ask if anyone at the table had food allergies, which I thought was a sign of their superior service. The atmosphere is cookie-cutter "antique" Chicago posters and photographs, but at least there's a nice view. It gets a little too dark in the evenings though, so if you're going on a date with a two-face then maybe this is the place for you.
(3)Jo Jo B.
If you want a sterile yuppie place to go to then this is the place for you. I went here the other night because it is in my neighbourhood and I wanted somewhere local where I could meet a client. This place really is a business place and I did not dig it even for my purpose of my meeting. We sat near the window, and throughout my time there I was bloody freezing! I was not the only one who was complaining they were cold either. Staff were attentive and friendly, but rightly so, when they are getting tipped on top of the prices they charge here. A glass of wine is approx $11 and up and the selection for a glass is very limited. Of course they have quite a selection by the bottle. I wonder why? I ordered a Cavattapi dish with artichokes and tomatoes, something I thought would be fairly tasty. This dish came out so bland, I was getting concerned about my sodium intake in order to make it palatable. Seriously when you have great ingredients in a dish, (especially tomatoes) NO dish should lack flavour like this did. My clients Ceaser Salad was so so, I tried it and it was a bit blah to say the least. This place is expensive for what they offer. It is convenient for locals and business people to hang out but as far as good food goes, I would pass. They have flat screens so you can catch up on a game and sometimes it can get a bit noisy to have a conversation here. BTW parking around here is insane unless you valet or park at Millennium Park. Add that to your bill and you could easily have spent $70 for a basic experience. Try Subway, it has more character and is a lot tastier. :O(
(1)Joanne C.
Can't beat the location of this place. I came into the city to see the Grant Park Symphony one weekend and Avenue Q another. It is very convenient. The food is good, not fantastic. Portions are HUGE. And the staff is very nice. My sandwich was so big I couldn't finish it and the waiter offered to put the other half in the fridge so I could pick it up after the show on my way back to the car. The crab appetizer was very good. I had the club sandwich that I'm surprised for a restaurant like this was processed meat and not fresh. It tasted fine but nothing special. The whipped potato casserole was good but was cold.
(3)CJ J.
Just went there for the first time and I must have got there when the wait staff was changing shifts because there seemed to be a lot of confusion on who would be waiting on us, Dirty Martini was fantastic but the chopped salad (which I had heard really good things about....) was not. I will go back though, as it's close to where I live and the martini was worth a second visit!
(2)Jill S.
Four of us had an early dinner on a hot night, looking for light, seasonal, simply prepared dishes. We ordered a variety of starters and salads. The water was tepid, no ice. The waitress took orders for Prosecco and then said, "Oh, wait, we don't have Prosecco." The only dish that was right was the steamed mussels. The Farmer's Trio of chalky, bland chicken liver pate, "roasted garlic" puree that was mostly chickpeas, with no hint of garlic, and so-so eggplant dip was mediocre at best. The French onion soup was all wrong--why have it on the menu if you don't know how to make it? The side salad was limp lettuce topped with a tangle of gummy onions. The heirloom tomato caprese features chunks of underripe tomatoes topped by a blob of untangy, unfresh mozzarella. We tried to like it, but really--for the price, it was a disgrace. And there is no excuse. All these dishes can be made ahead and held and be delicious. Although the Alsatian Pinot Gris was nice, the wines by the glass were unappealing and overpriced. Pedestrian fare, with no heart and no soul, at premium prices.
(2)Eugene E.
Always have a great experience here! Genuine service. The dinner food I've received a mixed bag of responses. From really well prepared to not so great, but they are attentive enough to make any change you may request. The do however have excellent desserts. The brownie is pretty on-point. To the credit of the physical location, a nice view. Also, be weary of the "tomato soup" - it is not vegeterian. They make it with chicken broth.
(3)Joscelyn M.
I end up going here more than I could care to because I work in the building. Everything is just OK, but prices are a bit much. Good wine selection and the food is decent. Service is pretty slow.
(3)Scott S.
A taste of suburbia in downtown Chicago. The dark bread is pretty good, but I'm pretty sure the culinary practice here is the same as it is when I cook at home: taking something out of the freezer, making it hot, putting it on a plate. The food here is about as innovative as the Catholic Church. But the weirdest part is the background music. It's all stuff from the 10 free CDs you got from Columbia House when you signed up back in 1994. If everything else in the neighborhood is closed and you're in the mood for a drink and a sandwich and your favorite color is brown, then come on down to Tavern at the Park.
(1)Manda H.
I really enjoyed the bar post work. The bartenders were quick and really nice and my drink was the perfect strength. It can be a little bit pricey but I have to say I am not complaining on this one. Tried a few appetizers, nothing too special. Duck was an interesting choice. This place is huge, I like that there are a few private areas to have a smaller gathering. I don't know why I haven't checked this place out before.
(4)Ali K.
This restaurant was okay, but nothing special. We were in Chicago for a few days and this was the first place we tried for lunch one day. After having a couple other meals in town (on recommendations), I wish I could take this one back to do something "more local". This felt a little like a chain restaurant. I had the Southwestern Chicken sandwich which was alright, but again, there are better places around if you're only in town for a short period of time. I'm sure if you live in Chicago and don't need to do the touristy places, it would be just fine. We also just had sandwiches; some of the entrees did sound pretty good and I will say, the service was pretty good.
(2)Dan N.
We went to see the bean in our last trip to attend our daughter's graduation and happened to come here for lunch since it's next to the park. The food was mediocre at best (the service was okay) and the host was extremely rude (it was a hot day in june and we dressed casually for sight-seeing). Avoid even if you have to walk further out to find some food.
(1)S S.
I recently met 7 of my former colleagues here for a "going away" dinner. We were seated in a private room, just off the main entrance. The privacy was nice, but the food was the star. We split appetizers at the table - though I didn't sample, so I can't comment - everyone gave a thumb's up to the calimari. For dinner, I had the Chicken Pot Pie (made with fresh veggies, tender chicken, pitch-perfect sauce and a beautiful pastry shell). We split a large order of the Fondue for dessert, and all went away happy. Overall, service was great, and my meal was perfect -even if it was an American classic. (Yes, you can screw up a pot pie with too much cream and overcooked veggies - they didn't do that here). Perhaps the winner, though, was the Mint #2 Drink that I had (well, two of them) at the bar after dinner. Pomegranate, Effen Cranberry Vodka, and some other delish combinations in a nice, large glass would be my after-work drink of choice if I worked nearby. Delish. Great food, great service. Reasonable prices. Something on the menu for everyone. I'll be back.
(4)Karen L.
I would give this a 2.5 stars. Really, the food was ok but not great. It was a lot fancier and pricier than what I was expecting, but then again, it is right across the street from Millenium Park. I only ate some appetizers there and I will have to say that the portions are pretty generous. The menu actually looks better than what you get. It seems like really fancy, innovative dishes, but when you taste it, it is just ok. It is a convenient location, right downtown, so if I end up going there again I would probably just go for drinks and apps again.
(2)Kevin C.
Hmmm....Tavern on the Park.....where do I start? First off, I personally like the decor . The interior is done in a warm mahogany finish and is dimly lit, my sort of place! Second, the service was decent though our waitress seemed inexperienced but there was another server watching over to ensure that she was doing her job correctly. Third, the food was decent but a little pricey for the money. Overall, I would come here for drinks and people watching rather than for the food.
(3)Jeanine S.
Meh. I met with family and their friends visiting from out of town. It was a great location, but that about all that I loved. The food was very good, but unmemorable and could have been eaten anywhere. service was slow and unattentive. We had a large group, but the place didn't seem very busy for a Friday night, so I feel we were a bit neglected. My dessert of bread pudding with blueberries and apples was enough to share with the entire table and still take some home (although it took 3 requests with 2 servers to have it wrapped to accomplish just that.) The size somehow made the treat less special though. The prices were a bit on the high side for the quality, wine nothing too out of the ordinary. Overall, I felt that the location beckons to visitors to our beautiful city, but that it is a shame that it doesn't represent our diverse and fantatic foods here in Chicago, nor did it represent our friendly and knowledgeable people.
(3)Sam S.
On a Monday night, my 10 year-old son and I were looking for a place to get carry-out to take back to the lawn at the Pritzker Pavilion during a concert. We took a chance and went into Tavern at the Park. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, I fully expected to be rushed out of there. On the contrary, the host and hostess could not have been nicer. My son and I sat there and took our time coming up with a list of food to buy. They accommodated everything we ordered, and the host was very careful to make sure he understood everything and any special requests (eg. plain hamburgers for the kids, cut in half). Everything was prepared quickly and packaged up nicely into two shopping bags. The good was really good. I was most impressed with the care and attention that was given to the careful packaging of the food and all the extra items, so that there was nothing missing (utensils, napkins, condiments, etc.). They really did a fantastic job. My wife and I are looking forward to returning to dine in-house.
(5)RJ W.
It is obvious the rating from Bobby S is a fake. I just wanted to make things balance out
(1)Mike R.
I've dined here on more than one occasion, and I have never been disappointed. The food is excellent and the location is even better. The staff is very knowledgeable and the management is hilarious. I think some of the poor reviews given to this restaurant are from people who are expecting something out of the ordinary and contemporary. The reason for this is because many of the people who rate this restaurant are from out of town and have expectations for a Chicago restaurant based on what they see on TV. Tavern is not going to go out of its way to be famously artistic with the dishes; from my experience, they concentrate on comfort food cooked to perfection. They pull this off better than any other restaurant that is trying fit this same genre (i.e. Table 52). Try the Double-Cut pork chop, which is always a crowd pleaser. As is the chicken and fontina fondue. I've never been a fan of their chop salad so probably steer away from that, but I have enjoyed the grilled vegetable salad, which is fantastic and different. Like I said, don't come here if you want a menu that has been overhauled to squeeze in items such as "black truffle foam, creme fraiche coulis, duck confit-stuffed rack of lamb with a roasted puree of pequin capon," because you're not going to find that. Tavern will give you great dishes that you grew up with, incorporate a cool twist, and cook it to perfection (i.e. Ashley's Mac & Cheese, Coca-cola BBQ sauce, Prime Rib Sandwich). Enjoy it for what it is and you will truly enjoy your food experience. If you expect every restaurant in Chicago to be cookie-cutter uber-chic joints, then you will be disappointed.
(5)Katee C.
Yum yum yum! I was searching for a somewhat affordable place to take a friend from out of town while staying at the Palmer House and this was suggested. It was a nice walk from the Palmer House and, with reservations, we were taken right to our seats. It's a beautiful view and we enjoyed the time there. First of all, our waiter was great. Super personable and gave us plenty of time. There's nothing worse than feeling like you're rushed and that didn't happen here! We had the calamari for an appetizer. It was good, but nothing super exciting. My friend had the Chicken Piccata and loved it. I had the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich and OH MY GOD. It was so incredibly good. Great cut of meet, onion strings, truffle aoli, whiskey butter, toasted pretzel roll ... mmmmmmmmm. It was very rich so I could only eat half but I wanted to marry the other half. If only it were legal! :) There was also about a pound of very good fries. I will definitely go here again. A great all-around experience!
(5)paul z.
Great dinner tonight. Crab cakes/sole wonderful. Lobster mac and cheese also great. Chicken Noodle/Matza Ball soup is the best. Big thanks to whoever found my cell phone left on the table and chased me down for a block to give it back...how good is that. They could have just waited for lost and found. Don't know who you are, but, thank you, thank you. Good food and customer service makes you very special.
(5)Daniel T.
I had heard such great things about this place that I had higher hopes. Perhaps this was a problem. Had dinner there late after an evening in Grant Park. The atmosphere is dark and not very warm. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was very helpful in recommending some items. The food was decent, but way too pricey. Nothing exceptional. Doubt I'll go back.
(3)Aimee C.
hmmmm, i love the slider plate, i attempted to order three pulled pork sandwiches, but then at the last minute decided to mix it up and get one of each, prime rib and cheeseburger slider... and boy was I pleased.. the pulled pork was my least favorite... and i'm a girl that has a soft spot for shoestring fries... (note: aimee can be bribbed with fries) any day or night a restaurant that can make a great shoestring is A+ in my book. I was meeting up with friends for a birthday drink but ended up staying for dinner.. was quite pleased for a tuesday night, it was pleasantly filled with people/travelers/businessmen and of course, us crazy kids... The one part that I will say I disliked the most was the slowness of our "new" server.. I hope that he will be up to par on the next trip.. and where, oh where is the bathroom, all the way upstairs in the back behind the curve.. i thought I was in an endless labyrinth.. luckily I was only on the pursuit of washing my hands... Note to self: remember to be prepared to make the venture way before it's needed. enjoy.. i know I did.
(3)Beth O.
For what it is (downtown, thus frequented by working stiffs and tourists) the Tavern is great. Must dos include the chicken flatbread pizza. Although my drinks were ridiculously expensive, the flatbread was cheap, tasty and huge thus kept the tab down for a night out on the town with a friend.
(3)Jen F.
I'm really not sure why I don't just trust the yelp reviews. This place is next to my apartment for my 2 months in chicago. Once I read the reviews and factored in the proximity, I figured I would give it a chance. It was pretty busy at 9 when I arrived, so I stole a place at the bar. Bad choice. I was next to two drunk women, on of which was describing her sex life in way too much detail. I ordered the rib eye and the creamed spinach. The spinach was very creamy and cheesy, way too cheesy. I ordered the rib eye black and blue, the bartender even verified exactly how I wanted it, too bad the kitchen didn't pay attention. The key to a black and blue is the black part, and my steak was missing the char. Once I got my food and my last glass of wine the bartender forgot about me completely. (pretty sure no one would care if I left without paying) The food, still in front of me, is a cold mess. Even my wine glass is empty. The annoying woman next to me finally realized that the guy she is sleeping with is married to someone else and her friend stumbled trashed out to a cab. This entire experience has been a waste (ok, the chili was pretty good and that warranted the one star.
(1)Rachelle T.
Went here for a work lunch meeting and had a good experience. The decor and ambience is great (love the blue glasses and water pitcher) and it has an upscale feel without being stuffy or uninviting. The menu was decent and even the strict vegetarian/vegan with us was able to find an entree without too many problems. I knocked them down a star because I will say the shrimp on my salad was overcooked and for an $18 caesar salad that shouldn't happen. But overall I was pleased and will definitely go back again!
(4)Kodey F.
The girlfriend and I were walking through Grant Park one Saturday evening, and we decided to walk by, thinking it would be crazy busy and not even worth waiting. We were surprised to see that they had inside seating available. We were outside all day so we just wanted some air conditioning, but I can see how nice it would be to sit outside on a nice day/night. The place is very nice looking, but still has TVs playing the cubs game over the bar, so don't feel bad coming here in jeans. The service was suberb. The wine list had a good mix of inexpensive and expensive wines. I ordered the Lobster ravioli and it was one of the best I've ever had. Girlfriend had the caprese salad, and it was plentiful; big chunks of mozzarella and large fresh tomato slices. We were too stuffed to dessert, maybe next time. some of the dishes are a little on the expensive side, but for dining steps from Michigan Avenue, it seems rather reasonable. We definitely will go back, and might even pick up carryout sometime.
(5)Heather H.
I had excellent service and a great meal when I was here, and the drinks were a strong pour. I took my mother for her birthday dinner, and she thoroughly enjoyed everything including the great dessert the waiter gave us compliments of the kitchen for her birthday. The waiter made modifications to my moms meal graciously and I would absolutely go back.
(4)James W.
My wife and I have been in Chicago for a few days seeing the sights. Today we had a great meal at Millers Pub on the loop (Best Prime Rib in a LONG Time), took a nice river cruise, and were walking and thought we would stop for a beer. It had been raining today and we were both wearing a ball cap. The gentleman at the door welcomed us in and told us to have a seat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and we were thinking we had walked into another cool Chicago establishment. We began talking to some others on vacation and we are all planning on spending some time and chatting with the locals. Then a real butt head came up and acted like we had pissed on his floor and was a complete jerk about our caps. Not sorry, and won't be back! No signs posted and our caps did not seem to be bothering others in the establishment. So, the six of us (four wearing caps) that were thinking on drinking left and found another friendlier establishment just down the street and once again were appreciated. Oh, and the caps on our heads was a problem, but the zombies sitting in there were OK.
(1)David K.
I was very pleased with this place. I took my wife for her birthday dinner. One of the owners (Donnie) gave us a table that I requested and made sure to say happy birthday to my wiife. I really appreciated that. Great food. The fondue app is very good. Wife had a filet that she liked. Great night, we will be back
(5)Joy K.
I went to Tavern At The Park awhile ago with a friend. She ordered the Chopped Salad and I order some monstrous burger. I definitely regretted ordering the burger. It was bigger than I imagined and I gave up trying to eat it a quarter of the way through. Also, I was bent of having dessert so I decidedly took most of my entree home. For dessert she had the Apple Crisp and I ordered the Homemade Brownie Sundae, which was more like a cake than anything else, in size and texture. Overall the food was okay it was nothing to write home about. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. The Host was amazing! We had made a reservation but suddenly decided to eat earlier than planned. I called and the host was extremely accommodating. When we got to the restaurant he greeted us warmly and immediately had us seated. Tavern At The Park has very low lighting and a mellow atmosphere in the dining room, but the bar seemed like it was fairly ruckus for a Thursday night. Although, it's kind of an inconvenience to have to take an elevator to the restroom, I felt very chic doing it so it made up for that.The wait-staff, on the other hand, is okay. I wasn't impressed. Our waiter seemed as if he would have rather been somewhere else. Perhaps he was having an off night... Who knows? Nevertheless, the food is ok at best but the portions are huge so bring your appetite with you. The atmosphere is appealing for a large group or an intimate dinner. (I saw both taking place while I was there and neither seemed out of place.) In the end, if you are near Millennium Park and don't feel like walking in the freezing cold to get a bite to eat elsewhere, stop here. You won't be raving about this place, but you won't be disappointed with your experience either.
(3)Carlo S.
Stopped by for a midday bite. French onion soup was top 5 I've ever had. Ate at the bar...as an out of towner bartender was very helpful with city tips!
(4)Kelli W.
We stopped in for a cocktail after walking from the Natural History Museum. I would love to say that it was bad, but we didn't even get acknowledged by any of the 3 bartenders. One of the bartenders picked up two cocktail napkins, looked at us, then put them back down. I felt that we weren't served because we were wearing jeans that day. After waiting for about 10 minutes for eye contact from someone, we decided to take ourselves elsewhere.
(1)Thomas W.
Initially the service was great. I got greeted by a nice man who showed me through the restaurant which had a nice atmosphere and ambiance to it. Upon sitting down and waiting several minutes the waitress greeted us by saying, "What can i start you off with?" Not even an introduction, no name, no specials of the night, nothing. I did not receive her name the whole night. A man (assuming it was a manager) came to the table and asked if the food was satisfactory and our table replied with a yes. He then walked away swiftly without any introduction of any sort. The food was mediocre and the menu sounds a lot better that the actual food you receive. I would not go back to this restaurant.
(2)Heather G.
We went to this restaurant on a Friday night with reservations and we were seated right away. The bread that came before the meal was great and we ate several baskets while we waited for the entrees. I had the grilled vegetable salad which was really unique. It was good and much more than I could finish. The self-proclaimed "chicken expert" that went with me found the roast chicken to be one of the best he's ever had. We shared a side of fries that were also fantastic especially considering I don't usually like the shoestring variety. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a quiet, nicer but less expensive night out. This dinner for two cost less than $50 even including wine.
(4)Anne M.
Technically, I'd give this place 3.7. The food was good, not OMG (I know, is there an echo here?), the portions are biblical (and this is a NEGATIVE to me, but welcome to America), BUT the chef very kindly prepared a single order entree chicken potpie and made it in 2 small dishes. Potpie was OK. They have some good gin for martinis (Hendricks and North Shore). The waitstaff and floor mgr were very friendly and accommodating and let us drink/dine at our lengthy pace. It's a good option when it's 3 degrees outside and you're very, very hungry at Milennium Park.
(3)murray r.
Love this place, take many clients, staff is great, food better..
(4)Nancy M.
I like the food here. As others have stated, the Saturday night prime rib is a good deal. But, it was a bit salty. I usually sit at the bar and grab a bite before ballet or opera. Wines by the glass are a good bet.
(4)Sam W.
After hearing Food Network Star Robert Irvine had dined here recently, I had to make a reservation and try it for myself. I made a 5:30pm "reso" on a Thursday and it was packed the second we got there. Granted, there was a large party occupying the entire upstairs room, but this place was still hopping all night long. My mom and I started off with the Blackened Ahi Tuna appetizer, and it was average at best. It had some type of green sauce that made it taste better, but the tuna itself was simply average and not spicy at all. For our entrees, I ordered the Marinated BBQ Chicken Sandwich, which came smothered in cherry-cola BBQ sauce that was honestly the greatest BBQ sauce I'd ever tasted. The chicken was thin and grilled to perfection. I had a giant baked potato with it, and I promise you, it was the size of a football, but I somehow finished the whole thing. My mom ordered the Filet with Lobster crust, and the bite that I got of it was super moist. For dessert, we shared the Fried Banana Split, which is basically two medium banana's coated in frosted flakes and deep fried. Then place them on top of two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzle it with chocolate and caramel sauce, along with a cherry and some whipped cream, and you have the ultimate dessert! This was fantastic and the sweet crusted banana paired with the ice cream was the perfect match. The service here was even better than the food. Nilo, are server, was so incredibly fast with our drinks, food, and was always willing to get whatever we needed. When I told him how much I enjoyed the BBQ sauce on my sandwich, he ran back to the kitchen and brought out a huge bowl of it for me to layer on. He also was relaxed, calm, and funny at the same time, never phased by the incredibly packed bar and ongoing demand of his tables. We rewarded him for all his hard work. Overall, Tavern at the Park is a must see place with amazing service and extremely flavorful food. Second Visit: This place was way less appealing the second time around. I went in there with two of my friends at around 4:00pm, with the entire restaurant empty. Our waiter was either high or really dumb because he seemed to have trouble talking. When he did, he spoke so softly we couldn't understand him. And remember, we couldn't hear him despite no one in the restaurant. Anyway, we ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it actually was pretty good, and the spicy dipping sauce was a good compliment. I ordered the Cherry Cola BBQ Chicken Sandwich again and this time it was so average I felt like they stole my $14. There was like a hint of BBQ sauce, and I would've asked for more, but knew our dumb waiter was unable to do much. My friends ordered the Whole Wheat Pasta and the Lobster Crusted Filet and both ate most of their food. We all shared the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert, and again this was a disappointment with the lack of strawberries and the over dose of tasteless pound cake and unbelievably heavy cream that had the effect of your gut expanding on the spot! Try this place once, come when its busy so you can be seen, but don't expect much else.
(3)Bobby S.
This place is awesome. It's a block away from my work, so I go there for lunch a lot. The food is really good and at an average price for the location. The Management is really nice and always come by and make sure everything is fine.
(5)K M.
Headline, great location, service, and atmosphere, downside being the food and the cost. It's clear that what you are paying for is the location. This is not to say the food isn't good. It's just fine, simple even. It's not great tasting. We went here this weekend and were immediately seated for our reservation. It was filled and the overall feel is a great place to take out of towners, family, groups, but maybe not a quiet date unless you go upstairs. The bar downstairs is large and I'd go back and entertain a drink or four there (on someone's else dime). We sat upstairs and we're treated to some tasty bread which was refilled when empty. We ordered course by course, which wasn't our goal, but I guess it was our waiters. I had many many raspberry mojitos and ended up rather drunk, but still recall the meal with indifference to disappointment. We had the crab dip appetizer, which was hot, crabby, and the best part of our meal. Then I had the Asian Shrimp Salad, which was huge, filled with chopped lettuce, and had weak dressing flavor and starchy cold hard shrimp. He had the grilled cheese sandwich and fries. Our meal with one appetizer, an entree salad and sandwich/fries, 5 drinks came to $130. Ouch.
(3)Oona B.
it's a nice place for lunch/after work in the loop area.
(3)Amanda L.
We stopped here for after work appetizers and cocktails. The chicken fondue, crab au gratin and grilled artichoke were all delicious. They have a great wine selection and the space has a warm lodge like feel to it. Everyone that worked there was friendly and warm and the server didn't skip a beat. This is a great place I plan to frequent a lot.
(5)Mary C.
I have been here several times for casual drinks & apps at the bar, dinner in the dining room, and I even spent part of NYE here too. I have always been impressed by the service and atmosphere. It's elegant and comfortable. The grilled vegetable salad is a favorite (always enough to either share or take home), and the soup selections are always great. I'm a soup whore, so that is important to me.... random factoid: the French judge a chef on how they make eggs and soup. Mmmmm soup. I digress. The prices are a little steep, but so is everything in that area, unless you want to go to Bennigans. I do not recommend the soup there. Also, I hear Tavern might be adding an outdoor patio upstairs, which would make for killer views of Millennium Park.
(5)Tim M.
The Tavern is a long over due addition to the dining scene in this part of the city particularly for business lunches. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and a bit "clubby" depending where you sit. I find the place very relaxing and if you get a seat with a view outside it's fun to watch the traffic on Randolph St. Service is attentive though not polished but this is a tavern and it is more than acceptable. Portions are more than generous and I have not been disappointed yet. Of course some things are better than others. They always push the Tavern Teasers but these 3 small sandwiches are not that great. The full size version of each of these is much better for a meal though these are fine for a snack. The chicken soup is outstanding, the tomato a bit too rich. The seafood has always been very good, I was surprised to see skate on the specials one day and I was very pleased with it. Highly recommended especially for business events.
(4)Meredith K.
They have Templeton Rye so that's good! I've been here for lunch a few times and its always been solid. Kind of on the pricey side esp for a salad but all in all good. I took my parents here for dinner before a show at the CSO. The dinner menu is different and more expensive than the lunch menu (of course!) I had the black truffle chicken hash which was good but big. I took half of it home w/ me. Everyone else enjoyed their meals. My only gripe was the brownie sundae. The brownie was not good. Dry, not rich, just blah! I'd skip dessert next time although my boyfriend is bummed that we didn't get the family style banana creme pie.
(3)Jamal T.
Nice ambiance and impeccable service. Brisket was tender too
(4)Aaron L.
We had a group of 7 for drinks and apps. They were very accommodating (we asked for the private room) and service was excellent. The apps were also very good.
(4)Richard S.
This place is great! The food is awesome and the service is great - very upscale. It is conveniently located to the Illinois Center so we often bring associates and customers to enjoy the experience. For visitors, this is a place that will always delight and usually have no wait to get a seat. The bar is phenomenal and the restaurant even has a roof top deck that overlooks Millennium Park (for the warmer evenings).
(5)Shoesoffnrun R.
Stopped in here for lunch while away on business. The food was good, and the bartender was friendly. Nothing amazing, or to write home about.
(3)Gary M.
We had a pleasant experience. I will give our server five stars -- absolutely the best! The food was delicious, but was fairly standard fare. If anything, the portions were too large, so we left feeling full and wishing we didn't have a starter.
(4)Justin Z.
The food was very good and moderately priced. I had the brick chicken and it was quite nice.
(4)Laila P.
The food here is decent. The wine list is fabulous! The building and location are beautiful and the bathrooms were awesome. I found the service to be top-notch. I would probably try someplace else before I would come back here. But we did have a nice experience.
(3)Sarah G.
Stumbled upon this fantastic rooftop patio on a recent business trip to Chicago. Great view of the city, friendly, attentive staff, and overall, a fun (yet touristy) place to hang out and enjoy cocktails and dinner. The food could have been more interesting & inspiring for the caliber design & atmosphere, but the cocktails were delicious. The one other drawback is exceptionally poor wifi...with the super comfy seating in the Treehouse (w tvs) overlooking the park, you've gotta have wifi too!
(4)Nathan C.
such a waste of fantastic location. apparently this place has some kind of grandfather law protection... food is mediocre at best. beer selection is bad. service is hit and miss. atmosphere is a toss up. prices are an absolute joke. unfortunately ive been here probably a dozen times due to proximity to my office. if youre in the area, hit the Gage or Henri instead. prices are similar but least you get an incredible meal.
(2)Maxxy C.
This has become one of my favorite restaurants. I dine here several times a year. It is very accessible with public transportation. The service is excellent and the venue / atmosphere is wonderful. The food and cocktails are outstanding!
(5)Cam C.
We have ordered take out since we live next door. The food was scolded hot when we get back to our apartment . The prime rib sliders was amazing. The wings was a nice surprise but the best was the ribeye. It was executed very well. Looking forward to try other dishes and dessert.
(5)Jen H.
I have seen Tavern a million times but never scrambled in because I was too afraid it was overly touristy- I was wrong! It was beautiful... everyone from the waitress to the host to the owner was so, so nice and went out of their way to say hello and check on us. It is pricey- but the food is amazing. I never mind paying a lot when the food is that good. No raspberry cosmo on the menu- no problem... they made SUCH a delicious version and I loved it!! Don't feel that it will be a tourist trap... it is just as much for us regulars as anyone else and delicious. I will be back. Every week.
(4)Jen H.
We were looking for "bar food" and someone recommended this. Probably not the best fit of a rec on their part. This is more upscale than what we were wanting. Our food was decent, but for what you pay to eat here you can do much better in Chicago (my bbq chicken was $22 a la carte). You are probably just paying for the location as it is right across from Millennium Park. Our services was great service, but I don't think we'll be back unless we're in a pinch.
(3)Jon-David J.
This is one of those places that you forget to go back to because you put it in the "just for tourists" category. But the food and service is great and it's right there in the park. Great pours!
(4)Rhonda G.
Ah...nothing is better than when happy HOUR turns into happy HOURS. Pretty friendly, attentive staff. Some drinks are kind of on the pricey side but I kind of expected that going in. Mixture of the after work crowd and the cargo short and sun visor wearing tourists. Pretty decent wine list but the martini selection is pretty minimal. Worth checking out.
(4)Beth C.
I enjoyed my Grilled Vegetarian Dagwood, but I will not return because a waiter was making a rude comment about customers who were in the dining room. I, of course, after hearing the remark, couldn't resist my teacher stare at the unprofessional waiter who quickly made a hasty retreat. I understand needing to blow off steam, but not on the floor where service is paramount. I'm even willing to overlook the kitchen errors with our food, but not blatant disrespect by staff.
(1)John T.
I went with a small group of friends after the Taste of Chicago and had a nice time. I didn't think that it was at all expensive, nor did I think thtat the service was bad. I had a solid experience here. The crowd was very mixed as it was after the Taste and this place is close by. I would be interested to see what the usual crowd is like on a typical weekend. Look to spend around $5 for a beer, so very average.
(4)Natalia S.
we go there to enjoy the rooftop and the view! appetizers are great too (have not tried the fool dining yet)
(5)Desirae K.
Let down. I live in the neighborhood for over a year and always walked by this place but never checked it out. Now that I've visited, I MIGHT go back for a drink, but probably not the food. (-) Slow Roasted Prime Rib .... Avoid. Ordered medium rare, it came out a strange shade of red that made me think it was medium rare at first. Nope. It was brown all the way through and tough. When I flipped it over to check out the other side it was completely brown. Told my server it wasn't prepared medium rare as I ordered it. Rather than taking it right away she said she'd have a manager come over, the manager just walked by the table and swooped up the plate, not a word to me. The next prime rib they brought out was exactly the same and tasted like garbage.* (NOTE: after writing this review, I was contacted by the owner who let me know that their Prime Rib is prepared in-house and not pre-made/packaged prime rib, so I'm not sure why it came out incorrectly prepared) (+) Heirloom Caprese Salad .... really good, but not worth $13 (+/-) French Onion Soup Gratinee .... I've had better Service was nothing to write home about.
(2)Annette M.
A place that doesn't disappoint, always consistent. One of my favorite lunch places.
(4)Dan R.
Very nice. I was pleasantly surprised because I never really noticed this place or put much thought to it even though it is next to my work. Lots of seating on two levels and well staffed. It's a good place for a business meeting or a quiet meal. The fish I ordered for lunch was very good. Other than that I really can't say much more as that is the limit of my experience there. I will definitely go back for the convenience, dining room setting and the food.
(4)Casey B.
Went there cause it was close. The food was good the drinks were better. The wait staff was absolutely amazing. They were very helpful with everything.
(4)julie q.
Atmosphere = cozy, woodsy, and nice Servie = slow and unattentive for most of the night Appetizer = Duck Egg Rolls = meh. Entree = Chicken breast lightly breaded and stuffed w/mushrooms, proscuitto, sun dried tomatoes, shallots, mozzerella, garlic and served over bucatini = for the price, not bad at all. Dessert = strawberry shortcake that should be illegal and senteneced to jail Side order my friend had = mashed potatoes = they were the same kind I got in middle and high school in the cafeteria. For a pricey $7, they should have been whipped with cream and butter and real potatoes Wine = $30 per bottle and it was good I think for such an expesive bill, sans wine, i expected a helluva lot better for the $$$$. Will I be back? Only if someone else is paying.
(2)Doug B.
Overall it was just OK. The service was relatively good. The food was hit or miss. The steak sandwich was great. The steak Diane was good but ridiculously small portion.The chicken hash was just poor.Great location across from Millenium Park but the dining room has no windows and no view.
(3)Burak G.
Had lunch there with my two little kids. Staff was super nice and accomodating. Server was excellent. Food was superb. I asked for fast service, and food arrived within five minutes.
(5)Luke D.
Tavern at the Park Feels like a chain restaurant Unmemorable If you are entertaining someone who loves leather seating and lousy food, Tavern at the Park is the place to see and be seen. This restaurant is like Bennigan's or Ruby Tuesday in an upscale setting. Among other miscues, the bread service at Tavern at the Park is notably abysmal. Another Yelper compared this place's bread to rolls from Jewel and that is probably being generous. It only gets worse from there. In a city with a million awesome restaurants, why anyone would eat here is beyond me.
(1)Mark K.
Had dinner here tonight with a small group of work colleagues. Ordered the prime rib. A little chewy, and a bit undercooked. The server said it was their specialty. Not impressed by any means. Service was good and a great location which is why I give it 3 stars. Will come back for cocktails only.
(3)Pete B.
We went there for lunch because the place we wanted to go originally was already closed. The restaurant was relatively nice in a good location, but the food was just okay/nothing special. It's a little pricey for lunch ($15+ for lunch entree), but the portion was huge, so I guess that justified the price. Service was lacking since I had to stop and ask the waitress to refill my water after waiting for a long time for her to come over even though there were only 3 other tables besides us. Why go here when there are better restaurants in Chicago?
(3)Ebonie T.
I took my husband to The Tavern for Sweetest Day. Very expensive for a below average experience. I ventured out for a dish I'd never tasted. The menu name escapes me, but it was a sliced beef served with coleslaw and mac and cheese. I hated all of it. I even tasted my hubby's steak and potatoes and even they left a nasty after taste in my mouth. Our waiter was awesome. I believe his name was Gary? Very bubbly and informed. He even assured us that our water was "triple filtered." He knew a lot about the chef, the restaurant's history and how all of the food is made. All and all, I've had better meals for a fraction of the price.
(2)Jacque R.
I went with a group of co-workers one cold day after work. I really liked the cozy atmosphere.There were many people there, but didn't feel like it. The have a great rye bread with fruit....so yummy! I ate light and got the house salad with mussels and they were both great! The salad had celery, tomato, and cucumbers with a light champagne vinaigrette. The mussels were topped with tomatoes- which I loved. My co-workers liked their meals, but didn't rave about them (Pork Chop special, steak and Rotisserie Amish Chicken) I highly recommend the 2009 Les Fontanelles Pinot- inexpensive but smooth and really nice!
(3)Syngin A.
I'm ashamed to say I've lived in Chicago for the last 16 years, have walked past this restaurant for almost 2 decades and never went in. Since my SO was working in the Aon Center and we were meeting for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, I thought I would finally try Tavern at the Park out since we make it a point to eat everywhere in the neighborhood at least once. Lunch is such a wonderful time to try out a restaurant like this because 1) it's not busy and crowded 2) you get attentive service 3) you are not in a hurry to get to a play, symphony, or other event and 4) lunch menus are cheaper and a good indicator of whether you really want to spend more for dinner on another night. The entrees are truly wonderful, creative and very affordable for this class of restaurants. My black truffle chicken was divine and $21.00. Truthfully, it was enough to feed two people, but I gorged myself silly. I simply loved, loved, loved the Irish Potato Cake. It's like someone shaped grits and cheese into a biscuit. The poached egg on top of the ensemble seems like the new trendy thing to do with burgers, but there it was on my black truffle chicken. It was like have breakfast and dinner combined. I also had their fired banana split dessert. That was ingenious frying the banana in what I assume is cornflakes! My SO loved his hamburger. The interior was more casual than I assumed from looking at the outside, but maybe that's because we were seated downstairs across from the bar. Perfect for lunch and a great, first introduction to Tavern at the Park.
(4)Milind B.
I had been here twice before an year or two ago and it had been okay, so last Wednesday (Sep 4, 2013), a friend and I decided to go get a couple of cocktails late in the evening. We went, asked if there was a place, we were given a table on the roof, by the edge and then the wait began. We waited for 30 minutes or so without a single person asking for us. Nothing at all. We tried to catch people's eyes, they didn't respond. It was terrible. We finally got frustrated and decided to head out. We also decided to post a complaint to the concierge at the front, for which the response was "okay" that's it and she went back to looking at whatever piece of paper she had in front of her. For a place that boasts such decor and location, it was pathetic service. For any place which calls itself belonging to the hospitality industry, it was pathetic service.
(1)Tiffany H.
Amazing location! Super trendy type of restaurant and bar on the rooftop of a building overlooking Millenium Park. The location and view is 5 stars but the food was just ok. The rooftop isn't very large so when we visited it on a whim looking for a place to grab dinner, we anticipated a wait. However, when we checked in with the hostess, she couldn't and wouldn't tell us how long the wait was which is quite odd and poor customer service. She said we could wait at the bar but she said she had no idea when she could seat us at a regular table (maybe an 1 hr, maybe more, maybe shorter). With that vagueness, we opted to eat our dinner at the bar which was ok but not ideal. For the venue and the price, I would anticipate the food to be a little better.
(3)amy z.
service is great but food is sub par.
(2)Bill R.
Since everyone else chose alfresco dining, we asked to be seated indoors. Therefore it was pretty wide open. We got put off in a corner, near the kitchen entrance and an elevator door. We were told "no one uses the elevator", until everyone did. My beef is with the shaky table. I personally got on my knees to fix this in full view of management, servers and bus staff. Every time a server set something down, the table lurched, yet did nothing. Table presence in general is poor. Glassware piled up on the table. We gathered bread plates for some time but were never offered bread. With our appetizer, the plates were badly chipped. Too bad, this is all a deal breaker, because the food is good. Everyone had a seafood dish that drew compliments. My wife complained on getting a lot of scales on her snapper. My observation was with the "flatbread". I imagine flatbread to have a thin, cracker-like, crispy crust. Instead it was thick and doughy. One half of the crust was burnt, the other half, under-cooked. Call it "Pizza", because this isn't flatbread. First impressions are everything. If you can't enjoy your meal, because you need to keep you feet firmly planted on one end of the table base so no one spills their wine, you are dining at an establishment that just doesn't care.
(1)Adriana F.
Good food, good location.
(3)Sally V.
Nice outdoor seating. The food was good. Nothing spectacular.
(4)Kelsey R.
Best food and service that I encountered in Chicago. The strawberry chicken salad was amazing.. Tons of chicken and fried goat cheese. Fresh fruit on it was delicious. Luisa took care of us and was outstanding.
(5)Phil L.
Went to Tavern last night. It's got a pretty good location, but we weren't able to sit upstairs due to a private party like we wanted. We sat at the bar for a bit, but seating was limited- another party was going on downstairs. We finally got seated outside (downstairs) with about a half hour of the restaurant staying open. Wish it stayed open later. That, along with access to the upstairs, would increase my rating.
(3)Hoang L.
I went here a few months ago and I ordered a filet mignon with lobster crust and a loaded baked potato for lunch. This might sound foolish, but I had to load the potato myself! You come to a nice restaurant like this, you would expect to have the food ready to eat. The filet mignon was tough to eat and I usually order medium (occasionally medium rare). You can see how burnt the piece of meat was from the picture I uploaded. I won't be coming back here, even if the lunch was paid by my company.
(2)J and S.
My fiance and I went last night for the first time (eventhough we live about 2 miles away). We had a reservation, and upon entering we were asked if we wanted to sit in the bar area or the dining room. We were seated at the first table when you walk in (the host said he suggested the bar area because there was more going on). I would like to check out the dining room, and I will definitely be back when the weather isn't stupidly terrible (when we originally planned for a date night I figured, Mid-May- sit outside and overlook the park... not so much). Star 1- I appreciated the Host providing his suggestion for seating. Star 2- I ordered a glass of wine and my fiance got a whiskey on the rocks (quite a generous pour!). Drinks were large and reasonably priced! Star 3- Service. Geremy was our server and she was fantastic! She was there when we wanted her, she was not overbearing, she was super friendly and seemed like she truly enjoyed her job. She gave great recommendations and comments on the food- she knew the menu well. It was honestly the best service I have had in along time! Star 4- The Food. The prices arent cheap, you should know that going into your evening, but its worth it. I ordered the bookmaker steak sandwich ($22). I am not a huge steak fan. And this is only the 2nd steak sandwich I have ordered from a restaurant. I eat steak probably twice a year at Ruth's Chris, and the only other steak sandwich- Morton's. This was DELICIOUS. I ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. Why was it $22? Well... there was a TON of meat. It comes with a delicious truffle aioli that melts in your mouth- and is delicious with the crispy onion strings. I am currently fighting to finish this sandwich for lunch the day after (I was full for HOURS after 1/2 of it). It comes with about 5 servings of fries. I normally am not a fry person, but these were good!. We ordered a side of creamed spinach- I could do without it, but it was pretty good. Next time I will order an appetizer or dessert instead of a side! My fiance had the Lobster Ravioli (our server suggested that over the Lobster Mac n Cheese... but it was a close call). Not only was the ravioli stuffed with Lobster, there were large chunks throughout. I'm allergic, so I cant tell you how it tasted, but he was very pleased. The dish was $34, but the amount of lobster I could see made the price extremely reasonable. All in all it was delicious and we will definitely be back! Next time when its nice and we can sit outside with a beautiful view, have a few drinks and the Duck eggroll and fig & prosciutto flatbread appetizers! Why no 5 stars? I was still sad about not being able to sit outside and there were some d-bags running between the upstairs area and the bar downstairs that annoyed me (not the restaurants fault, and it wouldn't have been that way in the dining area!) oh and I am so not a fan of having to go upstairs to use the restroom. Other than that... great experience!
(4)Stephen C.
little bit too long in between courses but all in all very good
(4)Sara B.
This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice afternoon or a clear evening. The views are stunning and the cocktails are delicious - unique yet easy to enjoy. The music selection was great too - sounded like they had bogarted our Pandora station! We stopped by here randomly and decided to come back again the next afternoon because of the views. I highly recommend it!
(5)Carol T.
We went here for dinner after going to the theater, and sadly could not get reservations at my preferred restaurant. I thought that Tavern At The Park was good, but I wasn't blown away. The food was good, and we had a fantastic server. They also had a decent wine selection with reasonable prices. However, I took one star off for the food prices, which were really high even for Chicago, and particularly so for the quality of the food (good, but not amazing). I took another star off for the portion sizes, which were ridiculously large. I ordered the Black Truffle Chicken Hash, and I could probably have fed a family of 5 with it, and certainly couldn't finish it all. Again, it tasted just fine, so if enormous portion sizes are your thing, or if you really like being able to take home leftovers, then I would recommend this place.
(3)Stephen R.
Service here is always great Staff is very friendly Bar area is the best part Food is above average Service, Service, Service is really well done here. Great place in the warmer weather.
(4)Christina M.
Great location, salads, baked potatoes, and wine selection. My bf and I live pretty close to this restaurant so we frequent it often. He really likes all of the meat sandwiches, and I think all of the vegetarian options are good. Overall, nice place to meet someone for lunch or dinner.
(4)Michelle P.
My parents I and stumbled across this place last year when they came to visit (I avoid downtown as much as I can since I work downtown.) We weren't going to go in until a guy walking by said you have to try it. So we did and feel in love. We recently went again for my moms birthday and again the food and service was amazing. If you are visiting Chicago this place is a NICE change from the typical places people usually visit. Enjoy!
(5)Amy L.
Great location. Upscale atmosphere. Inside and outside dining. Very nice. Food was excellent, however I ordered what the server called "flatbread" and it came out as a pizza. :/ The restaurant is huge. Everyone else was satisified with their food. I would recommend this place. We even drank at the bar after dinner, when the place was closing and the staff was super cool.
(4)Heather S.
Delicious meal and great service! The Tavern at the Park has a great atmosphere! Whether you are here for a business lunch or stop in after touring the local attractions, it is a welcoming place to get a spectacular meal & refreshing drink.
(5)Allen C.
Had lunch here and thought food and service very good. A bit pricey, But worth the visit. Fresh bread and crackers served before meal. BBQ rib sandwich piled high with crisp onions on soft roll with fries Was tasty. STEAK DIANE served over mashed potatoes was a bit salty But tender. Key lime creme brûlée desert a fine lunch finale.
(4)Amanda M.
I went here with my sister and my dad when our flight to NYC was cancelled. First time in Chicago and ended up at Tavern. Ambiance is so classy and cozy. Our service this night, which was a Saturday night, was fantastic. Our server, a girl new to the area, was so sweet and really friendly. She helped us out with the menu and recommendations. FIG & PROSCIUTTO FLATBREAD is a must! I love the blue tinted glass that the water was served in. The bread basket was also amazing. I had the steak sandwich with the onion straws on top- delish. My dad ordered a fish which was awesome- can't remember which one. And he also got the tomato bisque which was pretty good. I am surprised at some of the negative reviews here, but then again, I'm not a local so I don't have any other comparisons in the area. Excellent place in my book! ...and definitely more like a $$$ if you are planning on eating a full meal and having any alcohol at all. $$ is more for one drink and appetizer.
(4)Marc W.
Enjoyed the wedge salad; refreshing and quite large. The signature Tavern steak (16oz) was one of the better prepared cuts I've had in a while; medium with incredible flavor and tenderness. Just what I was craving. 3 stars for the service/cost...quality was there with the food, but the service was average and cost expensive.
(3)Kyle N.
The food here was excellent, but the service was even better. We had a fantastic waitress who was very attentive and helpful to our rowdy group of family who hadn't seen each other in quite a while. We were seated at a large round table in a private room at the front of the restaurant. There was a door to our room, so we could close it and tell as many stories and laugh as loud as we wanted -- it was great! The food just kept coming (probably because we kept ordering since it was soooo good). Between the five of us we got the lobster mac&cheese, the pork roast, the spaghetti & meatballs, and a couple other dishes that I can't recall for our entrees. As for appetizers, the waitress helped steer us towards the bread pudding and the pizza with bleu cheese, figs, bacon and an amazing sauce on it -- it was DELICIOUS. After the appetizers, many of us got soup and/or salad which were all delicious as well -- especially the tomato basil bisque and the french onion soup...YUM! We were all stuffed when it came time for dessert, but my aunt decided we needed to see the menu anyway. We ended up ordering the two LARGEST desserts on their menu: the carrot cake and the berry tart (i forget the real name). Both were monstrous and delicious. I'm pretty sure we spent 3+ hours eating, talking and carrying on and we closed that place down on the Thursday night we were there, but the staff was incredibly friendly and didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, the manager visited our dinner room during the evening to make sure everything was going well. Over all a great place to eat and enjoy yourself! Ask for the private room if you can -- it made all the difference in our dining experience here.
(5)Adam K.
Took my cousin here, she was very impressed and so was I. The host told us a 20 min wait but we decided to eat at the bar. Pulled up and ordered a Matilda, my lady got Put Your Honey Where Your Mouth Is which made me cringe to order but when it came out she was enthralled, I took a sip and yeah, it was pretty girly, but good! Next round was "Left at Albuquerque" which I wanted to get cuz I am huge Bugs Bunny fan. and also because it featured a "home-made jalapeno syrup" which sounded intriguing. This drink was amazing. I highly recommend it. Tasted NOTHING like booze but i was fully fershnickered after 2. To eat I got: Salmon and Tuna tartar - Shredded Horseradish, Toast Points, Rice Crackers & Wonton Crisp. nothing to write home about except for the weird butter sauce, that they dont even mention in the descrip. WOW this stuff was like crack. I scooped it all up. Bookmaker Steak Sandwich - Sliced Filet Mignon, Crispy Onion Straws, Truffle Aioli & Whiskey Butter On A Pretzel Roll. Ummm yeah, home run for me, altough i ordered it medium rare, which i know is a relative measurement but it was a bit on the rare side for me. Which i do not mind. I am not that guy who stands up and says "ExxCUUUSE ME WAITER, THIS IS RARE, I ORDERED MEDIUMMM!!!" I hate that person. It was really tasty however, and I will get it again but order it medium. I think maybe the whiskey butter added to my fershnickeredness. Baked Whipped Potato Casserole - Holy dear lord they give a lot of potatoes for six bucks. I could not even finish it all, so tasty. After we were done it started storming so we hung out for awhile, we did not feel rushed or bullied as we were just chillin. That was nice. The ambiance gets 5 stars, service 5 stars and date night factor...5 stars. So why did I not give the venue 5 stars? Its not the kind of place I would rush back to to eat again. I wanted to try Gage but the wait was an hour and ten mins and it was SOOOO noisy in there. Here the noise level was perfect and the patrons seemed way less snobby.
(4)Shradha A.
My eternal search in Chicago is for vegetarian-friendly restaurants where we can host clients. I'm yet to find that place that works out - in terms of quiet environment where business can be talked, good food can be ordered and enjoyed, the service can be relied on and the bill doesn't burn a hole in a startup pocket. We tried Tavern at the Park today - the one catch is they open at 2pm on Saturdays (yes, we were doing business on the weekend). The atmosphere is great - not very dark or loud, the menu had some good options for salads that could easily be turned vegetarian, and the service was sharp and attentive. The chopped salad and the wedge salad were both good. Soups are all made in chicken broth though... Definitely on the shortlist, because of the lack of choices otherwise. P.S. Open to new suggestions for business meals (brunch and dinner)!
(4)Reuben H.
Wonderful space, not so wonderful food, and the service we got was downright creepy. Not sure if the guy was drunk/high or socially retarded, but he was really just overbearing and stared and lingered for way too long. Food was nothing to write home about, in fact for the prices charged- the food was bad. The space itself is really very nice. Plus with it's location so close to so many downtown business buildings and directly across Randolph from Millennium Park- it has great potential to be a good spot for a nice bite to eat and a drink. Next time, I will stick to drinks. Besides, I don't think Mr. Creepy is a bartender there.
(2)Ronald C.
I'm a longtime customer of the former Chicago Bar & Grill, which now calls itself Tavern At the Park, dating back nearly 30 years now. Owing to its intimacy, quality, location and the ability to always get a comfortable seat within seconds, it has stood for decades as the ideal place to go for dinner and/or drinks after work, for quick business meetings, after taking in social functions, entertainment, shopping, ice skating or whatever. You can rest assured, however, that after my experience there last night I will never set foot inside the place again, and I will admonish my friends and professional colleagues to avoid this establishment as well. Several news stories have been written and published in local mainstream media over the past couple of weeks detailing how suburban whites are now eschewing the suburbs they ran to more than 40 years ago, and are returning to reside in the downtown Chicago area--like it's a good thing. What not one of those articles has emphasized is the African American populace that they are displacing, and the attitude, arrogance and sense of entitlementment that some of these "newly urban" white transplants are bringing with them to the city. A female colleague of mine and I decided to meet at Tavern On the Park last night just to catch up on things, and enjoy some cocktails. She arrived minutes before I did, and was asked by the metrosexual white, male host to stand by because there was a "45-minutes-to-an-hour wait" for a table (we are both African American). Once I walked in, my friend informed me of the situation and we stood off to the side, but watched intently as at least three non-African American guests and their parties were very warmly greeted by the host, who proceeded to assure them that "whatever table opened up next was definitely theirs." He repeated this audibly, three times, almost as if he was determined that we heard him. My friend then simply walked over to the desk to ask about our place on the list, and out of nowhere was rudely, verbally assaulted by this blonde, pompous, male (expletive omitted) like I have never heard a woman addressed before. Then, he calmy turned back to his white guests, smiled like a Cheshire cat and said, "now, how can I be of service to you?" This person has no idea how very close he came to a physical confrontation with me for insulting a black woman and friend of mine like that, but we just determined that it wasn't worth it, and that after three decades Tavern At the Park no longer deserves our money. It's like these days, so long as most downtown Chicago establishments are packed to the rafters with white, college-aged kids freely spending mommy and daddy's money and chasing butt, proprietors feel like they can address and treat black patrons any kind of way because serving people who look just like them is what they prefer. Handing downtown over to white, former suburbanites may be a cash cow for merchants, but that's not Chicago. Character is no more. It's essentially a college town after 5:00 p.m. People of color, if you're in search of an establishment where you'll be respected, Tavern At the Park is not it, and it starts right at the door with the so-called "host" that they have in place. How very disappointing with an accomplished restaurateur like Peter de Castro, Jr. as the owner.
(1)Fleet H.
Reviews of blue cheese bread pudding are right on: awesome appy. Whiskey sour: who'd a thunk they were so good!?
(4)Dustin H.
The filet was awesome! Somewhat pricey but I think it was worth it.
(5)Jessica C.
Excellent service, great atmosphere, high prices...very average food. The place is really cute inside, well lit -- lots of windows, letting the sunlight in, nice hard wood floors. The servers are cute and very nice, very friendly, super attentive. The menu is full of things that sound amazing. Sadly though.... No. I ordered the seared ahi appetizer -- it came with a weird chopped mix of vegetables (peppers, celery, onions), which looked interesting, but wasn't. The tuna itself was tasteless, and had a green drizzle on it that also added zero flavor. None -- I still am confused as to what ingredients you could possibly mix together to get something that void of taste. I was hoping that was a fluke, and thought maybe my taste buds were just hungover, like i was. But that wasn't the case -- my taste buds are one sense that never let me down. I ordered the wheat penne -- it sounded amazing -- white wine sauce, portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts...but it was a major let down. It was way too creamy, oily, lacked flavor, and the noodles were soft and mushy. My boss and I both left more than half of our food on our plates...knowing that we might not get another chance to eat until dinner. Knowing that we (I mean HE) spent over $70 on this lackluster lunch...but we didn't care. We just booked it to the airport so that we would have time to get something more edible there.
(2)Kristen H.
We had an engagement party here last weekend. It was amazing, Lacey did a fantastic job, she was around before, during and after the party, we never had to hunt her down for anything. We had a last minute change on the wine and she managed to get what we wanted. The staff was fantastic, they were also always around and had awesome attitudes. Which makes for a fun party! Our food was really great, people had the choice of chicken or steak. The chicken was amazing. I have to say that this is the place to have a party, we had a really hard time finding a place that was reasonably priced and that wasn't in the basement of a restaurant Tavern at the Park ended up being perfect. The whole party sat upstairs and we had an amazing view of the lights from millennium park. I really, cant say enough good things about this place.
(5)Ron E.
Great food. Great service. Will definitely return.
(5)Farrah D.
Perfectly fine place to eat--Americana food, but it's not an exciting experience or anything. Good for groups--went here with some friends from out of town. It was close to the parks, but on the corner of a busy intersection. I could see these place better suited for a business dinner or something to that effect. The food was great, the service was great, the drinks were great--you get what you pay for--a little pricey. I had some nice ravioli, and my husband said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had.
(3)Hannah A.
We had a great table on the second floor, and after a night of eatting in a crowded resteraunt, it was cozy, yet spacious. Its also on the north side of Millenium Park, so its very convienent. My family ordered a bottle of Hess wine, which was quite good, and skipped appetizers to go straight to the main course. My family had prim-rib and 9 ox. filets, while I had the prichutto wrapped sea scallops. I should have gotten the filet. The scallops were typical yet good, but nothing compared to the perfectness of the filet. My father's was parmesan encrusted and it was amazing. Remeber though, that the dishes are a la carte, so it's recommended that you order some sides. Their shoestring fries are pretty good, but I definately recomend the baked mashed potatoes and the creamed spinach. I could of just had those for dinner and I would have been perfectly content. The service is pretty good as well. It was efficent and timely. Nothing too bad, but nothing amazing either. Seriously though, its almost worth going just for the dessert! They have an amazing brownie with homemade carmel ice cream that will knock your socks off! I always share it with someone, so that I can eat the ice cream! I recomend it for a dinner before a play, or a perfect place for a business dinner.
(3)Linda N.
A long-time-no-see friend and I came here for lunch Friday noon. I felt bad for our server, who I thought was extremely patient with us, as we took a fair amount of time to catch up before even opening our menus. During our chitchat, my friend reminded me it was meatless Lenten Friday. That meant no Chopped Steak Burgers for either of us. *shakes fist* Started with the New England Clam Chowder which was on the lunch specialty menu. Creamy with a hefty portion of unshelled clams. I settled for the Lobster Roll on a brioche hot dog bun, which was undeniably delicious. Large chunks of lobster with hardly any fillers. My friend chose the Fish and Chips. How can you go wrong with beer batter? With Fat Tire beer batter, you can't. Great service, did I already thank our server for being patient with us?
(4)Leann W.
We went here on a whim a few weeks ago and it was one of the best dinners I've ever had!! The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We both had the Black Truffle Chicken Hash and it seriously was the best entree I've ever had. Although it was 1386 calories, it was worth every single bite ( we asked for the calorie count to enter it into our MyFitnessPal app. Lol) Only disappointing part was the rooftop wasn't open yet. But we definitely be going back! Make sure you check it out too!
(5)Angela J.
I think Tavern At The Park is good for happy hour or later night drinks if you're in the area. The location is fantastic, the drinks too expensive for what they are-- but what did you expect, YOU ARE BEING LAZY! The restaurant is full of huge booths that fit an average of 8 normal sized humans (you can use that metric to do skinny girl/basketball player math depending on your friend's sizes)-- either way it's ideal for group drinks. Have the duck flatbread, a couple cocktails and go have dinner somewhere else.
(3)Max M.
I don't have a lot to say about the Tavern, except that the "Chopped Steak Cheeseburger" was likely the best damn burger i've ever eaten! Perfectly seasoned, perfectly juicy, perfect buttery bun, cheese melted perfectly... just perfect. And it was HUGE! What was that?... 3/4 lb?! Well, maybe it was only a 1/2 lb, but it was big enuf that i ate half for dinner, and then next half for lunch... and i can eat! This burger was so good i ordered it twice during my week-long stay in Chicago. I really loved this meal b/c i really don't care for Chicago food in general. Also those complimentary buttery buns w/ the parmesan cheese on top were absolutely phenomenal as well... I also got the Irish Potato Cakes, which is something i'd never had before... they were like mashed potatoes fried crispy on the outside like hash browns, and they were huger than the burger... and there were two of 'em!... Way too much to eat... Pretty impressive! I can't wait to try more items here the next time i visit Chicago!
(5)J T.
Great location - right next to Millennium Park and walking distance to business district and major shopping - all good. The food and prices for it; adequate. Know what I really really really like about this place? OK, I'll tell you...We told the waiter we had a meeting and needed be in and out quickly - and he totally delivered. Lunch was before us in less than 10 minutes and the bill was delivered at the same time as the food - no waiting or asking for it. We had time to enjoy our meal and make the appointment without being rushed. That type of speed almost never happens - anywhere.
(4)S G.
Went here for dinner before a show. Overall service was good. The bread was warm and yummy. I had pasta primavera -eh. Too watery. My husband had halibut and liked the butter sauce. Friends had the fillet - they said it was ok. Pretty good wine and beer menu.
(3)Bridget G.
Good, not great. I went once before about a year ago and just tried it again with the same result. I feel it's a little pricey for just OK food. Last time I got pasta and this time I got the chopped salad (no chicken or bacon). The dressing for the salad was more on the kind of bitter side of tangy. Interesting. I gave the leftovers to a homeless man on my way home. Location is great, right by millennium park, which is I'm sure why their prices are inflated. Two other things that have zero impact on my rating: 1) there was this woman in the bar on Friday afternoon who was absolutely screeching like a banshee. Cringeworthy. 2) My mom cannot get the name of this place right. She keeps calling it Tavern at the Green, Park on the Tavern, and so on. This amuses me.
(3)Beth A.
my rating is being upped to a *3.5* because this afternoon i received an email from the owner of tavern regarding my previous review he took a moment to offer an explanation of the dish i had eaten that i hadnt been 100% thrilled with (thou it was tasty) and even offered me a drink on the house during my next visit...it was nice to see how invested he is with his business and it has been noted :)
(3)Crystal O.
It was a Valentine's day. Just us both, my lovely girl friend and I:) I suggested this place because it was only a 5 minute work from my workplace in downtown and there was really no need to walk in the cold searching for food unless you live in the suburbs. heh. We had early dinner there around 5pm so thankfully we got to skipped the long queue and sat right down:) The servers were extremely polite and helpful. They were always on standby to take our plates, refill our drinks, replenish the breads, and asking us how we were doing every couple of minutes. I can't say for sure if they were exceptionally nice because it was a special day or they've always displayed such great mannerisms. I gave it only 3 star just because I wasn't all that impressed with their meals. There was nothing exceptionally special about it as it tasted like any other American restaurants that serve similar burgers, ahi tuna and the usual appetizers.
(3)Dustin G.
I'm never disappointed! I've dined here many times and I always leave happy and full. Tavern is actually one of the first restaurants I dined at in Chicago. Their tomato basil soup is the best I've ever eaten and it simply cannot be beat on a chilly day. Their cocktails are always liquid perfection. I usually order a martini, the soup and the fig and prosciutto flatbread. I've tried other dishes but those are my favorites and I've never been able to pass them up. Every time guests come in from out of town I take them to Tavern and they always love it and and go on about how good everything is. It's great for a night with friends but it's also intimate and perfect for a romantic evening. Go for lunch and save a little money. Oh, and the wait staff is amazing and friendly. One more thing, their water glasses and bottles are really cool. I always think about stealing one...joke.
(5)Collin M.
This is a very convenient stop for lunch if you need to catch a train at Millenium. The prime rib lunch sandwich with five cheese fondue was outstanding. They come served as three sliders (I hesitate to call them sliders because they are loaded with shaved meet and melted cheese - they are not small) and are delicious. The rest of the massive plate is loaded with their tasty french fries. This place is a little on the pricey side, but the portions are very large and the quality is there.
(4)Ian B.
Visited the Tavern in a Private group of about 35 people sat in a side room upstairs, appetizers came around and were tasty, especially the bacon wrapped scallops. Service was friendly and attentive, meal portions were rather large - unusual for a place at this price point, atmosphere was comfortable and not pretentious. We didn't feel rushed as you sometimes do in a large group, everyone had a good time.
(4)C W.
We've only been here once, but it was impressively good. I think I should try it again soon. It might be worthy of another star. The food was interesting with bold favors. Wish I would have known there was a rooftop.
(4)Joan M.
Actually a 4.5 star rating! My husband and I were visiting for the Chicago marathon - We ended up eating here twice because the food and service were phenomenal We would have had every meal here because it was so good, but being in such a rich restaurant town we thought we'd better try others. We're almost sorry we did that because Tavern at the Park was the best of all of them! They were accommodating to our off the menu requests. The food on and off the menu was great! Very tasty and fresh - and portions were very filling. Chefs, servers, assistants and host staff were very friendly! We'd eat here again - and definitely recommend it to others - local and those visiting. The ambiance was very nice - you could request a table outside, inside the bar area, or in the dining area - choices for all, FYI, the only reason that we deducted a half star was because our dog wasn't allowed out on the patio....Maybe that's Chicago laws...but....I'm just sayin'... PS: Just like Liz K. there was SO much chicken added, my doggy ended up getting an awesome meal too!!!
(4)Boyd K.
I've eaten here a number of times. I love the service and the food here. The Chicken pot pie is a favorite. I took two of my teenagers here this past weekend - picky eaters - and they both loved their meals - one had a london broil and the other prime rib. Our waiter was very patient and answered their questions and was very helpful with one who had a peanut allergy. I always enjoy their specialty cocktails.
(4)Z Z.
I suppose it would be my own fault for falling into the tourist trap restaurant.. but hey, the menu looked decent, a few reviews were pleasant..so why not? Our waiter was very very very nice - let me give him a little credit. The food? awful. Maybe my taste buds are tainted from the delish-ness had while in San Francisco and my new favorite in Milwaukee - Allium.. but honestly not good. I had a grilled vegetable salad - which was a lunch salad, but they still allowed me to order. Portion was SO large I barely made a dent into it. Husband had chicken caprese salad - it didn't even look as good as it should have by the description. $110 (tip included) later.. (2 drinks a piece, 1 app, 2 salads) I had super bad buyers remorse and longed for a freaking veggie hot dog from American Dogs on State. Probably should have gone with my instinct and stayed away from the tourist trap. bummerrrrrr.
(2)Steve M.
Went to a nice engagement party here this weekend. Service was excellent, the wine was flowing, and the steak I had was great - chicken was better! I'm glad I didn't see the final bill, but was happy to see Tavern step up it's game for such an important event. One more experience like this, and Tavern is in the 4-5 star range.
(3)Jackie P.
If I wanted to treat my coworkers to a salt lick then I would take them to the salt lick my parent's have on their 10 acres. At least it would be free and I know the salt would be good. Mom only buys the best for the deer. Some coworkers and I went here for lunch. By the time we got back I felt like I drink have an ocean and two others had horrible stomachaches. The portions are huge and you won't be hungry the rest of the day but that's if you can keep your lunch down. Sadly disappointing when this place had such great potential.
(2)Rajiv H.
My feelings on Tavern At The Park are very mixed. I give five stars to the service, which includes both our waitress and the host. They were both extremely kind, attentive, and accommodating. Also, you can't beat the location. We sat outdoors on a perfect summer day with a breeze. Then the food and drinks happened. I mean it is a restaurant. My Wife and Mom-In-Law both started with what they claimed was a Cesar salad. These salads were coated with mayo like white on rice. I've never had a Cesar salad this disgusting. I'm not quite sure how you screw up a Cesar salad this bad. It's hard. I mean real hard. I mean this stuff comes in easy to use grocery store kits for lazy bachelors that tastes halfway decent. I did however find it hilarious when the two women started brushing their tongues with the bread to scrape off the mayo taste. We also got a couple glasses of white sangria (no pitchers? no red sangria option even? okay, fine, I'll stop being picky). The glass was about 3/4 ice and only had three berries in it. There were all raspberries. W. T. F. Kids, that stands for Why The Frugality. As you could imagine, we weren't expecting a ton from the main courses at this point. My Mother and I got the Saturday Night Special: a 14 ounce Prime Rib (it's $22, how could we not?). My wife had the Chicken Milanese, and mom-in-law the Veal Chop Marsala. My Prime Rib was excellent. I honestly didn't expect a cut of meat so good for this price from a place like this, but they did well to keep things simple with some horseradish sauce and some au jus. The Chicken Milanese was decent. I have a feeling the balsamic reduction really saved what could have otherwise been a bland dish. The Veal Chop Marasala was too heavily breaded for it's own good. I'd go back to Tavern At The Park for the Prime Rib. The service, weather, and location - right next to Millenium Park - also helped saved the night for me. I can see the place getting way to touristy at times, but on our Saturday night it seemed just fine.
(2)W P.
This place suffers from pride of location. What a shame, as it could be Chicago's 'Tavern Under The Bean". Spotty (but well intentioned) service. There was something wrong with every course, which was corrected by an embarrassed manager. There was a huge noisy party (25 people) seated adjacent to our table and any chance of having a conversation was lost. Won't be going back - rather eat at the ear shattering Gage across the street - the food is better.
(2)Leah C.
inconsistent and never great... i only go here once i've exhausted other options for lunch outings. i always order the same thing - the grilled veggie salad (note: not on their website). it has either been inedible or just "good enough". nothing ever above that. when in the "inedible" state - it's soggy (who likes soggy lettuce?), salty and void of many of the listed ingredients. i will give this place 5 stars though for the excellent service. they know how to handle a lunch rush.
(2)Keri K.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday, we love close by and have always wanted to try it. I always walk past and the food looks to die for. Which turns out, it is. My vegetarian pasta was AMAZING I dream of it. My boyfriend had steak and he seemed to really enjoy it. I like the atmosphere, though it smelled a little weird inside. We had drinks on the roof after dinner which was very nice as well. I would definitely come back here and I recommend you should try it too.
(4)Charlie J.
you know what? for what could very easily be an over-hyped over-priced joint, this one actually passes the muster. i eat here all the time - lunch only, though. i'm telling you the lobster roll has to be one of the most authentic...and probably one of the best...west of Maine. and the service is really very attentive. maybe annoyingly so. but attentive none the less. enjoy.
(4)Eduardo M.
Went here for an office thing, so I didn't have pay for anything. Best kind of lunch/drinks opportunity. The food was tasty, although the sandwich breads seemed a tad too salty for my taste, others in the group didn't seem to mind too much. Also, the drinks were well made and service was friendly and prompt. I'd say I'll come back, but I never seem to find myself in the loop nowadays.
(3)Keara K.
We had a very nice dinner at Tavern at the Park. Hubby and I shared the Fontina and Chicken Fondue, we both ordered the 14oz Prime Rib with Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes, and finished with the Key Lime Brulee. Everything was very good (although I'd like to have seen more fruits with the fondue, as it was very bread heavy, and some of the breads paired a little strangely with the fondue), the prime rib cooked to perfection, and the dessert, while simple, was fantastic. And for the person compaining about the flatbread looking like a pizza- that's what flatbreads basically are at any fine dining restaurant-- fancy wording for foo-foo pizza. We came on a fairly busy evening, and the service was pretty good. Our server was being held up by a very high-matinence (ie. 6 crabby old people) table, so he understandably was a bit absent towards the end of our meal. But if I had to deal with those people, I'd be too busy running around to be found too. I liked Tavern, I'd even reccomend it. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I thought it was pretty good! :)
(4)SM J.
I was there in July for a corporate work function. My company rented the entire patio for dinner and I cannot begin to describe how wonderful our evening was. The service was AMAZING. Every little need that we had, the staff catered to immediately, sometimes without us even saying anything. They were so incredibly accommodating. The food was to die for. A special shout out to a server named AJ who went above and beyond to give us 5 Star service. He was so sweet and worked his butt off!!
(5)JV L.
This was a great place for me b/c I needed: --a place near Millennium Park --pasta options with chicken --nicer than fast food, but not necessarily fine dining Tavern at the Park is a bit pricey, but I figured you pay for the location. And my chicken parmesan entree was enough for three meals, so the price didn't bother me too much afterward. This probably wouldn't be the first place I would recommend, just b/c Chicago has way too many other awesome restaurants. But, if you're near Millennium Park and want good food, a nice atmosphere and excellent service, this is the place. It also seems like a good restaurant to take picky eaters or to celebrate a semi-special occasion.
(3)Louise S.
I have never written a YELP review before but I was so taken aback by the service I received I had to write this one. I made a reservation at least 21/2 weeks prior to my lunch appointment last Tuesday. I specifically picked this restaurant because I rarely can eat outside and I wanted to have their grilled vegetable salad on a warm summer day. I scheduled my appointment for 1p instead of the noon hour in hopes that I would be able to get a table outside. I realize that I only made a "request" for the outdoor seating but clearly they don't even pretend to honor those requests. There was no, "we know you requested an outdoor table and you will get the next one available" or "now that you are here, we have put you at the top of the list" or anything like that. I purposely got there a few minutes early and told the man at the host stand that I had made the reservation requesting outdoor seating and the reply was, "there are two parties ahead of you and it would be about 30 minutes for outdoor seating." When I asked if there was any preference for reservations, he replied, "we only have (7) tables". I don't know many business people that can wait 30 minutes for a table during the lunch hour? That is why you make a reservation. When my lunch companion arrived a few minutes later I told him the situation. He knew I had picked this restaurant in hopes of eating outside so he suggested we go elsewhere. Now, we could have just left, but I was courteous enough to let him know I would no longer need the reservation as I really wanted to eat outside and unfortunately I could not wait 30 minutes. We then proceeded to go around the turnstile on the revolving door and I noticed two tables; one leaving and one getting their check. I literally did not leave the revolving door and went back to the man behind the counter and asked how long it would be as two tables were leaving? He said; well now there are three parties ahead of you as someone was asking him about a table as I walked up. I said, "you are kidding me, I had a reservation" and his smart ass reply was "you're going to my competition, now it is three". I would not have been so angry if the man behind the counter was not so obviously one of the managers if not the owner. I own and operate a conference center located within a two minute walk of this restaurant. Unbeknownst to them, I have referred hundreds of people to this restaurant over the years. It is no longer on our recommended restaurant listing. I would never recommend somewhere where I did not receive good service and this manager /owner did more than just not provide service he was extremely rude!
(1)Karyn K.
We had a really nice dinner at Tavern at the Park, except that I couldn't quite people watch from our booth! We started with the polenta--YUM. For dinner I had the Chicken Milanese--amazing!! Other people had veal and beef dishes, which were enjoyed by all. The entrees are huge and we probably should have split them. We also got a side of mashed potatoes and a side of green beans--also delicious. Every time I've walked by this place, I've wanted to stop in. And I'm glad that I did. Good service, good wines, good food.
(4)Jean Z.
Been to this location several times. The food was great, and the service was great each and every time. From happy hour, to lunch with friends, to a nice dinner after touristing around michigan avenue.
(5)Jenny S.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Due to rain and cab messiness, two of us were very late but the waiter was awesome and took our orders as soon as we showed up and then brought everyone's food out at the same time. I ordered the chicken pot pie which was flakey and delicious. The waiter was extremely attentive and two of the managers also visited our table to make sure everything was going well. I will certainly be going back again. The restaurant wasn't very crowded and I hope that's because it's very new. It pains me that people will wait for an hour to eat at Grand Luxe when there's an even better restaurant down Michigan avenue with no wait at all.
(5)Kevin S.
We've been here twice now and both times my impression is the same: this place skates by on its location, but the food and service is sub-par at best. This last time I ordered the mahi mahi special; the fish was very fishy smelling. My wife has a very good nose, and she could smell it from across the table. We sent it back and the waiter relayed that the chef said all the mahi probably would smell the same (WTF?) so I ordered the Chicken Milanese. It was just OK; the tomatoes that came with it were clearly the hothouse, flavorless kind. My wife's rack of lamb also was just ok, there was a lot of fat on it. They were slow to clear dishes, and when I asked to take part of my meal home, the bus person misunderstood and threw it away. The noise from the bar can intrude to the dining room. Nice location, nice view of the city - that's about it.
(2)Mandy S.
This place has a great look to it, and amazing location and view. They did a good job of playing upon that with the design. I will say I've been meaning to try this place for awhile now and was curious as to what it was about. Went on Friday night with a group of four. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. In fact, we were one of the only people in the place. This always kind of irks me. When I go to a restaurant and a reasonable hour for dinner (8 pm) and it is quite empty. It just doesn't feel as festive to me and I feel kind of jipped. Plus I wonder what other people know that I don't. Fortunately my group of friends is a complete riot and we were able to keep ourselved entertained for the meal. I had the salmon entree and it was amazing. It came with no sides, but did come with a starter salad. For the price of the entree, I think a side would be in order. Everyone else was pleased with their meals: lobster ravioli, the tuna, the chicken milanese--aside from one guest who was confused and upset as to why a pile of cabbage was placed on top of his... Overall, it was a good experience. I'd rec to anyone looking for a group friendly atmopshere with a central location who doesn't mind spending a bit extra money. For anyone with an out of town guest, it's a nice place to bring them, but so is Park Grill and the Gage nearby, really. I'd probably go back to either of those places before I came back here. If someone else was footing the bill, however, I'd come back!
(3)Shelley A. D.
I really like this place. The staff is polished and attentive. The location is perfect for pre or post theater and/or for lunch between business meetings. The food is high quality and fresh. The portions are generous. The wine pours and drinks are also abundant. I should mention that it is best classified as a steakhouse. As a non-red meat eater I usually have a soup and salad. As unfortunately the menu is pretty slim on seafood options. That said Tavern is still it is worth visiting if you have business or pleasure in the area.
(4)Shanti N.
Yay! They have Gnarly Head Zin-- my fav-- by the glass, to boot! I came here twice-- once for a cocktail, and once for dinner (bar and booth, respectively)-- and was impressed by the solid service both times. Prices are reasonable, particularly for the dinner specials (including choice of soup or salad). As I had eaten a later lunch the evening I came here, I opted for the soup/salad. My dinner companion ordered the prosciutto-wrapped scallops, and we ordered the calamari to start. The calamari was a bit rubbery, which the breading more than made up for. Recommend the signature bee's knees cocktail-- bourbon, organically milled honey, and a few squeezes of lime-- for a dose of elegant simplicity and antidote to mojito malaise.
(4)Casandra G.
Dropped in for cocktails and appetizers, 3rd of july. Classy, clean place with high cielings and big windows, looking out toward millenium park. Prompt seating, polite and helpful servers. Artfully prepared (read: very pretty) cocktails that get the job done and are not much more expensive than those of other bars downtown. The food, unfortunately, was a bit underwhelming. For example: seared scallops on a risotto bed. Superb scallops, but a bitter, slimy risotto. Bottom line? Come for drinks in a pretty setting. After you eat somewhere else.
(3)Kelsey P.
I went here with 7 coworkers while in Chicago for a business convention. At 7:30ish on a Saturday it wasn't too busy, but our server was slooooooooow...I'm pretty sure we didn't leave till almost 11. Since our company got the tab, we didn't hold back in ordering several appetizers for the table -- most involved meat/seafood and I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try any, but everyone else seemed to enjoy them. I also appreciated that there were several interesting vegetarian options on the menu. What I didn't appreciate so much was that my swiss chard ravioli seemed like it had been doused with salt :( Maybe there were too many capers? Either way, yuck. The somewhat veg-friendly menu warrants 3 stars (there was also vegetable lasagna, a few appetizers, and lots of hearty sides) -- otherwise, this restaurant's nothing special.
(3)Kate C.
I went to go watch Ellen film a special show from Chicago at the bean last night and my friend and I were so cold (it was snowing!) and hungry after the filming that we decided to go to the nearest place to warm and and get a bite to eat. Tavern at the Park was the first place we saw and I am so glad we decided to go there. Next time I will probably sit at the bar instead of the dining room but the whole atmosphere is very nice, relaxing and upscale. Our waiter and the entire waitstaff were all friendly and got things taken care of right away for us. We split a bottle of wine and had the Tavern Teasers as an app. Ask for a plate with one of each kind on it, each one comes with a variety of sauces too. I had the chicken pot pie and my friend had the lobster ravioli. There was a lot of large pieces of lobster in the ravioli which was good and the chicken pot pie was so large that I barely made it through half of it. We got the brownie sundae for dessert. It is definitely shareable, the brownie was one of the biggest I have ever seen. Overall, it was a great place to go. Kind of expensive if you are just looking for a casual dinner but would be a great place for a drink after work or a party. I will definitely go back!
(5)Mike D.
We went into this place after a great experience at the Gage and wanted something similar while trying something new. This place was GOOD but it was just lacking something in the air. Although it was a casual lunch spot, it just seemed too nice to feel ultra relaxed and comfortable. The service at the bar was very good and my chicken salad was honestly way better than I expected it to be. The food got great reviews from the other two people I was with but there was definitely something lacking here. I cannot say anything bad about this place, the food was great, the service was good, but like some movies I have seen in the past, you know they were "good" but you just weren't into them. That's the best way to describe this place but maybe you will have a different experience!
(3)Chris R.
Have eaten here twice now. First time we sat at the bar, had excellent food and great service. Second time was yesterday and food was equally as good (except cheese on top of French onion soup was not brown AT ALL, my pet peeve) but service was iffy at best. If you have longer than an hour for lunch, I recommend sitting in the restaurant. Otherwise, ask to sit at the bar. But I will be back for the excellent salads, burgers and veggie lasagna.
(3)Nicolas H.
Been here a couple times now for lunch and I have to say its pretty darn good. At first I didn't want to like it because it seemed like they were trying too hard to be fancy, but the lunch options definitely aren't that way. The chopped steak burger is exactly what you'd think. It's large and served on a great bun. But even better are the tavern tasters: your choice of three mini burgers with their awesome french fries. The prime rib was great, served with a nice au jus. The buffalo chicken mini was nice and spicy, served with a side of blue cheese dressing. The salmon burger left a lot to be desired though, so next time i'd get the regular burger instead of going the fish route. The service was good and fast and the french fries are definitely not to be missed...
(4)Janet I.
My husband and I finally tried Tavern at the Park today after living in the area for a few years. We assumed it was more of a tourist stop due to it's location adjacent to Millenium Park, but we were pleasantly surprised. Very nice atmosphere inside with outdoor dining available also. Service was very good along with our entrees. I had the Vegetable Lasagna, which was wonderful, and my husband had the Chicken Milanese - very good also. It was nice to discover another quality restaurant in our neighborhood. We will definitely try it again.
(4)Leah L.
Great private room as you enter, great outdoor area in the summer, great food
(4)Michael M.
We went for lunch the other day and we did make a reservation. The hostess was very friendly and led us to a table upstairs which was very pleasant. The music could be heard from downstairs but that in no way impeded our conversation. My mother had the tomato basil soup and a lobster roll. The soup was thick, rich and delicious. I had the ahi tuna appetizer and a lobster roll (it was Ash Wednesday). The tuna was beautiful with the greens that it came with. The lobster roll was full of lobster meat all the way through it didn't seem as they were skimping at all. We barely had room for dessert but we attempted it anyway. My mother had the fried banana split which was large, unique, and delicious. I had the chocolate chip cookie sandwich which was two large chocolate chip cookies that had crispy edges yet slightly soft in the middle- perfect for me. A generous helping of mint choc. chip ice cream in the middle and the whole thing is drenched in a rich hot fudge sauce. I couldn't finish it but I gave it the old college try. Now on to service-- our server Lauren was, for lack of a better word, OUTSTANDING!!! She was on top of things without being intrusive. She has a wonderful sense of humor and was very engaging. She even asked at the beginning if either one of us had any allergies the kitchen should know about. We don't- but my son does so now I know I can take him here and he'll be safe. I wish all restaurants did that. The drink list had some very unique combinations that I will have to get back to try soon as I understand the mixologist tries to keep things seasonal. Overall a great lunch with outstanding service.
(4)Steve P.
Exceptional visit to the roof deck for dinner on a lovely, warm summer night. Nice music/vibe, well dressed crowd, incredible views of the city. Great burger, chop salad, sparkling rose. Portion sizes very generous and pricing appropriate for the city. Service was attentive and friendly. Kitchen was incredibly accommodating to special orders and allergy concerns. Highly recommended for a casual, relaxed eating experience.
(5)Abhay S.
Came here for lunch today with a visiting co-worker. We didn't have any reservations, so we ended up sitting at the bar, which was OK with us. I ordered the lobster roll and my co-worker got some sort of flatbread with sausage deal. Hers came out looking very close to a pizza. (uh, didn't see that in the description) My lobster roll was decent, but the fries were cold. I also would have liked something different than fries, but they offered me any of the sides for half price except for the onion rings which would have cost the same as the given fries. The service was excellent - the waiters always made sure I had a full glass and asked a few times if everything was OK. Two thumbs up to them. The restaurant manager even stopped by to see if everything was OK. Given that I work close to this building, I'll come here again. It's not a bad place when you're looking for a decent sit-down lunch in the east loop.
(3)Gregg D.
Seated immediately and all the little things were done well. Servers were attentive but not intrusive. Had the filet and it was cooked well. Not the best steak I ever had, but very good. I would come back at any time
(4)S C.
I keep trying this place again and again because I live so close, but every time I visit I remember why I promised myself I'd never return. Very over priced, and the food (when it's edible) is nothing special. The service is slow and unfriendly, the atmosphere is stuffy and dark, and their food is really not exciting. At all. Here's the breakdown of everything I've eaten there. Appetizers: Duck egg rolls - fine Fig & prosciutto flatbread - too sweet but fine Portugese "style" mussels - incredibly salty and funky Fried calamari - greasy, but not chewy which was good Salads House dinner salad - actually quite good; I like the matchstick potatoes Wedge salad - a wedge is a wedge is a wedge... Chopped salad - enough to serve an army and totally not exciting Entrees Brick chicken - the skin was the only delicious part, nothing else was memorable Seared scallops - absolutely terrible, the mustard tastes poisonous and you cannot taste the scallop at all. Just AWFUL Prime rib - funny color so I didn't even eat it... sent it back Butternut squash ravioli - THE WORST THING I'VE EATEN IN YEARS, the smallest portion of under-cooked pasta, flavorless filling in a bowlful of "pesto" (which should have been called "green oil") Ricotta gnocchi - This was the last straw for me. The gnocchi was tiny and had no flavor, it was covered with two pounds of mozzarella, and there was more of the crappy sauce than there was the crappy gnocchi. NO! Dessert Key lime creme brulee must be the only thing that saves this restaurant; quite good
(1)Vickie L.
I went with my boyfriend in February after a free day at the Art Institute. This has a great location, wonderful views. Dark tones inside with lots of windows and wood all over. To our surprise it was during Restaurant Week with the 3 courses for $32 yay! My bf got the buffalo chicken sliders for his appetizer - they were just okay, too much bread, not enough chicken. I got duck spring rolls for my appetizer and they were really really good. Very crispy, a good amount of duck, and the mango sauce was very tasty. Main course - I had the brick chicken - wow, it was so tasty and juicy. At first it looked small, but that's because they put the dark meat piece over the white meat piece, after I found that out, it was HUGE! My bf got the prime rib - he ate every last piece, it was cooked very well, very soft and very tasty. Dessert - I had the hot fudge sundae, it was very good, nothing special, but very tasty after that rich meal. My bf got the chocolate mousse, and it was the only bad part of the meal - it was so grainy! Not smooth at all. Our server was really attentive. During dessert she noticed my bf had only eaten a few bites of his mousse and asked what was wrong, so we told her it wasn't very good. She was very apologetic that we did not like the chocolate mousse and offered to give us another sundae. We declined. Service was excellent. Wow what a deal, I'm so glad we happened upon this place during Restaurant Week. The regular menu selection was good, but we thought it was a bit pricey for the type of food offered they offered, nothing was really stand-out as being a specialty, but it IS right across from Millenium Park so you pay for the location.
(4)#NAME?
Dined here again for the 4th time and as usual it was great-This was the 2nd time dining in the bar area for me, tonight I just wanted something light so I felt appetizers would be perfect- I initially came here to eat the Butternut Squash Ravioli but decided to go outside my comfort zone and try something new, so I had the Scallop Rrisotto-It was very good and just what I was looking for, I didn't know what to expect since the menu said it had strawberries in it, but they fit right in-The risotto is rich so the strawberries provide a nice tart/sweet difference, and I loved the aged balsamic that was drizzeled on the plate-The only thing I noticed was that the scallops probably didn't need to have salt put on them- For dessert I wanted to try the Key Lime Crème Brulee, it was nice and light, slightly chilled and cleaned the palate- Our waiter Tom was professional and very helpful, as is the management and staff at Tavern, I'm just glad it's a 5 minute walk from our place-
(5)Nancy S.
Location & Dessert = Great! Love the restaurant interior & the strawberry shortcake Service = Went from bad to worse Food = Let's just say...the mashed potatoes were instant
(2)Kathy S.
This was my first time in Chicago since I was a kid and had no idea where to go. Looked for places around our hotel and we chose Tavern At The Park. We really enjoyed our food (he got the filet sandwich and I had a burger) and the atmosphere was great. It was just my boyfriend and I and it was a great place for our date. Everyone was really friendly and they had a pear cider that I really enjoyed. BF had a few Knob Creeks and Coke. Our bill was not really $$ but it was well worth the extra $.
(4)Kate C.
We went to this place on a whim when we wanted to take a break from the rain at Gospel Fest. We were seated right away (party of 5) even though it was around 7 on a Saturday night. It seemed like more of a tourist place to me. From a first glance of the menu, it seemed a bit pricey to me. Overall, there was nothing unique or special about the restaurant. The service was good, and it was a quiet place to sit down and take a break. As for the food, it wasn't anything out of this world, though none of us had real entrees. I had the chopped salad, which had a ton of ingredients and was very large. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but again, it was a bit pricey for what it was. I also tried the butternut squash ravioli (delicious) and some of the polenta (also very good). Although I guess I had a decent experience at this restaurant, it just wasn't very unique and had a kind of weird/empty atmosphere. I definitely think there are cuter, more interesting places in Chicago for the money. You can't beat the location though!
(3)grzesiek k.
I had such a great experience yesterday.2/14/2013. Took my Girlfriend out for Valentines day dinner. Fantastic service off the bat. The appetizer , Ahi tuna, was so really good and well prepared. We both had fillet Mignon with different toppings but well done and just perfect. Big juicy full flavor. Had mushrooms and asparagus for our side which also were really tasty. Had key lime pie and New York cheesecake for dessert. A must have! Overall the food was great. Full of flavor, hot and phenomenal taste! Service was great from the door to the table and out. Will definitely go back soon!
(5)Candace M.
One of my fave spots to sit outside and eat. I only indulge in the Tavern Pleasers, 3 miniature sandwiches (Prime Rib Five Cheese Fondue, Caramelized Onions & Au Jus On Onion Roll; Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Dressing & Creamy Coleslaw On Brioche Bun and/or the Sirloin Burger). What I LOVE most about this restaurant is that they are the only place that I know of that provides my favorite wine, Saracco Moscato. Huge kudos for that alone!!!
(4)Mary A.
I enjoyed my experience at this restaurant. I ordered short ribs and they were tender and delicious like they should be. The string fries were plentiful and good and we shared a chocolate cake and ice cream dessert. The atmosphere was sleek and modern and intimate. In other words it wasn't noisy like other large city restaurants.
(4)Barbara S.
We were a party of 8, so I made a reservation. When we arrived, we were escorted to a private room. Perfect! Great food, great conversation, great fun with my family. With so many people, we were able to try a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and one dessert. Everything.was wonderful; lots of choices, unique food combinations, the servings were plentiful, and the prices were reasonable. The strawberry shortcake was so large that we could all share it. When in Chicago, the Tavern at the Park is a must!
(5)Hope G.
I walked past this restaurant everyday on my way home and surprised to say that I've only been twice. Even though the food both times was satisfying and tasty, I have almost no desire to return. It's nice, but just not memorable. I went on a thursday night after the happy hour rush and the dark interior was quiet and a good place to talk. The service was nice. I ordered the Tavern Teasers - and had a sirloin slider, roast beef slider, and a buffalo slider. They were all really tasty - no more than three small bites though, so you find your mouth wishing there was more on the way! I like that they have great appetizer options, so I have yet to sample their entree menu. While I certainly would never avoid eating here, I am not climbing all over myself to get back!
(3)Jim W.
The Saturday prime rib special is well worth it! It's a large slab of meat, tastier than Lawrys (Bev Hills), but imo not as good as House of Prime Rib (SF). The horse radish needed to be spicier and chunky, but aside from that, I was satisfied. The lobster mac was also really delicious and the french onion soup, satisfying. Sitting outside is a nice touch, but not really much of a vibe at Tavern..the crowd really ebbs and flows. I had booked a reservation on open table, but pretty much any time was available. The restaurant was busier when we left at 945p than when we arrived at 815p, and the upstairs was completely empty. Service was a bit bumbled. Couldn't tell if it was a case of the waitress (it seemed like her 2nd day, she misheard, didn't hear orders) or if it's the place in general. I felt prices were fair, in general, considering it's a Millenium Park restaurant.
(3)Amelia B.
Tonight was fabulous (Monday night at 7). Sat in a booth at the bar with a fantastic music selection. Wonderful ambiance. Wait staff was terrific - manager came by to check in on us (3 college age gals). Food - soooo good. Had a salad, Mac and cheese, chicken pacatta, and chicken hash -- all were excellent. Wonderful overall. Would highly, highly recommend.
(5)Melissa C.
We had our wedding reception at Tavern at the Park. The food, service and ambiance were AMAZING. Our guests continue to rave about it. Alyssa coordinated the event and did a fabulous job.
(5)Daniel S.
This establishment is in the lobby of my building so I pass by daily. It is usually always full, but I am not sure if that is such a good barometer as that crusty Bennigan's is always full too. But really, Tavern at the Park is far better than Bennigan's. I have dined there twice since it opened several years back. I would say this falls within the unspectacular genre embodied by Catch 35, Capitol Grille etc. There is a fairly large menu, and my favorite item is the polenta. It is seared to creamy perfection. They have an ample wine list, and I hear they make a respectable cocktail. In short, this is not like a Rick Bayless restaurant, but few are so maybe that's not an equitable measurement. It is respectable though, and the service is amiable.
(3)Ben B.
The view is very good and the atmosphere seemed both upscale and comfortable to me, but the food was nothing special. The menu items look like they would be great, but most things seem to have too much salt. My wife and I had the butternut squash ravioli and scallop appetizers. The scallops were too salty for me - I found myself scraping part of the top of mine off - but the ravioli was very good. The salads that came with dinner are just greens, cherry tomatoes, and your choice of dressing, which was overly simple for me. I did like the prawn risotto, although my wife was unimpressed by the salmon. As another reviewer mentioned, the music is a bit out of place. I honestly felt that I might fall asleep a couple of times, even though it was 7:00. Overall, I think the appetizers were the best part and that there are better places to eat for the price.
(2)adam C.
The Good: The leather tablecloths are really nice, and the service is quite fast. I ate here before the opera on Friday night. The first thing my wife and I were impressed by was the clean well done design inside. Our next impression was made by our waiter, a clean cut, attentive guy with a bit of an "american psycho" vibe to him. Great service, but something about his near-musical vocal delivery and his movement made us think that we were dealing with someone who kills men for sport. The Prime Rib, with Gorgonzola mashed potatos was prepared well, but nothing seemed to be big on flavor. At best, flavor was mild, but it did approach bland. This may be due to them trying to cater to the older opera crowd that the restaurant probably relies on. We both enjoyed our french onion soups, and portions all around were well sized.
(3)Ginny D.
I don't know if they are under new management but I've visited twice - the first time was awful and now 2 years later on my second visit - WOW! Great food, great ambiance, new management perhaps? It still took a while to get a table but much better the second time around! The service was more attentive and helpful and the food was great! Note: get the fries!!! The portions were huge, my clients were thrilled at the "American" fare and I was pleasantly surprised! You bested Park Grill for sure!
(4)Connie W.
A little pricy but the service and food is always good.
(4)Kat P.
We were in town on a Friday before 5 looking to have a cocktail to celebrate the beginning of a mini vacation and to catch up on the Masters. We did not eat dinner, but had an appetizer (meatballs) and a cocktail. Both my husband and I found the drink sizes relative to the price (granted it is Chicago) to be pretty generous. Also, they had a nice wine selection. The appetizer was good, however, I felt a little pressure from the server to either eat a meal or get out of his section as there wasn't any additional space available at the bar. I'd grab a drink here next time I'm in town, and probably give the food a try.
(4)Norbert W.
was there for lunch at an off hour, meaning not crowded and no tourists. depending on that, the rating could plummet. I'd bet it's a very good 3.5, somewhere between three and four) Server was really cool. Was able to work with our quirky humor and hopefully enjoyed in the fun, as he was very welcome! Appetizers: chicken liver was terrific. Very smooth. Good flavor. The greens and bacon that accompanied it were also excellent Baked goat cheese: not too shabby. Fulfills expectations. Entree: I had the Max Burger. Was between that and the one with foie on it. (next time.) cooked just right. The beef patties are very thin cuz there's so much going on with it otherwise. Fries were crisp and not salted, yay! (IOW: they know how to make them. Getting salted fries ruins the effect - that's a "do it yourself" mineral) buddy had the scallops. looked good with good presentation. He wasn't expecting that much garlic, which didn't dampen the flavors! Since it was his birthday, they brought out a chocolate cake with an excellent ice cream with it (maybe caramel. possibly homemade) Someone ordered THAT martini. it was an excellent time. no restaurant newbies within earshot going on about this and that with the meal. good stuff. And they played some Styx on the system. heh! NA bier selection not that good. Caliber, or whatever the Guinness one is. It's the NA equivalent of having 'Bass, Harp, crap" on tap, but oh well. (yes, you cannot get pejorative enough for those "biers")
(4)Sheila G.
This is a great place for a quick bite if at Millennium Park - the appetizers are especially good. Try the Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread. The main entrees and specialty cocktails weren't as impressive. I think they have Happy Hour specials on the apps on certain days too.
(3)T C.
Fantastic restaurant, one of my favorite places for lunch, or drinks after work. The service is superlative, the atmosphere is energizing, the food is wonderful, and the owners are always at the front door shaking hands and assuring that all of the customers are well taken care of. Three of my favorite menu items are the Chopped Salad, the Strawberry Salad, and the hamburger. The prime rib sandwich is pretty fantastic as well. I highly recommend Tavern at the Park.
(5)Curt E.
So my wife, my sister-in-law, and her boyfriend were looking a place to eat and heard good things about this place so we thought we would give it a go. I definitely liked the ambiance of the place. We had made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. We were promptly greeted by our server Quinton who was very prompt and attentive throughout our meal. I will say that I'm not always adventurous in my choices and thought I would love to have a good piece of prime rib. While texture was there, there was very little flavor. All it needed was some garlic and some herbs and it could take it from $35 for this!?!?? To, Yum! Who cares how much it is?? Additionally I ordered the potato cakes which were good I must say but a huuuuge portion for one person as a side. My wife ordered the rotisserie chicken which she enjoyed but I felt was rather dry when I tasted it. I wasn't impressed with the barbecue either. Overall it was a good experience but when something so simple and pricey is screwed up it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended) . I would go back but more than likely choose another item from the menu.
(3)anthony t.
NIce staff, solid food selections with some of my favorites being the peppered wings and the short rib sandwich which is absolutely delicious. Great vibe at happy hour and I can't wait for the rooftop patio.
(5)Alyssa S.
Three stars because it's simply not as good as its neighbors, The Gage and The Park Grill. We did have a very nice work lunch here - excellent service. I thought the menu was a bit spare on options. I finally settled on a parmesan crusted Chicken Caprese that was good, but I usually don't get chicken at restaurants and only did so here because the rest of the menu options were kind of blah to me. My co-workers had salads that were gigantic! They seemed to like them a lot. As for atmosphere - it's a little weird that they didn't make more of the view. On the upper floor, you're sitting on a balcony with barely a view of the park. Again. the service was great, we never had to ask for anything. A little bit more creativity on the menu could raise this place up.
(3)Michelle M.
My office is on the same block as Tavern at the Park. I stopped in for the first time last night and now I know what I have been missing. The specialty cocktails were amazing. One of them tasted just like sipping the holiday season...served up in an extra-chilled martini glass. For dinner I had the gem-colored roasted beets salad and fig and prosciutto flatbread. Both were outstanding. The service was impeccable as well. I will be back, repeatedly.
(5)cos f.
i really want to love this place ... the proximity to the park and michigan avenue is terrific...outdoor space upstairs and down... it is a big restaurant... great bar...and good drinks... but the food? meh.... just so so... i had this chicken hash, described wonderfully on the menu, but really roughly chopped vegetables and left over chicken ...the eggs were poached perfectly...but there was a stew of juice overwhelming my plate... it would have been nice if it were a sauce... they had told us 3 times there was bread coming and until we asked again they brought it with our meal... i will go for a cocktail but not much else...
(2)Heather K.
Went to Tavern for an office party, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. I went with the horseradish-crusted filet (the smaller portion), and it was cooked perfectly. Since the steaks don't come with sides, we split a bunch for the table - green beans and mashed potatoes ("whipped potato casserole," I mean) were excellent. For reference, each side dish was approx. 2 servings. The entree salads were gigantic, too. Since we were a large group, my brilliant boss made the decision to get one of each dessert at the end of the meal. Wow, I was in heaven. I'm a chocolate lover so I gravitated towards the brownie, but the bread pudding was also very tasty. Due to the location, Tavern definitely has a business/corporate crowd atmosphere - even though I freakin' love filet mignon, I wouldn't suggest this restaurant for a family function, or a date, etc. But for biz lunches or dinners I can see how this would be an excellent option.
(4)Mari B.
Nice restaurant in a good location. Ordered at chopped salad that was decent, but had too many blue cheese crumbles and they forgot the chicken. When I asked the waitress (Margaret) if it was supposed to come with chicken (as it said on the menu)she was rude in return and made the whole situation awkward. She responded "Well I don't see why it wouldn't" and "it doesnt have chicken on there?" My plate was right infront of her so I'm not sure why she couldn't see that there was no chicken. I told her I didn't taste chicken or see it in my meal. She said she would check with the kitchen then came back to the table with a cup of chicken and said "heres some chicken just in case they didnt put any in there". Not sure who would eat all their chicken then lie about not having any ust to get more but it seemed like thats what she thought I did. She tops my list of rude waitresses and I would not return or reccommend this place because of her. The salad was $13 and app size.
(2)Scott S.
Had service outside on the upstairs patio. Extremely disappointing. Good atmosphere but poor service. Portions were miniscule. Had halibut which was salty and drowning in cream and butter. Gave only 6 small pieces of asparagus. Unaccommodating to special requests. Completely overpriced including their drinks. For a hamburger, they gave hard chips as a side. They serve overpriced wine from screw top bottles. Your just paying top dollar to be outside overlooking the park. Not worth it!
(1)Kristin V.
I think this restaurant is okay. We have had several work dinners here, but mostly because it is close to the office. The crusted fillets are pretty good and the desserts are huge, so share. The service when dining is pretty good. I have also had drinks at the bar, but don't do that, the bar tenders are not pleasant. Overall, this place is nothing special.
(3)The Hungry American E.
Food was standard. Layout is nice. The service was excellent and the place is clean. I had a sandwhich that was nothing to write home about. Little pricey. Visited in 6/09
(2)Jeanne K.
Although the view from the rooftop bar is worth a visit, the service was deplorable, except for Mary, who saved our experience. We live in the city and wanted a drink after a movie...since it was such a gorgeous night, we decided to finally stop in and have a drink after reading so much about this establishment. Thomas, our first waiter, could not be bothered with us after we informed him that we weren't having anything to eat. The TWO bartenders...not even busy, as there was a small crowd...stood around talikng to one another...and when my husband asked for a glass for his beer, you would have thought he asked for a kidney for a transplant. Thomas never returned to ask if I wanted another glass of wine...really?...do the owners want to make a buck?...and when I simply asked for another glass of water...he replied, "Uhhhh, sure"....great service, huh?? If it wasn't for the view, we would never go back.
(2)Oscar the Death Cat B.
I have mixed feelings about Tavern at the Park. It's a nice looking place, and apparently pretty popular - though it has a very spacious two-level dining area with plenty of tables, there was already a 1-hour wait for a table at 11:30 the morning our group visited for lunch. Fortunately, we had a reservation, though the host initially claimed that he could not "find" our name on the reservation list (another reviewer mentioned this same issue, perhaps the host is overdue for a new prescription on his eyeglasses?) The menu featured just a few lunch-y type items, but I think the cheapest was an $11 burger. Aside from a few sandwiches and regular entrees, they had some "lunch" specials that were more like dinner entrees when it came to price ($20 -$25 each). So this is definitely more of a business meeting/special occasion place to lunch. The food was a mixed bag - appetizers such as calamari were excellent, as were the fries. A couple of us ordered the prime rib, was supposed to be prepared medium but what we received was very pink & bloody & I swear I could hear mine making moo-ing sounds as I cut into it. Another person who had ordered the same dish sent it back to be cooked more, to the credit of the staff they gave her a whole new entree without a hassle. Everything is served in generous portions, if you still have room in your belly, they have a few good desserts - sharing is recommended as most desserts are enormous. In summary, service was very good but the food was a bit heavy and pricey just for lunch. I may have enjoyed my visit more if it had been dinner rather than lunch. I might come back to this place again some day - as long as someone else is buying.
(3)Chester R.
my advice for ownership: 1. your bar is facing the wrong way ! you are on one of the best corners in all of chicago....overlooking grant park....why is my back facing it ?? 2. i needed a guide to find the bathroom. maybe we put one on the bar level?? 3. the position of the tv's above the bar almost caused me to break my neck looking up to try and watch them. perhaps we revisit their location as well?? nice atmosphere, great service....and really expensive.
(3)Jims L.
Just went in because I pass by the place everyday. Better to sit at the bar than to stay for dinner. Unforunate that the service is really great, because the food is nothing special. Crossed off the list now and will probably never return!
(2)Dani J.
Good food, good ambiance, great location! I had the butternut squash ravioli which was excellent and my man had the prime rib sandwich, which was literally a slab of prime rib on bread that had to be eaten with a knife and fork- delicious! My only issue here is the to $$ rating as far as price goes here on yelp. With local delights such as Panda Express and Quiznos being one $, I did not anticipate the prices at Tavern at the Park to be so high on their two $$ rating, however I suppose for the area, the prices were reasonable. Be warned to my frugal friends who pay attention to those $$$$$ markers :)
(3)Adam S.
Great service. Good drinks. FRIENDLY crowd. Good quality food. The place is consistent and the owners REALLY care about keeping clients happy. They make me WANT to give them more stars but if you see the others restaurants in my list, you will understand why 3 is "pretty darn good" on my scale. Go here for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed. You won't be blown away, but I have never had bad food here.
(3)Tammy Q.
I don't think I'd ever come here for "fun" -- been here twice, both for business meetings. The chicken with applewood bacon and bbq sauce sandwich was not too shabby. I love fries. I love fries that are fat. This place has the skinny shoestring fries that were not bad at all. I totally dogged it. The prices are a bit much for contemporary American fare -- but the location is great. Get seated upstairs to look over Grant Park. In the summer, the rooftop deck should be happening happy hour time.
(3)Andy G.
Yesterday I took my team at work to Tavern at the Park for our annual holiday lunch. I hadn't tried it and was very excited to go, since I pass it on a regular basis. The entire experience started out on a sour note. When I arrived I checked with the host he mentioned I did not "see" my reservation and asked if it could be under another name. I had made the reservation weeks ago and asked for a table with a veiw of the park. I saw my name on the computer screen and told him it was the last name on his screen before he said, "Oh - I thought it looked like something else on the sheet." Sure. Anyway, we were seated at a table (without a view) in the downstairs portion of the restaurant. The service was adequate, but not overly friendly. The place was packed, but still, we didn't feel welcome the entire time we dined. The food was not the best I've ever had - but it wasn't terrible, either. It was pretty common, actually, nothing exciting on the menu and the prices were high for what we got. All in all, I'd probably go back again and give it another shot, but I won't be in any hurry. It's a good addition to the neighborhood, but nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)Tuya S.
The three stars are really for the food not for the location and neither for interior decor. Should probably include the remarks that doorman made to my date for wearing his Burberry cap inside the dining area. Therefore, no hats, no designer fancy shmancy hot and trendy. Uptight and smart is the motto! or at least, it must appear so. . . The wine selection was not far distinct and even satisfying. If you want upscale-ish atmosphere and definitely not out-of college crowd, this is the place to stop by.
(3)Quantas G.
I will give this place credit for having a great view from the second floor. You can see portions of Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue outside of the window. But the prices definitely don't match the quality if the food. Maybe it was my fault for ordering a lobster roll this far west of the Atlantic. But $20 is way too much to charge for the sandwich and fries I was served. The sandwich was like a lackluster seafood salad sandwich I could have picked up from Subway. The ambiance was nice so I guess that is what I was paying for but I would rather have better food at a lower price for my next Loop lunch.
(2)Amy C.
We went here for lunch and the food was good but not great. I had the tomato bisque and it was delicious but my prime rib sliders were a little disappointing. It was not flavorful and was a bit cold. I had lots of fries so that was good. Overall, the food is nothing special...
(3)Dane K.
Went here for a kind of late lunch... The place was fairly empty (maybe 2 other tables eating in the whole place?). With that in mind I'd call the service spotty. And it's a bit on the expensive side... It's clearly a business-expense-account oriented type place. I ordered a French Dip sandwich... which was $17. $17!!! that's f'kin crazy. it's a roll, beef, some cheese... and au jus. The sandwich was pretty good, though. Most of the other sandwiches were in the $15 range, and I don't think there was anything less than $12 on the menu. The appetizers were mostly in the $10-12 range. We ordered an appetizer and entrees... the appetizer came in a timely manner (10 minutes or so), but then I swear there was another 20 or 25 minutes at least before our entree came, which is just puzzling given that we had ordered it at the same time as the appetizer, the place was nearly empty, and we had both ordered sandwiches. Other than the slow food delivery the service wasn't overly impressive, I felt like I was eating at the bar with the bartender taking my order (though I wasn't). I work in Prudential Plaza, so I was hoping when they opened it would be a good place to go for an occasional somewhat splurgy lunch or a good business lunch... Apparently the place is very busy and you pretty much need a reservation to get a lunch table here (unless you're OK with eating at 2pm...). So that's a strike in my book, but I guess you can't fault them for success (or at least temporary rush success). It would be nice if they'd have a late afternoon special or something to get in more people, aka me. Given the extremely slow service and what not, we were there long enough to find that the place started really packing them in to the bar after 4. For fun, read the martini menu... there's a $199 martini on there, which includes "something special" from your favorite jeweler. Whatever that means. (And totally a copy off of some manhattanesque bar) ..The space itself is nice. I guess there's some sort of upstairs area too, which probably have decent views of... the street and the sculptures across the street. And let me throw in the cliched "really a 3.5 star"..
(3)Michelle E.
There really isn't anything wrong with Tavern at the Park. But there really isn't anything phenomenal about it either. Perfectly acceptable food, a good place to go after work, or even for a work function. Or, in this case, a good place to meet the parental units for dinner! The one thing I found interesting was that the bar was packed with corporate guys in suits! So this is where they have all been hiding! I personally LOVE a man in a suit, and it depresses me that most companies now have a casual dress code. This place is actually pretty big, they have 2 floors of dining rooms. The night I was there the 2nd floor was closed for a private event, so consequently the 1st floor was a bit more crowded than usual. One thing that I thought was a nice touch was that each table gets its own bottle of water. One of my pet peeves is an empty water glass. I'm not saying you have to buy water either, you can have your very own pretty blue glass bottle of tap water on your table! The menu had quite a few sandwiches on it, which I found a bit surprising. We started with the sticky fried shrimp, which was fine. I decided to try the chicken milanese for my entree, which was GIANT! Giant and good. My dad had the double pork chop with the cherry cola BBQ sauce. The pork chop was also giant, I swear it had to be 3 inches thick! The BBQ sauce was super tasty. My mom had the fish of the day, which was nice. We had the triple chocolate cake for dessert, which was also good. Really, I can't complain about anything, perse. Everything was good. But nothing was mind-blowing, or anything that I would HAVE to have again. I wouldn't mind going back to try the filet mignon, as you can choose from several different kinds of crust, ie parmesan or blue cheese. But then again, would I go Tavern at the Park just for a steak? Not likely.
(3)EV G.
Great location, overlooking Millennium Park. The food is really forgettable - not horrible, not wonderful, not interesting. But if you are looking for a place to have a business lunch, this is not a bad choice. Service was fine, prices for a sit down lunch are pretty average for the location. The same folks run Keefer's where the food is much better so maybe they just need some time to get their act together. Here is an arcane tidbit about this place - if you are wearing black pants, you can get a black cloth napkin so if any fibers rub off, they will not show up on your clothes. Just in case you are wondering why there are black and white napkins (as I was - OK so I am a freak for weird details).
(3)Agnes F.
slight improvement from last time i visited i came here with a colleague and we shared the fried calamari appetizer, the breading was too heavy and calamari was not very meaty had the salmon for main course and it was ok, little flavor and slightly overcooked, my friend had the burger and she didn't say much about it so all in all, haven't changed my view about the place for a quick business lunch this is ok but i won't come back for anything else
(2)Scott T.
Better than you would expect for a Millenium Park hub, their waitstaff is very friendly and attentive and the food has improved quite drastically over the years. Make sure you don't fill up on bread, however tempted you are. Drinks are portioned well, wine is cheap and plentiful, however they could use more local options for beers on tap (look into Half Acre, please!). A downtown staple that won't disappoint, expect a business-heavy crowd for lunch on weekdays and note that they're closed on Sundays.
(4)Dan R.
This was a really great lunch. I got the lunch special, Chicken Caprese, and it was delicious. Chicken encrusted in Parmesan and breadcrumbs topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar drizzle. Yummola, as Rachel Ray would say. Only thing that was weird was the table cloth. It was vinyl. This place is classier than vinyl table cloth--- get it together Tavern.
(4)John Z.
This is my favorite lunch and dinner spot in the loop! They have the best lobster roll west of boston and their meat is always cooked to perfection. The drinks are killer too, my girlfriend is in love with the martinis.
(5)Christiana S.
This restaurant reminds me of this accountant I used to date. He was really cute, made a ton of money, extremely intelligent, and most importantly, crazy about me. I should have been head over heels about him, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Something was just....... off. Tavern at the Park is like that accountant. It's a good-looking restaurant (if I were rating it based on looks alone, it would get five stars) in a great location with menu items that sound delicious. Unfortunately, I left dinner vaguely disappointed. While there wasn't one big glaring problem, I thought there were lots of little ones. Service gets an A for effort, but a C for execution. Our waiter was friendly, but struck me as inexperienced. I mean, who doesn't know that a chilled white wine gets placed in a bucket of ice once it's brought to the table? (Not that it mattered too much, since we polished off the bottle pretty quickly.) As far as the food is concerned, it was not promising when the bread basket arrived with store-bought dinner rolls (these were seriously awful........ not even Jewel-quality) and cold butter. While it's a minor detail, this should be one of the easiest things for a restaurant (especially one that is attempting to come across as upscale) to get right and they didn't. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, which was cooked and seasoned perfectly, yet slightly overpriced at $18. Entrees are served a la carte here, so I had to shell out another $5 to get some broccoli (which was also cooked and seasoned perfectly). My boyfriend had a club sandwich and macaroni and cheese, both of which he seemed to enjoy immensely. (Of course, he'll eat anything, but I suppose that's beside the point.) We ordered the cookies and cream fondue for dessert, which was yet another part of this dining experience that was great in theory but not in practice. I think white chocolate is really too thin for fondue, especially if the point is to incorporate something like bits of Oreo cookie; the mixture didn't really stick well to anything. It should also be noted that the rice krispie treats and marshmallows were vaguely stale, and that green apple, white chocolate and Oreo cookie crumbs is not a good flavor combination. And yes, I know it seems as though I am being really picky, but I am a detail-oriented person. So there. However, much like my tumultous relationship with the accountant, I will give this place another try because I really do want things to work out (also, it's in close proximity to my office).
(2)Giovanni M.
Excellent experience: great drink menu (and dining menu) and courteous, talented bar staff. I enjoyed the atmosphere when I had dinner at the bar, it was happy hour, so the place was fairly busy, but I wasn't lost in the shuffle or jostled by the crowd. I look forward to visiting again the next time I'm in Chicago. If you happen to meet Donnie (owner/manager?), you're in for a treat, he's really smart, funny guy with a wealth of knowledge and humor.
(4)Ed B.
Great food. Excellent service. Steep prices. Try there custom brewed beer (excellent!)
(4)Bobs C.
Tavern is an awesome place. The location is absolutely phenomenal. I took my gf there and we ordered the filet mignon and the chopped steak burger. The filet mignon was cooked to perfection and is easily the top 3 filet in the city The chopped burger was awesome. Very flavorful and would order again.
(5)Pat K.
Food was good, but our credit card was hacked. Our server took our credit card to pay our bill and a few minutes after that, over $700 in purchases (that we did not make) was charged to our account. Our credit card company picked up suspicious activity and stopped further charges. We called the restaurant and talked to the manager. He did not seem to care. He never even asked for the server's name. We will not be going back to this restaurant and warn you to pay with cash here or not go at all.
(1)Brandon B.
Finally stopped in here after living right by it for a few years: I always assumed it would be a rather crowded and touristy place based on location; however on a late Saturday after a concert they accommodated us quickly at 11pm. Nice service. We enjoyed a drink and desserts. The desserts are massive: about 4 times the size of the usual expected portion at least! The bread pudding was quite good, about 8 servings and this wasn't too expensive, and the key lime creme brûlée was decent but the key lime aspect was not as expected (just a few lime rinds glazed on the top). The biggest turnoff was the decor in the main bar up front: combination of aged smoky hotel lounge meets tourist show (with pictures of the biggest tourist destinations hanging around--not really great pictures, they didn't match the rest of the place), mostly clientele of foreign visitors and post-meeting business types in suits. Not trendy or snazzy at all, a bit on the dark side. I will check out the patio and other rooms when the weather gets better but I am not too motivated to return based on food, since glancing on the food menu it looks rather overpriced as well. But lets try again later
(2)Kim K.
We absolutely loved everything about it! The best salmon I've ever eaten! Prime rib outstanding also. Beautiful place! Great service! Wonderful location! Wirth every cent! Will definitely return!
(5)Chicago B.
Excellent food, excellent service, and a great place to go for any business deal meeting anytime. I was there for lunch last Friday, and even though it was the start of a holiday weekend the restaurant served up the same great meal with impeccable service that I have grown to expect and respect time after time. This is an awesome place to get an unbelievable meal.
(4)Steven E.
I was in town for a conference and found this place a walk down from my hotel. I was greeted by a racist yuppie whom promptly passed me off to the next available server. I opted to sit at the bar. Bartender was cordial and quick to meet my needs. Book makers sandwich was great. Beer selection was limited and under stocked. Would visit again for the sandwich. However, I have a small tolerance for racism; as that is the lowest form of ignorance. Not to typecast of course.
(1)Linda F.
This restaurant is at the corner of Randolph and Michigan Avenue, across the street from Millennium Park. It couldn't be more convenient. I've been here several times and have to say that it doesn't disappoint. The food is consistently good. Try the chili or the chili, especially on a cold evening. Those at our table had fish and chips, chopped salad, and the cheeseburger. All of these meals got good reviews. It appeared that our waiter was new on the job. He had a few challenges and had to correct bringing the wrong soup to the table. Service was a little slow but this was very busy place to be since it was dinner time.
(3)Jennifer A.
First, I will say that the food was very good and the ambiance was just right. We made reservations for our family of 6 (siblings and spouses) and asked for a 'good table' and they gave us a private room circular table, which was fantastic. I am only giving it 2 stars because the service was TERRIBLE. We waited about 10 minutes at our table without anyone greeting us or taking a drink order. We went and spoke to the concierge who would 'take care of it' and that is when he sent in 'David', our waiter. We were happy to see him and joked that we 'only waited about 2 hours for someone to come say hi'. He said in response 'well, then, you can wait 2 more hours and walked out of the room! He didn't come back for about 3 minutes to which he said, 'I hope you learned your lesson'. We apologized and told him that we were just joking and he said 'well, it wasn't funny'. That moment set a very somber tone for the rest of the evening and it was very tense in the room any time he walked in. A few days later we called the restaurant to speak to the manager (as I think they would want to know about this rude wait staff person) and the manager was 'too busy to talk'. We asked if he could call us back and the reply was 'no, you can just continue to call and maybe one of the times you call he will be available'. We told the person on the phone that we would rather talk about what happened on the phone rather than on yelp, Trip Advisor, etc., to which he replied "you have to do what you have to do". So that is what I'm doing. It is a restaurant in a great location with really good food, but I don't think anyone needs to be treated like we were treated when spending over $300 for a meal.
(2)Chris A.
Food was decent, but nothing that would have us recommending this to our friends who visit the Windy City. We both got steaks, and they were seasoned alright. Nothing was particularly wrong with our meal, just nothing stuck out to us and made us think that we should come back. The location is a big plus, although we did not have a view in the room we ate. Also had no trouble making a reservation just a few hours before dining.
(3)Illinois C.
We arrived for our 6:45 reservation an hour early and immediately found a seat at the bar. Good thing... Because this place became very lively quickly. A couple martinis later we were seated at a window booth. Fantastic wine selection and excellent service! I had the Halibut over asparagus with a lemon cream sauce and my husband had the Blackened Grouper over sauteed spinach. Both dishes arrived hot and were gobbled up in no time. So goooood!! We were seeing a performance at the Harris Theater across the street at 8:00 and got there right on time. Wonderful dining experience! The owner of the restaurant even checked up on us to make sure everything was perfect. We will be back!
(5)Lin C.
I had been here about 5 years ago while on business. This was a trip to the Windy City with my Dad and surprisingly I remembered the name of it and how to get to it! I guess it was because this place is a gem. It's spendy for sure, but the service is fabulous and the food is fantastic. We started with what my Dad thought would be the grossest appetizer on the menu....the fig proscuitto flatbread. He reluctantly tried it and ate half of it....he loved it! We then had their slider sampler...turkey, beef and I forget the other type of burger- i just remember that they were all very good. I was disappointed as they no longer have fat tire beer (New belgium beer isn't available in Ma) but the server helped us select some other brews....he made great recommendations. (we went with their private label goose island) Make this a stop when you visit Chicago!
(5)Mallorie R.
Wonderful! Came here for a bachelorette party. We got perfect seats with a window view of the city. Their cocktails are creative and delicious. The food was incredible. Service was excellent. Very attentive and fun. Highly recommended.
(5)Kassie D.
Stopped by for lunch on a Monday; the service was very attentive, and large portions of tasty food. Seemed a favourite place for a business lunch. I liked the layout and decor of the place, and with reasonable prices. Ideal place for a great meal with friends without being overly expensive.
(5)MoMo K.
the environment is really nice but the service isn't the best. we had to ask our Waiter three times for bread. and we ran out of water, but waiter didn't refill it. she was more occupied with the other tables with older folks. it was probably because she wanted to get their tip money and thought we wouldn't tip well because we are college students. And it took forever to get our food! at least 35 minutes. Also, if you want to sit on rooftop on a busy night, you need to get there an hour ahead an pit yourself on waiting list. The view from the rooftop is AMAZING! I went in on a Saturday night.
(3)Melanie S.
With its proximity to Millennium Park, you'd probably think Tavern at the Park would be a bona-fide tourist trap. And you'd be right. The food actually isn't bad; it's just completely overpriced for the portion sizes. The menu is full of "safe" choices meant to appeal to those with an unsophisticated palate. This isn't necessarily meant to sound derisive; sometimes I rather enjoy "plain" food (for lack of a better word) and I certainly don't mind spending money if food is tasty, well-prepared and fills my stomach. The latter is the biggest issue I have with TatP. Today, for instance, I ordered a grilled vegetable salad. For $14, I expect it to fill me up. Now granted, I did not add on a protein to the salad (mainly because it would have turned into a $20 entree), but I foolishly thought a salad with grilled zucchini, peppers, corn, and tomatoes would suffice. My friend's caesar salad, to which she added salmon, came with a hefty price tag of $21, and it was the teensiest piece of salmon I've seen. Ridiculous. My salad was fine, but the portion made it look more like a "side" salad than one meant to, I don't know, actually fill me up. I'm back in the office after lunch and I feel as if I didn't eat anything. I'm on the verge of breaking my cardinal rule of scrounging in the office kitchen looking for whatever leftover food there might be from one of the lunch meetings we always seem to have. Normally, the thought of that horrifies me, but sometimes desperate times call for desperate measures. Service is perfectly fine. It's efficient and professional; no complaints there. They have a nice rooftop area to sit when the weather cooperates. That's pretty much all of the positives I can come up with at the moment. You could do worse. But you definitely can do better.
(2)Amy Z.
Great service, though we were seated in a fishbowl type room. We had requested patio space but they were unable to accommodate the request. It was understandable since we were a rather large group (6 total) and it was beautiful out on a Friday afternoon. The special of fish tacos was okay. The breading was slightly off-putting and strangely crunchy. Another member of my party ordered the buffalo mac and cheese, which did not include buffalo sauce mixed in as expected. It was a few peices of buffalo chicken strips over mac and cheese. She indicated it was good, but unexpected.
(4)Megha S.
Our second visit to the Tavern with an international guest was a complete embarrassment. Drinks were ok but came in as slow as 20 monocytes after order was placed couple times. Food was worse than what I can get at one of the Italian chains-watery chicken and the pasta dish were just bad. Worst $130.00 spent
(2)Jackie K.
Tourist in Chicago, end up hungry, must have food, end up here and annoyed. Most expensive cappacino in the world (more than nyc) and the food was only okay. Service was great---we sat at the bar and he was available but not hovering. Food was not that good which is surprising because I was so hungry so I cannot image what would have happened if I wasn't starving. I would never come back.
(2)Publius K.
In the tradition of a 1920s speakeasy run by soulless gangsters, this boisterously crass establishment excels at rolling the drunks, short changing the chumps, and shearing the tourist sheep who have the misfortune of being steered here by complicit huckster concierges at the nearby hotels. Their glorified pub grubby burgers at a Jackson per cheap smeared bun are cynically crafted to club you into a food coma while rolling you pickled and salty over a barrel with the stingiest pours of mediocre California wines I have seen anywhere, ever, in a lifetime of travel. You can feel yourself being brutally ravaged into parched penury milliliter by milliliter, as you watch your wine grudgingly dribbled from a small flask into large glasses as if to mock you, the victim, with your debauched and masochistic consent. Definitely for a boorish younger set that will burn through piles of money for the merest of satisfactions, indeed out of feckless self-indulgence when little or no satisfaction is to be had. The help seemed as brutalized as their clientele were indifferent, while wolfish managers stood watch like gangster thugs. Not Chicago at its best, more like a stockyard brothel, and you, my meaty tourist friend, are the one on the menu.
(1)Brian K.
We had a work function here and had half the terrace reserved so I don't know if this is the best review to describe Tavern at the Park for individual outings. Service was good and overall, an enjoyable place for good conversation with a great view. "The Park" being Mil. Park. The food wasn't impressive but then again, we weren't there to eat but to catch up and network.
(3)Brandon L.
Met for a Saturday night dinner, did make reservations, but found out that we could have just showed up. She had a steak and I had halibut. The steak came out smaller than expected, but was good and the halibut was great. The wait staff was attentive almost to a fault. For dessert we shared a piece of bread pudding, which was huge. It was a bit drier than I like, but still good. All in all it was a great place to eat and talk.
(4)Justin B.
Tavern on the Park, located right across from Millenium Park, offers a great location for business lunches, client dinners, or after work cocktails with friends. Serves an array of contemporary American dishes, I love their French onion soup, which you can get in a cup (even though a bowl is the only thing listed on the menu), and their bookmaker steak sandwich. The goat cheese salad is also a nice weekday lunch entree. I, and everyone I know that's eaten here, consider this a "very good place" to dine. Service has been pretty top notch. Each time I go, it's been good. The bar can get pretty crowded, so don't expect to get in and out quickly. And, this place gets pretty crowded just about every weekday. Lunch reservations are HIGHLY recommended. They also have one private room, which seats a max of seven (?), and can be reserved. Be sure to check out their rooftop deck! It's a great place to show off the city while enjoying a dirty martini! A lunch for two without cocktails can run about $40-50. Televisions are at the bar only. (If you're looking for a sports bar, this is not the place.)
(3)Janet E.
We came here to try out their restaurant week menu. Here is what we had: APPETIZERS: Crab Stuffed Artichoke Bottoms with Béarnaise-Blue Crab & Bardai Crab in a Vegetable Confetti Stuffing, Topped with a Béarnaise Glaze (this dish was somewhat bland to me and came out luke warm) Duck Confit & Onion Tartlet- Pissaladière Crust, Carr's Valley Ménage a Trois Cheese, Crispy Duck Confit & Caramelized Sweet Onions (this dish came out straight from the oven and was hot (temperature). It tasted really good but the duck was somewhat dry and ended up very chewy (like jerky)) ENTREES: Seared Striped Bass with Wild Rice & Fried Apple Hash-Allagash White & Shallot Crème Fraiche (this dish was very good) Tournedos a la Forestiere with Pommes Rissolées-Tenderloin Medallions with Crimini, Oyster & White Cap Mushrooms in a Whiskey Demi With Roasted Potatoes (the meat was too dry for me) DESSERT: Banana Cream Pie- The Classic with Caramel Drizzle (delicious! fresh whole chunks of bananas slathered with whip cream on top) OMG Devil's Food Cake- Dense, Rich Chocolate Cake Ganache Fudge Filling & Vanilla Butter Cream (delicious! -more delicious than the banana cream pie) The ambiance here was really nice. I enjoyed sitting at their booth tables facing the park. Also our server was very attentive to us and he always had another service person to take away our dishes when we told them we were finished with our dish. The majority of the patrons here seemed to be professionals getting together after work for drinks. Although the restaurant is located next to Millennium park, it was not touristy at all.
(4)Jacob A.
Ive been a here few times for cocktails on the rooftop and it was a decent time. We went for lunch today as our office is close by and it was a great meal. We sat at the bar and the bartenders were very prompt and knowledge about the menu. Gave us some good suggestions on what to order. My glass of water was never empty. The food was really good and a generous portion for what we ordered. Will definitely be back!
(5)Daniel M.
This review is for the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I went to check out the rooftop but was denied entry. My boyfriend and I were dressed in formal wear. The hostess was very rude and simple said we couldn't go up there even though the whole place was empty. I asked if there was a private party and they said no. I feel like they discriminated against us or at the very least were giving us the shaft. I understand if you want to make your place exclusive and high end but this establishment is not at that level. Furthermore, both of us were dressed in formal wear and dress shoes. I will never return to this place because there are so many other bars in the city that provide respectful service, better views, and actual high end services.
(1)Scott J.
So we read that this place was good so we stopped in on our way to The Bean... It was very upscale inside without being pretentious...and I have to admit that although my fish and chips had a great batter, my date's Shrimp Louie looked phenomena!! We enjoyed good drinks and great service!!! A great place for a solid meal when touring the park/shopping!
(4)Janette W.
All I did all week was read reviews and see signs for this new Treehouse rooftop bar at Tavern. Sadly, it was closed for the day when I went by! We opted to pop inside for a quick drink. A little corporate but not a bad choice.
(3)Brittany Y.
The food: I ordered the dinner salad and swapped out the vinaigrette for blue cheese dressing and I got the Ashely's mac and cheese. My salad was a decent sized portion for 7 dollars, bueno. The mac and cheese though looked delicious "looked"...it was bland though. My sister had the chopped steak burger, she also said her food was bland. My mother had the smoked pepper wings and the ice berg wedge salad. She said her wings were awesome but....she has lost her sense of smell so smell and taste go hand in hand. The iceberg wedge was ginormous but, it's iceberg, I personally don't eat iceberg but if you want to get full from eating salad that's the ticket. The Staff: From the reviews I was kind of worried. I was expecting to run into some snobby waiters/waitresses with horrible attitudes. Complete opposite bro. Our server, Jimmy, was probably one of the nicest, friendliest and most helpful waiters I have ever had in my entire life! He was super attentive and he kept bringing us refills *without us having to ask* and pouring my water for me. The hostesses were very kind as well. Even other people's waiters were nice to me. I think about 5 of the other staff came to tell me happy birthday and they gave me a ballon when I turned down the birthday dessert *I was stuffed*. The interior: Those carpeted stairs won my heart! I had on the most slippery shoes and I was horrified when I saw we had to use the stairs but they were covered by nice plushy carpet...praise Yoda. The booths are nice and big. I'm tall and sitting in a little booth makes me feel awkward so that was great. And there were mirrors everywhere I looked...AWESOME!
(4)Beau E.
What a great place to hang out, enjoy some people-watching, and have some of the best food and beers in the area! I tried the wings, which were excellent. They smoke them and then bake them, so they are lighter and crispier than fried wings. Then we moved on to the Bookmaker steak sandwich, and it was fantastic! Truffle oil, steak, and onion straws on a pretzel bun. Best steak sandwich in Chicago! Best rooftop in the area as well. Great view of the park so go around sunset and enjoy this awesome spot!
(5)Jazmyne M.
I made a reservation for my birthday and had to wait a couple minutes but that was okay because the wait was over an for those who didn't! The food was AMAZING! I had the warm goat cheese and butternut squash ravioli ! So yummy! Our waiter Cory was excellent as well!
(5)D B.
Had a few hours to kill before heading to the airport and stumbled into this spot with the help of Yelp. Was a beautiful fall day so I sat on the sidewalk patio in the sun. Was just in for lunch so I didn't get a whole lot. I ordered a steak salad that was delicious and served with plenty of steak. Others eating around all had good looking meals on their plates.
(4)Tim R.
Food = decent. Service = meh. And meh is being nice Wanted to take out a group from my team including out of country guests to see Chicago and picked a restaurant that I hoped would have a view. Got to the restaurant and was unsympathetically (I'll stop short of saying rudely, but it was close) that while we had a reservation which in the comments asked for outside or nice view, they do not take reservations for outside seating and we were out of luck. We were told to enjoy our viewless crappy table by the bar. (Since the Blackhawks were on and it was near a TV we stayed, otherwise would of bolted). I was told that this is clearly stated in Opentable and when I said no its not I was rudely (I will now say it was rude) told I was wrong. Except when I explained you do not see this warning when you book open table from yelp, then the host had nothing to say. No apology, no offer to do anything to make us have a pleaseant experience, or any care to fix said issue. (So yep reader beware) Big fail as any attempt to make us feel better will be welcome. I entertain a lot of clients downtown and this would of been a great option for the future. After last night, no thanks. Waaaaay to many other nice restaurants in Chicago who would like my business and would not let a simple misunderstanding hurt the customer's experience. The original misunderstanding was a chance to do something to win us back. They failed. I will say the food was good, though. I enjoyed the halibut and most of guest liked the food. Beer selection was okay enough to find some options. Service was ok. Our server was training another server. I am not sure who was the trainee and the experienced. They were not rude, just neither added much to the experience and they where clumsy on the script. (Like at the last minuted remembered there were specials on the table , but not understanding of what they were or what they recommended) It a shame because the location is awesome (well, not our cramped viewless corner table, but other seat locations and the roof) and the food was more than decent. Other's be warned your better off NOT having a reservation and putting your name is early, kill some time at the park, and come back if you want a view. If the restaurant would like more details, I am glad to share. I am an honest reviewer and rarely post negative comments but in this case, yelp readers need to be aware.
(2)Amelia D.
Mediocre and greasy food. The chicken wings were decent but everything else we ordered was pretty subpar. Booked the reservation mostly for the view... Which unfortunately we didn't get to enjoy because it was raining out.
(2)Mark H.
I was in Chicago for a conference and didn't want to stray far from my hotel one evening so we walked to Tavern on the Park. Aki was our server and he was fantastic and certainly did his part to make the meal very good. I ordered a seared scallop salad and it was absolutely fantastic! The scallops were fresh and cooked to perfection. Presentation was also done very well. Cocktails weren't under poured and they had fantastic blue cheese stuffed Olives for our Martinis. I was really impressed here and didn't expect to be. Nice surprise and I'll certainly be back the next time I'm in Chicago.
(4)Caitlin G.
There didn't really seem to be anything special about this place. The food was good, but not great and the atmosphere was nice, but nothing special. It's a pretty great location though, across from the park and ideal if you're headed out to a show later on.
(3)Michelle F.
Yum, Yum, Triple Yum!! My friend has a condo right down the street, and when he asked if we had ever been to Tavern at The Park, we said no. He was delighted to bring us, and we were delighted to be eating/drinking there. WOW, was this place fantastic!! Our server was attentive, fast, and the drinks were very strong :) We ordered a round of wine and my husband loved that they had his coveted Matilda! My moscato was delightful! I know it's technically a "dessert wine" but I like to consider moscato to be an "anytime wine". I also had a martini on their specials list--it was cinnamon something. It was strong!! So don't be the DD after drinking here! Now onto the food! My friend had the chicken picatta--I didn't try it, but he said it was amazing! My husband ordered the Max Burger. DO NOT ORDER THIS IF YOU ARE SMALL. Seriously, the thing was bigger than his outstretched hands (go look at the picture if you don't believe me!) and the fries it came with were delicious, too! I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. It was good, but I don't really know why they were called "crispy" meatballs. There really wasn't anything crispy about them...I mean don't get me wrong, they were really good, but not crispy. But the sauce was good, and the noodles were al dente which I really liked! For dessert, my friends ordered the fried bananas, and my husband and I ordered the carrot cake that was on the specials menu. The fried banana was cool and different, but the carrot cake is the BEST carrot cake I have EVER had!! And it was HUGE!! I wish I had a picture of it! But I was too busy nomming on it to grab the camera :)
(5)Jacques M.
After my previous review one of the mangers reached out to me, in order to better explain the situation. Our room was not in fact sold to another client, despite my previous understanding. To the best of my knowledge, you can comfortably reserve a private room at TATP. That being said if your unable to get a private room for your party (I'm talking about 20 or more people here, not small groups) , I wouldn't recommend trying to hold a private party in the bar area for some of the reason previously stated. Again, the service was excellent and the food was good also. The manager reaching out showed me they do care about feedback from the customers.
(3)Drea K.
We chose Tavern at the Park for our Wedding Rehearsal dinner and were thrilled with the results. Their mid-sized private dining room is very nice and accommodated our party of 40+ well. We chose the family style dinner, starting with caesar salad, prime rib and whitefish paired with green beans and mac n'cheese and had the carmel apple dessert. Everything was sensational! Truly, all of our guests were chatting about how great the food was. Additionally the staff during planning and on the night of our rehearsal dinner were all attentive, efficient, and very easy to work with. The staff on the night of was great in terms of making sure that everyone had drinks, that everyone was eating at the same time, etc. We were very, very pleased and would absolutely recommend this as a spot for large party dinner.
(5)Jeb B.
The shrimp Louie is a mess. Overall subpar for the price. Nice location and decent service.
(2)Lawrence C.
Tuna taco appetizer is great! Grouper was great and the service was outstanding. This was a month ago but I do know I said I would go back.
(4)Melanie V.
Best service EVER. The bf picked Tavern at the Park for Vday 'cuz he saw that they extended their Restaurant Week menu. We had a little bit of a fail for Restaurant Week, so he thought this might make up for it. First off, service was incredible. For this location, I assumed that we would be dealing with snobbiness all night, but I was really wrong. Everyone was really friendly, especially our darling waiter. We were seated in one of the large booths (which was perfect for sharing convo AND people watching). For the Restaurant Week menu, I choose to the duck confit flatbread and the bf ordered the crab stuffed artichoke. We ended up swapping apps, though, as we liked each other's picks better. The flatbread was good, but I really liked the crab/artchoke combo. My main entree was the sea bass which came with this apple hash, rice and amazingly addictive spicy sauce. I have no idea what that suace was, but it pretty much made the dish. The bf ordered the beef medallions, so when they brought out this huge piece of beef, I thought to myself, "Wow, they don't really skimp on the portions here." If you know me, you know that I have no clue about steak/prime rib/cuts of beef, so I didn't realize that they brought out the wrong thing. Neither did my bf, apparently. When the waiter came by, he was absolutely appalled that they brought out the wrong dish. A couple minutes later, when my bf was mid-bite, one of the managers came around with the dish he actually ordered. I thought they were just going to swap out the items, but the manager actually wrapped up the initial dish for us to take home! Amazing! I was pretty food coma'ing at this point, but I couldn't refuse taking a few bites of the fantastic banana cream pie. It was probably the hugest slice of pie I've ever seen. Since my bf wanted an after dinner sip of something (and I did NOT want scotch), the waiter suggested Frangelico. When I admitted that I've had grappa and limoncello, but never frangelico, the waiter offered to bring me out a sample so I could figure out if I liked it. It was honestly the best thing ever (and I started wondering how I've never had it!) and it was the perfect way to cap off the meal! Lovely. So lovely.
(5)Poloprincez Z.
My fiancé and I came here for dinner the other night. The service was great, but the food was mediocre. I had their chopped salad which was flavorless and felt like the salad had been sitting for dAys. My fiancé had the lobster which was obviously the better choice. For dessert, we had carrot cake which was huge but also mediocre. The good thing about this place is the service and atmosphere.
(3)Susie C.
I love the atmosphere here. This is the second time I've been here for lunch around the holidays. I don't remember what I had last year, but this year I ordered the chopped salad. I came with few co workers, and we shared two appetizers. One was the onion straws and the other was fried calamari. Both was delicious! My chopped salad was good. I asked the rest of my co workers what they thought of their food, and they all loved it. Always heard good reviews about this place. The only thing that does stop me from coming here always is the price. It is relatively expensive, but the food is good. Inside the restaurant it's very warm and cozy..and since it's the holidays they put up Christmas lights and other decors. Our servers have always been nice :)
(4)Nick T.
Was visiting Chicago recently and hung out at The Plaza at Park Grill. A couple we met there recommended we try the Tavern, and while The Plaza was great, I wish i had saved more of my appetite for the Tavern! First and foremost, the smoked chicken wings were the best wings I've ever tasted anywhere, and I'm no stranger to wings. These alone could have garnered the Tavern a 5-star review, but everything else was great as well. They came with tradition hot sauce as well as a cherry cola BBQ, but they were so good plain I was neglecting the sauces. I paired the wings with a Kentucky Bourbon Ale, which was as flavorful as it was smooth. For dessert, we tried the bread pudding (made with apples, blueberries, and lemon curd sauce) and a drink called The Peach Around. I'm not usually a fan of peaches or baked apple, but both were great and they paired fantastically. The bread pudding must have the size and weight of a cinder block, I've seen mixed reviews regarding the service, but I had no complaints. We sat at the bar, and the bartenders were knowledgeable, jovial, and welcoming. While the atmosphere is definitely more upscale, I never felt out of place despite the fact that I was wearing a T-shirt and jeans. Will definitely be returning the next time I'm in the area.
(5)Susan S.
Service is great, but food was a bit disappointing. We ordered the most recommended bookmaker burger but it's just so-so. And the risotto is very different from what I had at other Italian restaurants. I don't like it very much.
(2)Andrea H.
I went here with my work team for lunch. This place has good and bad qualities, which is why I am giving it 3 stars. The venue is great, as you would expect for the trendy location (right across from Millennium Park.) Upscale atmosphere and nicely decorated. Out of six people, our lunches were all huge portion sizes and all consistently mediocre. The food was underwhelming in terms of freshness, flavor, and presentation. I got the Louis salad with shrimp and it was two days worth of lunches for me for a pretty reasonable $14. The shrimp was huge but smelled fishy, which to me says "Not Fresh". The girl who ordered fish tacos got tons of bland fried fish in a soft shell taco. Um, yuck. The sausage pizza looked really tasty though, and the pot pie was good, hard-core comfort food. Everyone agreed the best part of the entire meal was desert, which was a freshly baked chocolate brownie with vanilla ice cream. It was the size of a truck but since it was feeding six people, that was ok! I would come here again for drinks aand an appetizer (ie the sausage pizza) and desert.
(3)Tim O.
Unbeatable location and great atmosphere. Service was exceptionally friendly. My guest and I both had steak sandwiches which were $25 each. The meat was indeed actually steak and it was cooked correctly. A little pricey for a "Tavern", but most definitely not a tourist trap.
(4)Sherri K.
This is one of those places where, traditionally, you know you are going to get great service and great food. Presentation is important and the staff works hard to maintain the integrity of the establishment. My dining partner had some gluten free restrictions and the waiter went above and beyond to confirm what dishes she could eat or not (even down to the teriyaki sauce). We enjoyed a couple appetizers - the dry wings were a little crispy for my taste, but the flavor was well done. The ahi tuna was perfect and the petite side salad that came with it not only offered a little color on the plate but was delicious and fresh as well. I also enjoyed the french onion soup which had an amazing cheese top, perfectly cooked onions and a tasty bread. It is the kind of onion soup I expect every time I think about and order onion soup. Great wine list! On point service! Bravo!
(5)Leang E.
We came here for a coworker's birthday lunch in addition to it being Administrative Professionals Day, and I believe our little lady felt extremely special as we were seated at a table for 7 in a private room. It was so incredibly nice, and I didn't even mention an occasion. I love the little touches they do here. The manager had also come in to check on us and see how things were going. The waiter made sure our water was filled to the top of our glasses. I had the Chicken Hash that was recommended by our server and it was pretty good. I think if the dish blew me away and we got our food a little quicker I would have given the place the 5th start. The portions are huge here, and the service was outstanding. The prices are comparable for downtown, and I'd love to come back and try other dishes.
(4)Leslie K.
Looking for a safe gluten free meal, go somewhere else. Party of three, one gluten free. Ordered a short rib burger without the bun, but romaine lettuce to make a wrap. Was served a different burger with a bun on it. Sent it back, got the short rib burger with no bun visible. When I picked some of the meat up to put it in a lettuce leaf I found that the bottom of the bun it had been on was still there. This is spite of making it very clear that gluten/wheat/bread was a huge allergy problem. Sent it back. In the meantime the rest of the party was served their entrees 10 minutes apart so that the tree of us all had to eat a different times. A wholly unsatisfactory experience even after the manager got involved. Will never go back. One star for location, negative stars for attention to allergies.
(1)Julee W.
Our food was not good Our service was mediocre Our cocktails were watery Our wine had turned Even after saying the wine was bad the server kept asking us what we want to do. So awkward, no one even apologized to us and we had to pay way more for a not spoiled bottle??? The brisket was hard and overcooked. The snapper was served in an overly acidic sauce.... Everything was bland. The only good thing about this place (not the seven TVs glaring in your face) is the location.
(1)Rose T.
We came here for a little break from the art museum. It is a really beautiful restaurant. We usually prefer a bar top, but we randomly decided to get a table. This is the only negative part about our visit because we sat in a booth right behind the host stand. Our server Marc and the busser were great, very professional and helpful. We never needed anything and timing was great. Our food was cooked to perfection.
(4)Eric B.
Don't eat here. But they have Templeton Rye and make reasonably good Manhattans . . . Don't eat here. But they have Domaine Dupage and Dead Guy by the bottle . . . Don't eat here. But they have New York Strip specials and cook a fine rare steak . . . Don't eat here. But, but, but . . . When your steak arrives and you want to wash it down with a lovely Malbec, your waitress will not bring it out to you, because you haven't finished your Manhattan. Your waitress will refer to some nonexistent city statute she isn't intelligent enough to cite, which states you can't have two drinks in front of you at once, and you must finish your cocktail, which you wanted to save for after your dinner, before you'll get your wine with dinner. This sort of nonsense is why the terrorists are winning. Pink Floyd would not stand for this nonsense and neither should you. Don't eat here.
(1)Kristy A.
The view was pretty awesome - the service not so much. I showed up pretty early having heard that the place gets busy. There's a hostess (gatekeeper) at the entrance downstairs, who needs a walkie talkie to know what's going on upstairs. She didn't bother to ask me whether I wanted inside or outside seating and I didn't know to specify, so I ended up at the outdoor bar rather than being sat inside by the hostess at the top of the stairs. The only seat available was the one next to the service bar - not something I usually mind, except that I spent the entire time listening to the servers bitch and complain about their customers. Another patron at the bar (a regular) recommended that I didn't eat there (not a good sign) and I was annoyed with the servers, so I left after one drink and went elsewhere for dinner.
(2)Samantha H.
I was in need of a pre theater dinner and you can only go to Petterinos and Atwood so many times so I decided to check this out. As expected, tons of tourists and suburbanites on a Friday, but that is due to the location. I actually really liked the ambiance in there. I expected it to me more bland and touristy but it was quite charming. They have a huge menu, which I am actually not a fan of but if you like that sort of thing, plenty to choose from here. Kudos for having Pride Merlot on the wine list. The food was okay. I got the scallops, which were supposed to come with habenero but I got no spice. They were decent though. My husband got the French dip. The bread was massive. Again, it was okay. Nothing special but not bad either. The fries were the same. The real star was Nicholas, our server. Very attentive and knowledgeable about the menu. Not a place I'd go out of my way to get to but decent if you're in the neighborhood and ask to sit in Nicholas' section.
(3)Victor P.
Post SAIC Graduation dinner. We were very hungry after a long day but I also wanted it to be a great dining experience. Was not disappointed. Alright it is on the expensive side but the food and service was worth it. The graduate had the sliced Ahi Tuna..."cooked" to perfection. I had the Filet. Also perfect. Wife had the roasted beet salad. Another winner. Hummus and pizza were the starters. Great. All food was tasty and satisfied my desire for a grand dinner. Which was aided by great service. I recommend the Tavern, but don't forget a large roll of cash (of course they accept plastic) but well worth the expense.
(5)Julie D.
Came in without a reservation on a Thursday night with no issues. We were seated outside where we had a view of the tour buses in front of Millennium park. The free bread was really good -- a raisin bread and some sort of garlic roll with whipped butter. We ordered one of their specials, a smoked salmon flatbread appetizer. It was basically like a salmon pizza without the tomato sauce. It was REALLY good... had to contain myself because I still had an entree coming. I got the Lake Superior whitefish since it was something I couldn't get very fresh in California. The fish was very tender and plentiful (couldn't finish it). It came on delicious whipped potatoes and some sort of ragu which was flavorful but sort of weird with the fish. My fiance got the little steak dollars, or whatever they are called, with whipped potatoes. The meat looked well-cooked. The final damage was about $100.
(4)Christine M.
While on Michigan Avenue shopping (Saturday afternoon) three of us decided to stop and eat (walking makes you sooo hungry). The food was GREAT, service was GREAT - the only downfall was outside seating only had like 5 tables and the upper outside seating "doesn't open till 4p....otherwise we were all VERY HAPPY. Be prepared for a wait approx. 20-30 min BUT well worth it!
(5)Grace E.
I had a lovely dining experience at Tavern at the Park. Before catching a 7:00 show at the Oriental Theater, I sat out on the patio at 5:30pm to enjoy a glass of wine, side salad, and Halibut entree. The service was polite and courteous, and I really enjoyed watching tourists walking to and from Millennium Park. The food wasn't spectacular, but it was pleasant and left me content. For its price point, there are certainly better places to dine in the city, but for the convenience of location, patio view, and service, Tavern gets 4 stars from me.
(4)Alicia C.
Visited the restaurant on a whim after a walk in the loop on a Friday afternoon. They have prime real estate to capture all the tourists coming out of art institute and millennium park. Great outdoor seating --- street and rooftop available although good luck getting it on a nice day. We had a very solicitous waiter and seemed well trained in the necessary chit chat. Took the payment before my partner was done with his beer. Poor form. Food: The bread tastes very processed--- and it was the kind of warm where they let it stand around and get cold and stuck it in the oven for a minute before it was served. It was also really shiny--ie greasy? Kind of scary when my bread is shinier than the bald head of the guy sitting one table over. I had the black truffle chicken hash while my partner had the chicken pot Pie. We also shared a calamari appetizer. Food was very bland -- especially my chicken hash. Calamari was a bit too greasy for my taste although I did appreciate that they fried the spices with the squid. Pot pie was probably the best item we ordered although it wasn't the kind of creamy pie I was expecting. Everything felt very greasy-- and not sure why it all had to be. I would say this place is pretty standard in the restaurant desert of southern Michigan Av. I think it tries to go for atmosphere more than food. And unless you are a tourist wanting a close place to eat, not worth it.
(3)Lauren F.
To start on a good note, the bread and service were impeccable. The ambience is nice and it's in a convenient location. Unfortunately, this place lacks a good dose of originality. Most of the drinks on the menu looked appealing, but none were creative. I decided on a drink that is normally served with a $200 necklace (though I went sans Tiffany). It was pleasant enough, but it was on the flat side. The house infused pair of vodka used in the drink, however, was tasty. The food menu went the same way. Everything that was on the menu I have seen a dozen times at other restaurants. We ordered an appetizer, which was presented very well, but it wasn't special enough to convince us to stick around for the main course. Overall, a solid restaurant with no pizzazz.
(2)Jennifer M.
Great location as they are right across from the park and near many theaters. Perfect for dinner before the show. I ordered the blackened grouper which was delish and not too heavy. I don't know if there was anything that truly standout about my experience, but I would go back when I'm in the area.
(4)Lily N.
We stopped by to grab a drink and some appetizers after visiting the CloudGate (Bean). Our waitress, Louisa, was awesome! She was nice and gave her honest opinion. It wasn't hard as the food is quite good. We ordered the Fried Calamari and Warm Goat Cheese. The latter was delicious! I had to slow down to ensure I didn't eat it all. The goat cheese flavor was not overpowering. Plus it was a great vegan option. (The word gravy had us uncertain). The Calamari was just so-so. It included the tentacles (Warning!). So if you are not a fan, specify. The reason for the 3 stars was the texture. Somehow it tasted almost soggy with oil. The flavor was a good balance of lemon, but the oily taste/texture made me unhappy. Then the dip was not anything special. It didn't offset the oil. Maybe marinara would have been better. The drinks: was great!!!!!! We ordered the breast cancer special and the cloudgate without the jewelry. (Tiffany's bean) definitely going back for that!
(3)Jennifer S.
Lobster and salmon and ribs...oh my! On a recent Saturday evening, I had the pleasure of experiencing dinner at Tavern At The Park for the very first time. It was magical like The Wizard of Oz! My party arrived before I did. When I walked in, I was led through a gorgeous dining room. Warm, dark woods. Interesting wall art. Large booths. And...wait for it...comfortable chairs! I sat in one of those for quite a while over a leisurely dinner with family and friends. We started with crispy meatballs and smokey chicken wings. The meatballs definitely were the real deal! Crispy on the outside. Soft and moist on the inside. Expertly combined with a rich Sunday gravy (like Grandpa C. used to make). The wings really surprised me. See, the apps were ordered before I arrived. Honestly, I never would have ordered these. I would have missed this life-changing experience had it not been for my dining companions. Thanks folks! The side sauces were fantastic, but almost unnecessary. Don't misunderstand me. The sauces were spot on, but those wings were seasoned beautifully and the smokiness had me eating every single bite and maybe even licking my fingers. ...Allegedly. ;-) Don't skip the bread and butter. This is very important, so I will say it again. Do not skip the bread and butter. There was a variety of choices available. My favorite? The pull-apart rolls with a bit of cheese melted on top. I indulged in the broiled king salmon. This was the most memorable entree that I have eaten in years. Literally. The cherry and apple glaze on this huge piece of salmon was light, but definitely present. This was served on top of a crispy hashbrown, an onion chutney and a fabulous sauce. I ate every single bite. I'll share a secret with you. I took one of those crazy good rolls and basically wiped my plate clean. I'm not ashamed. There was no way that I could waste a single morsel of that yummy goodness! I nibbled on a little of almost everything that hit our table. I was in heaven. Smokey ribs (another finger lickin' good dish). I had a lobster ravioli. The homemade pasta was perfectly al dente. The sauce was unique in the most deliciously memorable sort of way. Then, the desserts arrived. We tried three of the most luscious sweet treats I have ever laid a fork on before. I can't even tell you which one to order because I would probably want a bite of all three again. First, was a blueberry bread pudding. Fresh blueberries among perfectly executed bread pudding. Not overly sweet. The perfect temperature. Fantastic! Next, there was a slab of carrot cake with caramel sauce. I should use a word other than slab to describe it, but it was a huge piece! How about hunk? Aw, forget it. This carrot cake had the best surprise throughout. Pineapple chunks! Perfect bites of fruit helped to keep the cake moist. The frosting was a cream cheese base with a hint of something else that I couldn't put my finger on. Good? Understatement! If I hadn't been so full at that point, I probably could have eaten a bowl of that frosting. Finally we had a strawberry blues. Imagine blueberry scones (really they are hoecakes, but it was just like a scone), with vanilla ice cream, strawberries, blueberries and whipped cream. Fantastic textures had my mouth dancing for joy! Service was delightful! Our server was helpful, courteous and on top of everything that we needed before we needed it. The manager stopped by a few times over the course of the (leisurely) evening to check on things. He had his eye on every detail and really seems to keep the operation in check. One of the owners also stopped by. He was friendly and down to earth. Obviously attentive to his guests' needs. I waited a couple days to make sure that I wasn't dreaming this whole amazing experience up in my head. I wasn't. I'd like to go back right now. In fact, I'm going to grab my ruby slippers... There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park. There's no place like Tavern At The Park...
(5)Tricia D.
"Burger, get in my belly!" - my conscience to myself during dinner last week If you're going to have a burger with foie gras, duck confit, bacon, and cheese, what can you expect? To pay a lot ($21), to leave with a food baby (check), and to not crave a burger for a while (maybe). The pretzel bun was a great call, and you'll get more fries than you could ever want with this! My burger was prepared medium, like I requested but the bf's Max burger (like breakfast on a burger - fried egg, bacon, sausage patty, cheese atop TWO patties) was a preparation fail. He ordered it well done, and it came out pinker than mine. The manager came by to apologize, the kitchen redid it, and the burger and our (read: my) choice of dessert was comp'ed. If the prices weren't quite as high as they are, I'd dine here more often.
(3)Candia M.
Nice mix of teenager friendly pasta and mom friendly seafood on the dinner menu. Collin is a friendly and knowledgable waiter. The blueberry bread pudding is enough for a party of four.
(4)Belinda A.
My new favorite downtown Chicago rooftop restaurant. The halibut was out of this world and the strawberry breeze dessert left me speechless. Great service and prices are well worth it.
(4)Teresa L.
We were staying at the Hyatt nearby, saw the reviews, and decided to walk over and try it. So glad we did. The ambiance, service and food were fantastic. Would definitely visit again.
(5)Belle L.
Absinthe in Escargot! The only one in Chicago. Absinthe cuts the butter and garlic a bit. Woo hoo! Do request extra bread for dipping. The string fries can be a bit more crispy, but still addictive. Excellent service as we were never rushed even though its last call for the kitchen. Takes initiative. Knowledgeable between the Tavern's Lemonade versus Minute Maid Lemonade.
(5)dean d.
Fancy-pants lunch spot: make sure someone else is picking up the tab then enjoy. I had the Chopped Steak CheeseBurger and asked for Brie (you can pick any cheese you want: loved it.
(4)Dallas M.
This is my favorite place to go after work. Friendly, attentive and professional bartenders. Food is excellent. Wine selection is fantastic. Management is spot on. Try the lobster roll. One of the best I've had outside of Maine. It's the size of your head!
(5)Randolph W.
Excellent filet (lots of garlic butter on it so beware), awesome fries (shoestring style). Excellent service and atmosphere.
(5)Casey M.
Stopped in after a day of shopping and wandering around Millennium Park. Definitely a tourist trap considering the prices you pay for the quality of food. Don't get me wrong, the food is good (not great), but not worth the price. Try the hummus, the fried calamari, and the rotisserie chicken and you will be satisfied. Our waiter, Michael, was nice. Would probably return if someone else was paying (haha), or just for drinks and appetizers. I hear they have beautiful rooftop seating.
(3)Valerie W.
Very cool outdoor patio area that has a great view of the city scape. Service here is friendly and the drinks are good. Can't review the food, but the evening was pleasent and it is certainly a hot spot. Only sad part is that it started to rain on us right when we were finishing our drinks. No biggie, but it was a mad dash to the inside!
(4)Cheryl R.
OMG. We ate here New Year's Eve.. early before the crowds, and sat in the bar with a window seat overlooking a beautiful Chicago view. Our party had the Ashley's mac n cheese. Which was made with a sharp cheddar, and had the option of adding chicken, meatballs, mushrooms, shrimp, beef tenderlion, etc... simply amazing! Also we had the blackened grouper w sauteed spinach, cooked to perfection.. The most amazing burger was the Road house BbQ burger. .. crazy good, and the Book Maker Steak Sandwich was pure heaven. You can't go wrong here people. This will definitely stay on my list of favorites. The service was impeccable! Thanks to Collin for an amazing experience!
(5)Stephanie L.
Went today for lunch. Great ambiance food and staff. Our waiter AJ was great. Definitely coming back!
(5)Rachel S.
Very beautiful inside but wish I would have sat in the upper area outside with the view of the park. Sat at the bar. I ordered "Nectar? Damn near killed her?". Was effing delicious - kind of a gingery taste served with a black cherry. Date ordered a margarita on the rocks and that was very good as well.
(4)Veronica Z.
The roof top is cozy classy just right for a Chicago summer afternoon and evening. Food is fantastic ceviche was DELICIOUS and I am picky when it comes to that dish. Most of all the service, staff and Manager Peter especially makes us feel welcome ALWAYS!! I LOVE THIS PLACE* Great date spot or just to hang out in our beautiful city*
(5)Band E.
Only giving 4 stars because our server (young kid who traveled a lot and had been in the restaurant biz since he was 10) was great. Knew a lot about the food and was able to work it in to the conversation. Had the Portuguese mussels (fantastic). Had the lobster ravioli which, while had plenty of what looked like langostines, was a little heavy and needed seasoning. Kind of bland. Had trouble getting a last minute reservation before a concert but this place had plenty of room, good ambiance, lots of attentive help. Would definitely go back.
(4)Jonathan K.
I went to this place with good hopes, and happily had those hopes met. I figured any place that had half of the venue closed off for a private party for the Chicago Bears wouldn't be a bad place to go. I wound up having the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich along side an Old Fashioned. The Old Fashioned was kind of "meh" but the steak sammich was tasty. It was also huge, and I had to split my method of eating it between fork and knife and squishing it into my mouth.
(4)Leslie G.
I have been here dozens of times because it's in my office building. The location is a huge plus. Another positive is that I've never had to wait to be seated here--the place is huge and I've rarely seen it full. Normally, I just come here for drinks and an appetizer (usually the calamari, which is delicious every time). I've also been here for business lunches a few times and thought the food was good. However, I recently came here for dinner with a friend and was rather disappointed. I ordered the ricotta gnocci, which turned out to be enough food for about 3 people. I probably ate about a third of it. I guess they're trying to justify the incredibly steep prices by piling on the food, but I would much prefer a normal portion size with a normal price. The gnocci also seemed overcooked to me and the sauce was overwhelming in taste and in quantity. There was probably a pound of sauce alone. If you're looking for a full-fledged meal, I think there are better restaurants around. If you work in the area and want a nice place to have drinks with a few people, this is a good option.
(3)Christine C.
Checking out the rooftop on a Tuesday after rain and the place was not busy so I thought we would get our appetizer quick. No such luck. Hostess was snobby and every seat was open! Great music and views of Millenium park, but slow bad service. Can't comment on the food yet because it's still not here. Food just got here. BBQ short rib sandwich Is delicious. Ok. Food and cocktails were good.
(2)Kimberly S.
We went to this place last night for dinner... When we checked and we did not have a reservation and they told us the wait would be very long... However it was only about 15 minutes. We ate on the second level, the balcony was closed because of rain... But, the waitstaff was a little strange. They had a served by three separate waiters one who just had taken her lunch and I don't know how the third one came in, but each one was super nice and very accommodating. The second waiter was named Chris, he was a real nice and funny guy. He gave some really good suggestions and suggested I try the goat cheese salad... Salad is not my favorite thing to order, but sometimes we need to watch what we eat. The appetizer was a fig and prosciutto flatbread.. It could have used a little more fig but it was delicious nonetheless. I also ordered a cup of French onion soup, which was decent. The atmosphere was really nice, and I really liked and enjoyed the food. I would definitely suggest this place for friends, the lounge area was classy and cool.
(4)Emul M.
Pros: convenient location next to tourist attractions (i.e. Art Institute of Chicago, Millennium Park, Cloud Gate etc), service is quick and pleasant, the ambiance is classy but cool, big servings, appetizers are of decent sizes, beer special was awesome, decent pricing Cons: Special request will cost at least $6 and they won't mention it. Their fried chicken special was to die for! It was still tasty the morning after, without being heated. ;)
(4)Linda H.
The ahi appetizer is fabulous! But the service is mighty slow and mighty surly about it. Our waiter seemed quite put out that we actually wanted to order food. And wanted water. And perhaps some sugar for tea. Don't go if you have a time limit or are terribly hungry.
(2)Lauren D.
my family and I came here after my younger brothers graduation from Naval bootcamp up at Great Lakes. Firstly we were almost an hour early for our reservation and they still sat us right away and in the private room which was great ! Our Server (eddie) was kind, funny, and knowledgeable and gave GREAT recommendations on what to eat. The food came out fast and tasted AWESOME best steak sandwich id ever eaten and the chicken hash was something I don't normally eat but was glad I did!! After we were all stuffed the Server nicely informed us that my brothers meal was on the house per the management team and sent him great wishes and support on his new military journey. We had to track the manger down and my brother personally thanked him and what a gracious man he was, giving words of encouragement and thanks for his soon to be help to our country. I HIGHLY recommend this great establishment to anyone looking for great food and friendly environment with a great view of the popping Millennium park with a wonderful staff. If ever in the Chicago area again we will for sure be stopping in and giving our business to this great restaurant!
(5)Megan L.
Great experience at Tavern at the Park! A friend of mine were meeting for dinner before a show at the Harris Theatre, and decided to go here based entirely on location, so I made a reservation and off we went. However, my friend went to Kansas and as such is a HUGE Jayhawks fan and they were playing in the Big 12 tourney last night... something that wasn't scheduled or really even considered when buying the show tickets. What's this got to do with Tavern at the Park, you say? More than you'd expect. We get seated in the back dining area, and to our very pleasant surprise there's a tv near our table! So we ask if they can change the channel to the Kansas game when it comes on and our server very accommodatingly says he'll do so. Unfortunately when he comes back, it turns out they can't change it as it's tied to another tv and people who got there first requested something else. Which would be a huge bummer, except he talked to the manager and it turns out there are also tvs in their upstairs area and there's a free table so we can watch whatever we want if we don't mind moving. Seriously, they would not have been any nicer to us, or more eager to help us watch a basketball game. This, friends, is what customer service is about. WAY TO GO, Tavern at the Park! We ended up with a different server upstairs, but she was just as great - they were also very conscious of the fact that we had tickets to a show and made sure we were all finished up in time to get there. In addition to the service, I have to say that the food was also great. I had chicken piccata, served with angel hair and I loved it. I have absolutely no recollection what my friend had (sorry, it's been a month or so... I'm a little behind on reviews), but I do remember that he was equally pleased with his meal. Definitely worth a return trip, especially in the summer when you can enjoy the upstairs patio - nothing like sitting outside with a drink, overlooking Millenium Park!
(5)Mark F.
Based off of near-the-theater yelp reviews, we took a chance at this tasty-sounding, food and drink stand. Tavern @ the Park was oh so close to that illustrious 5th star but the really awkward server quickly brought it down a star (so close...) along with a consistent lack in use of salt and pepper. The biggest surprise to me were the prices of the drinks. Incredibly affordable for that area. The beer, cocktail and wine consumed by us was delicious and my wallet only took a paper cut rather than a financial gashing. As for the food, it lacked a sprinkle of pepper and salt. That little shake of s&p could've made the meals amazing. They were, however, quite delicious in my tummy. The pork belly appetizer provided a much larger portion than anticipated for $8. The mustard-vin dressed salad it comes with was the tastiest surprise on that plate (the bread with raisins didn't make any sense). If you like chicken and want something hardy, I recommend the chicken hash. Everything went really well together. It was like having dinner and breakfast all at the same time. My wife had the lamb shank special and though tasty - she craved some good ol salt n peppa. (You can Push It, Tavern, Push It real good). All in all, it was a delightful experience before seeing a show just down the road. It's not too loud, the food's great and everything was very prompt. I'll recommend it and I'll most likely go back again if for nothing else but affordable drinks.
(4)Brittany L.
Great atmosphere, a lot of business men go here for happy hour and its a good vibe. Their beer and wine selection are phenomenal as well as the friendly staff. I live close by so have been coming here more and more. Definitely would recommend!
(5)Lexi T.
Would have been five stars but the host and hostess suck! They just stared at me when I walked in, no greeting. They gave us the worst seat in the restaurant, dead center when everyone else was closer to the wall. Didn't even ask us if we wanted to sit outside. The food was amazing, Jose was on point with refilling my water, service was okay
(3)Elaine D.
They had a special with their brunch items. I didn't really think the brunch item I ordered was that great. This was a month ago, however. It may have gotten better. The atmosphere was a little too stuffy for me as well. I didn't really think the name fit how the place looked inside. I usually think of taverns are more of a casual dining place, but it seemed a bit more on the high end side of things. Then again, it's right on Michigan, so walking inside shouldn't be a surprise to see despite the name of the restaurant. Service was pretty decent.
(3)Kristin S.
Cool rooftop bar, good food, overall great atmosphere. Great location for a parties and special occasions, with accommodating staff and good service. Really cannot beat the view or the location!
(4)Michael S.
Went here for dinner on a Saturday night; we made an OpenTable reservation but were informed by the hostess that reservations are not valid for the rooftop and that there was a wait to eat up there. We said that was fine and that we would just wait around the bar area and drink until a table was ready; "No", the hostess said, "there is no room at the bar." We must wait downstairs. Ok...so we waited maybe 20 minutes downstairs until a table was ready. As we enter the rooftop we were expecting it to be mobbed considering the hostess said there were no tables or room at the bar: the rooftop was EMPTY. There were open tables everywhere and the bar was half full. What?? This treatment made a poor first impression, but luckily the service and food the rest of the night made up for it. We had two cocktails that were unique, tasty, and decent pours. For food, the fig & prosciutto flatbread was delicious; highly recommended. Unfortunately, the braised short rib was not good; I have had a lot of short rib in the city and this was below average; it was too chewy and tough (short rib should be tender and rip apart easily; go to Pinstripes for an example of a good short rib); the small piece of polenta that came with it also was underwhelming; short rib should come with mashed potatoes in my opinion. We also had a side of mac 'n cheese which was tasty. Overall, the rooftop really is beautiful; I recommend you go here for good food and drinks (although skip the short rib) and also be prepared to wait 20 minutes to be seated even if the rooftop is empty (I'm not sure what that was all about - let me know if you find out).
(4)David D.
Came here for lunch. Had a salad that was drenched in oil. So much even that I had to press each bite with my fork against the plate to make it eatable. Barely had any flavor aside from the bitterness of the vinaigrette. Our waitress was very nice and friendly. The burgers looked great but I wouldn't eat here again.
(2)Anna P.
Nice spot for a business lunch. Service is very attentive and fast, so you can easily get in and out in an hour if necessary. We both had salads that arrived very fast after ordering. I had a grilled veggie salad that was very good, big size, nice grilled chicken and lots of vegetables. They have a rooftop that looks worth checking out sometime as well.
(4)Katie P.
Nothing special at all. Came here last night for an early dinner before a concert. I had a side salad and the Turkey Burger and both were super mediocre. Our server was very sweet and the service was great but the food was underwhelming.
(2)Jennifer B.
Came in on a Tuesday, was greeted by warm hosts. We put our name on the wait for outdoor seating in the patio upstairs and had to wait, not a worry because if there is a bar, I am all in there. I got a drink that was their version of a piña colada, cruisin for the infusin'. Such comical names, I love it. man, was that delicious!! I had two and then another drink, which was their version of a margarita..was incomparable to cruisin for the infusin' For dinner I had their seasonal salad! It was to die for!!
(5)Jennifer C.
I have gone to Tavern at the Park on both of my visits to Chicago - in the summer and the winter. Both times I have been very pleased with the service and quality of food. In the summer, the best way to enjoy an afternoon at Tavern is on their rooftop deck called The Treehouse. It is filled with comfortable tables and lounge chairs, great background music, and provides a great view of Millennium Park. During my summer visit I had their Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread which was absolutely delicious. I'm a sucker for anything with truffle oil, and when you pair it with poached pears, blue cheese, and prosciutto... it's an easy home run. Their Tuna Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, and Shoestring Fries with Truffle Aioli were also very good. I have a major sweet tooth so I went to dessert heaven when I ordered their Warm Apple Blueberry Bread Pudding, New York Style Cheesecake, Key Lime Creme Brulee, and Apple Crumble. The bread pudding is MASSIVE and can easily be shared between 4 or 5 people. The cheesecake and apple crumble were probably my favorite. In the winter, I went to Tavern for a romantic dinner in their Tree House Atrium, which is an enclosed glass section on their deck. Very romantic, quiet, and intimate lounge area. For dinner we had their Wild Mushroom & Truffle Risotto and Lobster Ravioli which were both so, so good! I was so happy we took leftovers back to our hotel so that we could have the next day. The service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and accommodating. I will definitely we returning to Tavern at the Park in my future visits to Chicago.
(4)Timothy H.
My wife and I enjoyed an early dinner here that has put us in the mood to return very soon. My wife had the steak sandwich, which at $25, had better be amazing. It was. She only gave me a few small bites, but oh man, was that the best steak sandwich I have ever had. It's real steak, not hamburger steak. The aioli and onions on top just made it an out of this world meal. I had the fish n' chips, which was also very good. I found the service to be exceptional. We arrived during a shift change, so we got to experience two servers, and both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, polite, and funny. One of their drink specials was recommended to my wife, but after one sip, she said she just didn't like it. Without hesitation the server (Chris) said he would bring her anything else she wanted and that she wouldn't be charged for the drink she didn't like. That's just great customer service! The atmosphere is very relaxed yet professional. This is not a bar. I would recommend patrons wear something a tad bit nicer than you would if you were going out to Applebee's or TGI Friday's. But if you want to go casual, hey, that's up to you. You're in The Loop, so remember that you will be spending a bit more to eat here. We reported a bill of $89 (including tip), which I thought was pretty good.
(5)Gerry A.
The BEST wings I have had in some time, including my own. Marinated, smoked, a little char, baked not fried, THREE dipping sauces, about $11 for a dozen. We love the Treehouse, everywhere else is just loud and crowded imo. Opens at 4pm. Drinks are a little pricey. Their weekly specials change all the time and are fantastic if you like to try something a little different. If you come thirsty it's going to cost you. Excellent service and helpful recommendations. Coming back for the Black Truffle Chicken Hash. Beet salad and Blistered beans are a nice healthier cheap appetizer. Ryan was the perfect server tonight.
(4)Ed A.
Hawks Win! After spending too long waiting for the Hawks to parade past Grant Park, I headed to the nearest place for some grub and alcohol. It was great to see the Hawks parade by. Well, I should say it was cute to see the top 3 inches of their heads. The crowd was stacked, whacked and white teenage suburbanite. No alcohol within sight but ganja was in the air. The restaurant was full of hockey fans. It was pretty cool. There was like a hive of red and black bees. The upper deck was pretty cool with a great view that we were unfortunately too late to get. The food was tremendous. My turkey burger was by far the best I've had. The bun was fantastic and held together, a rarity with huge hamburgers. Most of all, the wine selection was very nice. The first floor is more formal and stuffy, yet still contemporary. I'll be back next year after they repeat. Go Hawks!
(4)Asenath N.
My fiancé brought me here for my birthday! We sat outside on the roof top. The view of the city was beautiful as always! They had great beer selections and the cocktails were good also. The cocktails were a bit pricy! I ordered the surf and turf ($38), it came with a 4oz steak and 3 large shrimps that's it, it came with no sides: it was good but I was disappointed with their surf and turf. Next time I will try something new. Since it was birthday,they did give me brownie and ice cream dessert that was beyond delicious!
(4)Chris M.
Save the drama for your momma. Came in for a conference and was attracted by an open air bar. Being from Colorado I wanted to drink outside. Bartenders seem to have issues with management, patrons or something. Instead of making drinks, a soap opera behind the bar is whats served. Heard nothing but restaurant b.s. which i do not care for. Was going to stay for food but Nick gave me a headache and had to go elsewhere.
(2)Emily H.
"Take these fine people to the rooftop!" Well, didn't we just feel so special. The rooftop was gorgeous and had a balcony with a bar. Unfortunately, it was a little chilly to be out on the balcony but the wall was all windows so we still experienced a beautiful view of the lake, towering buildings, and the touristy bean. Service was great. The woman poured my beer straight up. No foam. Impressive. The dinner menu had a nice selection of apps, sandwiches, and plated entrées. I browsed the Tavern Favorites section and spotted the Santa Cruz Turkey Burger. A 10 oz. turkey burger loaded with provolone cheese and guac on a brioche bun. You better be hungry if you order this burger...this thing is a monster. It was absolutely delicious! It came with a side order or fries which were prepared to a crisp. I applaud you Tavern and can't wait to make a visit on your balcony in the summer!
(5)Veronica S.
The host guy here is a real dick. You seat people for a living, don't act so pompous about your middle wage job filling out seating charts. Your job requires the skill level of a 16 year old girl.
(1)Jeff L.
Arrogant and Overpriced. ToP's close proximity to Millennium Park should not allow them to provide such poor service. Server 'David' cleared all the fun+energy from our party because HE wanted to be the show.
(1)Patrick W.
My wife and I visited Tavern at the Park after eating at Wildberry (which was right next door). We had some time to kill and figured we would get a few drinks. When walking in it felt like we needed to be way more dressed up than we were. The place has a very upscale, formal feel to it with the staff in white button downs and a black tie. There was a decent rush on a Monday around lunch time which made a service fairly slow - especially since we were only ordering drinks from the bar. My wife ordered a couple White Sangrias and seemed to really enjoy them. I just ordered a Whiskey/Pepsi which came in a fairly tall glass. The bill was over $50 after tip and just four drinks which was a little surprising. Other than the high cost and slower than average service it was a decent experience.
(3)Jenn W.
I came here with a few friends and my husband just to grab a few drinks. It has a very upscale look on the inside. I ordered their sangria which is actually a white sangria. It was absolutely delicious! However is was a bit more on the pricey side than I usually care to pay for a beverage. Overall not a bad place at all.
(3)Jasmine S.
This is mainly a review for the rooftop section of Tavern at the Park. We came on a warm Saturday night around 11, and it was pleasantly not as packed as we had expected. The view is great, the seats are super comfy, and the drinks are delicious though maybe not that strong (about $12 a pop which is very much worth it for the atmosphere and location). PS. they're pretty strict about their last call for food at 11 and last call for drinks at 11:30. They also will make you leave right at midnight. I wish the place was open later!
(5)Catherine P.
This review is more for The Tavern Tree House above Tavern at the Park... Are you looking for a great spot to celebrate an anniversary, birthday, baptism, or other special occasion and want excellent service with even better food and an amazing view? Look no further. I have been dining at Tavern in the Park for several years and most recently celebrated a baptism at Tavern's Tree House this summer. I couldn't believe the amazing view overlooking Millenium Park and Michigan Avenue. The background for photos was breathtaking. The service here is top notch and I couldn't make food like Tavern if I tried. The Tree House can be completely enclosed in glass and heated during the colder months we experience here in Chicago or they can open it up during the summer temps so you can eat, drink and be merry with the sun on your skin and feel Lake Michigan's breeze upon your face. There is a full service bar, restrooms and kitchen on the same level as their Tree House all of it very well maintained and beautifully designed. Check it out for yourself next time you're in the downtown area and grab a bite while you're there. You won't be sorry!!
(5)Jake J.
Great food but the service was a tad slow. Nothing terrible, i just thing the waitress had too much going on. All in all.. Would happily go there again.
(4)Greg S.
Great food and even better service. The place was busy and they made us feel like we were the most important guests in the building. The rotisserie ck was a huge portion and had a nice spice. The braised short rib was tender and juicy.
(5)Terry L.
Location, Structure and Food! After flowing through my Yelp feed, I stumbled on this place and became very intrigued by the rooftop benefit. This location is directly across from Chicago's Millennium Park and externally is a beautiful building. As per recommendations from Yelpers, I made a reservation and noted that I wanted to be at the rooftop. Upon entering, my reservation was confirmed and coat check was available, as the hostess was about to sit me down at a table, I asked if the rooftop was available - she checked with her manager and it was!!!! I was then led to an elevator and escorted to the infamous rooftop... Unfortunately, due to the weather, the rooftop was enclosed but you still had a view of the park and city, however I was not able to get the same experience that other Yelpers had spoken about (ex: bar area, plush seating, closer views and airiness). I knew exactly what I wanted so I got the following... Smoked Pepper Wings - I asked that these be well done. They came out piping hot and were great! I wouldn't say that these are "jerk" but they are seasoned very well, I have to say that I was surprised with the quantity given... it was a lot... enough to share between 2-3 people. The Traverse City Cherry Cola BBQ Sauce that is givin on the side takes the wings to another level, I could swim in a bowl of it... it's sweet and has a hint of spice, you will enjoy it. The Tavern Steak - A 16oz Prime Ribeye, I ordered this well done, this is a lot of steak, lol, I loved that there was more meat than chewy fat and that it was grilled to perfection. It comes with a house made butter which compliments the steak well. I opted to also get a side of onion straws to place on top of the steak (which IMO should come automatically). I know many have concerns about customer service but I had no issues, in fact, my waitress was on it. She overheard me saying that I needed to be quick as I didn't have much time and came back to check on me as I was waiting on my food to ask if I was OK as she did not want me to be late, she kept my glass full and checked on me throughout the night. I did not encounter any issues with any staff and all requests were answered and accommodated without any attitudes. I will most def be back when I return to Chicago AND the weather permits the rooftop to actually be open in it's true element.
(4)Jackie C.
This place was great! I met an SMU colleague here for dinner and the service was wonderful. The food was delicious! We will definitely be back for dinner and can't wait to try the rooftop.
(4)Ed D.
Went here for work lunch. First thought was prices are expensive but on second thought once we got the food was it was worth it. My other co-workers agree. We sat inside but it's in a great area for people watching if you happen to sit outside. The ambiance is ok. The service was great. The waiter sold us on the "best" chicken wings in your life...needless to say they were good but definitely not the best. We also ordered the Flatbread and a bunch of entrees. I picked the ginger shrimp salad and it was delicious and very filling. Very nice place to eat lunch.
(4)Sonny C.
A dinner that begins with the server support knocking a drink squarely into the lap of a patron may be jinxed from the get-go. In this case the original sin was reaching over the table to pour water rather than coming around to the side of each person. So let's talk about the food. Our table had steak Diane, salmon, chicken and fish & chips. Since veggies were not part of the meal, a side of grilled asparagus provided the one not-buttery vegetable option. All round the food was pretty good so I regret the experience was marred by the spilled drink episode. But since eating out is an entertainment experience, it is not just about the food. It's theater and this was not one of Chicago's better productions. The table was soaked as was my companion as the water pouring from the carafe missed the water glass in the ensuing chaos. The server sprinted away to get help. That took 5 minutes for both server and manager to arrive to assess the situation. We asked for a different table. Rather than just move us immediately to the adjacent 4-top, they disappeared to consult their computers. Now another 5 minutes later we were moved to the adjacent table. My companion is still wet and drying off with table napkins. We got the apology, one fresh drink and an offer of free dessert. Free dessert? Well, thank you, but dessert was not on our agenda. What about an offer to clean the clothes or comp the injured individual's meal? Maybe a round of drinks to lighten the mood? Some gesture other than what we're not going to have. Nevertheless, when the meal ended and, well, maybe we might have dessert, no server or manager was around. Ultimately we got up and found a different server and requested they find our server. Check, please and we were gone. One of our party spent the next 4 hours with wet pants. Pretty uncomfortable. Maybe an isolated case? Perhaps. We think the response could have been both prompter, a little more sincere and empathetic for what turned out to be a much less pleasant evening than anticipated.
(3)Sara P.
I went to the treehouse at tavern at the park last week, this was my second time here. It started off very unpleasant as we were on a waiting list for a table, and they never called us when our table was ready. After awhile I went back to the hostess stand and they did skip over us and forgot to give us a call. I was assured by the hostess our table would be ready in 5 minutes. After the 5 minutes she said someone sat in our table and they weren't going to ask my them to move. We waited another 5 minutes and finally received a table. After we were seated, I spoke to the manager James, who completely turned our night around. He was very apologetic, took charge of the situation and assured us things were going to get better. He brought out several complimentary appetizers, was persistent with checking on us and seeing if we needed anything. James was helping the wait staff clean our plates, grab us drinks. If it wasn't for James compensating for the disaster in the beginning of the evening, we probably would've left or not even come back. Every restaurant needs a James.
(4)Lisa P.
I have been excited to try this spot because it always looks so fun and it's always busy. My friend and I went on a Wednesday night, it was not crowded at all and we sat at a table on the rooftop without waiting for a table. It took over 15 minutes for a server to come to our table. When she did, she was pleasant and we placed a drink order. Our wine took 10 more minutes to arrive. Eventually, a different server came over and took our food order (she said our server was in the bathroom)...I ordered a hamburger and my friend got a pizza. Our old server kept walking by and saying hello/saying our food was coming out as I watched every other table (ones that were sat and clearly ordered well after we had) get their food. I asked 3 different times where our food was. She kept saying it was coming. Our food took exactly 1 hour to arrive and it came out wrong. Then, yet another server came out to ask how the food was and we ordered another glass of wine to accompany our meal. That glass of wine came out 15 minutes later after we had already eaten most of our meal. Since we had been at the establishment so long the sun had gone down and it was getting cold and all around, waitresses were providing/asking guests if they wanted blankets..we were never asked. In my opinion we should have gotten one of our glasses of wine comped or something for waiting so long but that was also never offered. This was a bad experience and while the food was good, the service was subpar and prices aren't cheap so it was not worth it.
(1)Rachel K.
Went for lunch on a Monday. Service was pretty quick. I ordered the goat cheese salad, which was good but nothing too special. The Tavern is great for a solid business meal as the noise level is perfect for chatting over food. But if you want to be wowed, you might want to take your party somewhere else.
(3)See Taste Love ..
We ran into this beautiful romantic spot across from the millennium park and we are so glad see taste love got to experience this! To see the city at a different view was a delight of an experience and the dishes are to die for!
(5)Shayla J.
Excellent restaurant! The food was amazing. The service was very awesome and the view is spectacular. This was my first visit to Chicago and with so many places that serve steak, I'm glad I chose Tavern at the Park to be my dinner destination. The smoked pepper wings appetizer really lived up to their reputation and the steak encrusted with Bleu cheese was delicious. I would definitely visit again whenever I'm in Chicago
(5)Ayrin B.
This is a great spot for lunch. It is very easy to find (across from Millennium Park) and the decor is beautiful (lots of wood). The staff is excellent is as well. They are attentive, but not worrisome. The food is reasonably priced for Chicago with good sized portions- not too big or small. I have only been here for lunch, but will have to try dinner some night. My favorite lunch choices are either the Chopped Salad or Seared Ahi Tuna. I'm sure everything else on the menu is great as well. It sure does look tasty.
(4)Grant P.
Amazing views, delicious food & drinks, great service and horrible dismal attitude from the front-house staff that almost ruined everything. I guess 3 of 4 ain't bad. And had I read many of the other reviews, I guess I would've known what @$$holes the host and hostess were. I hate to start a decent review with the bad stuff, but chronologically that's how this is going to go. Thankfully things greatly improved as the night went on. I made a reservation several days earlier and was informed that reservations aren't taken for the Tree Top, but they would note that we wanted to sit there on our reservation. Unfortunately when we arrived, it wasn't acknowledged whatsoever. No mention of it. The hostess began to seat us and I asked if we were going upstairs per our request. "No, we only note that on the reservation," she said rather rudely. I told her we'd wait for a table up there, which seemed to shock her. "It could be an hour," she said. "I have no idea. But you can sit at the bar." She pointed to a packed bar. "Where?" I asked. "Well I don't know. It's first come first served." No shit, lady. But don't tell me to sit there if it's obviously full. "So what do you want to do?" I said we'd stand there and wait for our table, which seemed to put her off even more and she walked away. Well, we waited for a spot at the bar to open up, and before our drinks even arrived Friendly McCrabbypants arrived to tell us there was a table available upstairs. Once again she showed annoyance when I mentioned that we hadn't gotten our drinks yet, but my wife absolved the situation by telling me to go ahead upstairs and she would follow when the drinks came. The hostess didn't go upstairs with me or show me to a table, as she did with every other guest that arrived after us. Instead she simply pushed the button on the elevator and said, "take whatever table you want." Jerk. Had they simply said something like, "I see you'd like to sit in the TreeTop. Unfortunately there's no table available right now, but I can seat you in the dining room right away," I wouldn't have been so put off by their behavior. But simply ignoring our request was downright rude and uncalled for. But once we were upstairs things changed. It was another world. It was elegant and warm, with an amazing view of the skyline, picture-perfect lit Christmas trees and a roaring pillar fireplace. Everyone upstairs was delightful and friendly, and our waitress couldn't have been more helpful and attentive. When my wife showed up sans drinks (they were missing an ingredient for one of their signature cocktails at the bar downstairs) our waitress told us they absolutely make it upstairs. The food was divine. We had the duck egg rolls, my wife had a burger and I had the barbecue brisket. Everything was flavorful, delicious and wonderful, and our waitress Nashley checked on us and saw to it that we had an exceptional time. She really turned things around and made what started off as a horrid dining experience into a spectacular one.
(4)William K.
This was a very consistent place... everything was very good: location (great actually), service, food, ambiance. I had the mini-burgers and TY had the lobster ravioli. Yum! T at the P was a great dinner choice for us before seeing Wynton and the lads play at CSO. It's a $6 cab ride from Union Station, and we just walked to CSO after dinner. Huzzah! yow, bill
(4)Angela S.
On a sunny weekday afternoon with colleagues, coming here for lunch was a real delight. We had a reservation upstairs on the second floor, and it was nice to see a view of the city all around us. From what I understand they have a fantastic outdoor rooftop deck, and I think that must be spectacular. This was my first time dining here, and I have to say my experience was perfect, other than I wish I would have followed my gut and ordered the short rib sandwich, because I'm still thinking about how good it must be. Overall, the menu had so many options that I truly had a difficult time deciding. It's not an overwhelming menu and it's well organized, but it all looked beyond delicious to me. They have a great selection of salads, and for lunch you can choose from an entree or a list of delectable sandwiches - like the short rib. I decided to go with a meatless option today - the butternut squash ravioli dish. It's my fault for assuming, but I thought the ravioli would be made from butternut squash and stuffed with some kind of cheese. It was plain ravioli stuffed with butternut squash. Here's the thing. The ravioli were just okay. The stuffing, however, was a mix of sweet and savory. The sauce, when blended together was a tad more on the sweet side, but a nice summer dish. Not super filling. Our server was professional, friendly, gave us plenty of time to search our menus, and I appreciated that he asked if any of us have allergies, because I'm allergic to soy. Great experience, and I hope to get back for that sandwich!
(4)Grecia P.
After a walk through the beautiful Millennium Park, we were looking for a place to stop at for lunch before heading to our River Architectural Cruise. Fortunately, we came across this lovely Restaurant, TAVERN AT THE PARK. We got there right before the lunch rush and we were able to get a nice table outside. The food was delicious, the portions were very big for a lunch menu, but we were hungry so that was great for us. The Fig and Prosciutto Flatbread was phenomenal!!!! We also had a Cup of prime rib chili, which was good, the duck egg rolls although great in flavor, lacked a little in the amount of meat, and last we had warm goat cheese starter, which was just ok. The service was really good, and the white sangria was even better!!! The prices are a little up there for lunch, but the portions make it worth it, so go there HUNGRY!!!
(4)Ivy R.
When we arrived we were stared at (not greeted) by a host (older guy) and a hostess. Only the other host (younger gentleman) who talked to us. We were told to wait for fifteen minutes. And both of these "starers" just stared at us and did not say a word at all throughout this time. So we waited for a minute or two but it's getting so weird with these two catatonics staring. When the other couple who were waiting ahead of us left. We decided to leave too. Management should look at this. Went to Chucks (Michigan Ave) instead and got a much better service.
(1)Richard D.
Stopped in for dinner and drinks after a fun first day on our vacation. This place is enormous - there are several levels as well as a rooftop patio that overlooks Millenium Park. Cocktails were inventive, and I appreciated that these drinks were described in detail (with pictures) on the restaurant's website. I knew before coming in that I wanted the Chicago Fire Burger: it was a superb blend of heat, sweet, crunch, and richness. A lot of places now are incorporating something akin to the Sriracha aioli, but the fried avocado element put this burger over the top for me. I tried a bite of the generous portion of steak frites my girlfriend ordered, and it was well-seasoned and full of flavor. Our server (think his name might have been John) had a lot of personality - he was hilarious! He also gave us some helpful tips for us on our trip, which was an added bonus. Would definitely return.
(5)Sarah V.
I'm not very good with numbers, but a couple thousand dollars divided by a couple dozen people almost guarantees a good night. A friend of mine invited me to a work sponsored happy hour. They rented the entire Tree House upstairs which apparently requires a pretty hefty minimum. When I arrived there were already appetizers on the tables and bottles of wine everywhere. We had one main server who was absolutely amazing despite already being guaranteed a large tip. Get this, she memorized ALL of our names! Unfortunately, I've forgotten hers. But for the entire night it was, "Miss Sarah, can I get you another one?" I ordered my first drink off the menu and it was pretty terrible. It had a gigantic aloe leaf which made the drink pretty slimy. I looked for a better drink to order and really wasn't finding anything. Our waitress informed me that they have a fully stocked bar and if I didn't want something off the menu I could order absolutely anything else I wanted. I eventually settled on a Mojito, but before that she offered to have the bartender make me a special drink if I just tell her what flavors I like. Well, one Mojito turned four which turned into more appetizers which turned into more drinks. Overall, it was a great night and from what I can remember everything was pretty delicious!
(5)Emma K.
My boyfriend and I came here before a show at the Chicago Theatre, and everything was great. Particularly the Caprese Salad. I will definitely be returning here for that specifically. It was HUGE and delicious! The normal caprese stars of mozzarella, tomato, oil, and balsamic, but the additions of avocado and manchego cheese crisps were phenom. My boyfriend ordered some sort of sandwich (I was so involved in my own food, I can't even remember which one!, but I think it was the steak sandwich) that he really enjoyed. He also wanted to try the buffalo chicken mac & cheese, so they created a special appetizer portion for him so he didn't have two gigantic meals. I got the butternut squash ravioli which was yummy and I was glad it was a little smaller of a portion given the size of the Caprese. Great service and cozy sit in a booth next to the bar area downstairs. I will totally be back to check out the terrace next summer to enjoy a Caprese & some wine :)
(4)Chris M.
Bookmaker sandwich was phenomenal! One of the best sandwiches I have ever had. Atmosphere is fantastic. Only reason I am not giving five stars is because it took 25 minutes longer than they quoted me to have my order ready to go. If it had not been for that it would have been perfect. I will give them another shot soon because the food was superb.
(4)Carol K.
Updating my review to include "Treehouse at Tavern" their rooftop bar that did a great job of taking care of my friends and I the other night. It's a bit complicated to know how you get up to this place. On some nights you put your name in and wait for your entire party to show up and enter through the main restaurant. And on our recent visit- they directed me a little east of the regular doors to climb up a metal stairway on the outside of the space. No matter- the ending is the same as you find yourself in a cute rooftop bar with comfy seating clusters, cozy sofas and a bar to gather at. Since we were a party of 5, we were able to secure one of the table and sofa areas which was just perfect as it offered us a view of the park. Know that after work and later in the day- the sun moves behind the buildings so it can get chilly up there. Service was attentive and the manager stopped by a couple of times to make sure we had what we needed. This place will definitely go on my rooftop list for Summers to come!
(4)Rielly M.
Okay first off they do accept reservations, but not for the outdoor seating. The service was absolutely amazing- our waiter went out of his way to recommend drinks and appetizers based on our alcohol preference. The food is a tad over priced, but man was it good. I had the flat bread as an appetizer and the ahi tuna tacos for my main food. The ahi tuna tacos were amazing and covered in teriyaki sauce. Overall great experience!
(5)Akta D.
My husband and I went here on a Friday night. There was a crowd , but didn't seem overly busy. We only ordered 2 drinks, the Rye, Rye Rye and Check yo self before you wreck yo' self. Both were bad. In fact, the check yo self was just terrible. I haven't had a worse drink. It came with a candied or burnt or dried lemon. It didn't look very pleasing at all. I would NOT recommend it. The worst part was the waiting for our waitress. It first took her about 5 minutes to see us. We ordered the drinks. We never got water as we were waiting. She didn't come to check on us as we were waiting for our drinks. Usually I don;t mind it, but we waited for our drinks for over 20 minutes. That is just unacceptable no matter where you are. Afterwards, she didn't come see us until we were ready to get the check (maybe 45 minutes later). In fact, we had to flag her down. I understand she is busy, but a look over to see if we needed anything would have sufficed. The only reason I can't give this place a 1 star is because we didn't try the food. The one positive note was the music was good. I don't recommend going to this place, even if your looking for a good view because it just isn't a good view of anything
(2)Steve M.
Don't think this place is just for tourists because it's so close to Millennium Park. Tavern serves up some seriously good food. Pete will always greet you like a good friend and make sure you want for nothing! Steaks are terrific, but there are lots of non meat options. Don't forget about the desserts either. The blueberry bread pudding is NOT TO BE MISSED! It's seriously large and loaded with fresh blueberries. They make it themselves and you'll end up eating way more than you thought you could. It's that good! Apple crumble also gets a thumbs up! Wait staff couldn't be nicer or more skilled. I also appreciate the wine selection. Some joints only offer really expensive options so you buy lots by the glass. Not so at Tavern. They also have a wonderful rooftop dining option in the nice weather. Can't wait to go back again.
(4)Jeff S.
OK place. I go here roughly four times a year after our quarterly technology users group meeting is held in the Aon Center. So in winter months we can take the pedway to stay inside and in Summer months we can head up to their rooftop bar. Since I only ever go there for drinks then this rating is based heavily on their craft beer selection which is pretty light. Granted 4 years ago they where carrying Lagunitas IPA and Half Acre, but not much had changed since. The roof bar also has a subset of their main draft list so keep that in mind if you head up there. Personally I'd like to see more Chicago breweries represented and more rotation as the beer menu is 90% unchanged over the years.
(3)Brooke A.
I went out to specifically find Tavern Treehouse with a girlfriend on a Saturday night. On the walk there, it looked as if the Treehouse was empty. We were excited that we might be able to get seated right away. We when finally found the correct hostess, she told us it would be a 15-45 min wait. Since we weren't in a rush, we gave her our cell number and went downstairs to the Tavern at the Park bar for a glass of wine to wait. The bar was nice, not too loud, but the bar tender was very rude and not at all attentive. It took him a good ten minutes to take our order after it took him more than five minutes to get us a wine menu. Since we were in good company, we gave him two bucks, and then ignored him (like he noticed anyway...the bill sat next to even as we left over twenty minutes later). After a while I called the hostess to inquire about our wait time, she said we were next on the list if no one in front of us responded to her calls. Five minutes later, she called back and said our table was ready. Then she told us we could grab the hostess downstairs, and he/she would take us to the elevator, so we didn't have to chug our drinks. How nice! Then...we got upstairs. The view was awesome, and the atmosphere was very nice. However, the place was EMPTY! EXTREMELY EMPTY. Like, I could probably count the number of people on just my fingers, including the staff. We would have been pissed, if it weren't for the wine we had already drank. We really could not figure out why we had to wait when there was absolutely no one there. We came to the conclusion that maybe the restaurant like to keep people waiting to think the tables are more in demand then they truly are. Either way, it was fairly annoying and pretty dishonest. There is no way that 20+ tables are got up and left in the same half hour time span we were waiting. To sum up the rest of our experience: the two apps we got were very good - shoestring fries with aioli and the margherita flatbread. However, the service was awful. So awful in fact that I had to physically find someone to get the check (our server was no where in sight). Then, I had to waive the check in the air toward two or three servers standing and talking (again, not our server), just to pay them. I would have to say I wouldn't mind going back because of the food, the view, and the atmosphere (for us old people, you can actually hear each other talk). As long as I am willing to put up with crap service the entire night. However, I am still not sure why we had to wait when the place had over twenty open tables... This will continue to baffle me...
(3)Christy L.
This review is for the service at The Tree House, the rooftop bar at Tavern at the Park. I met my friends there after work on a Thursday. My friends were told that at least three people in our party of four needed to be there in order to get a table. I was #3, but a table wasn't available. No big deal - tables filled while they waited for me to arrive. However, the host hesitated in letting me up to the rooftop, implying that they were at capacity. When I finally was allowed up, I was shocked to see empty tables and a rooftop that was not at all crowded. Not long after I arrived, the hostess came over to tell us our table was available. But she immediately hesitated when she saw that we had an appetizer, and said because we had ordered food (it was all eaten), she couldn't seat us at a table. This is their policy, which was not explained to us. We asked her to double check with her manager, who confirmed that they would not move us to a table because we had eaten an appetizer. What a ridiculous policy! Finally, our fourth friend arrived. The bar was no busier and they hassled her. One of my friends had to go talk to the "doorman" to let her in. The Tree House has miserable service and policies. I will not be returning despite the nice view and atmosphere.
(1)Tiffany M.
Went here just after the river dying ceremony, and got there before the crowds. They had specials for St. P's like drinks and dinners and the whole place had green, orange and white balloons. The staff cheerfully served us. I had the corned beef and cabbage which was pretty good. But the cabbage itself was a disappointment. It was a scoop over cooked something or other. My boyfriend had a regular menu item, the buffalo chicken mac and cheese, which he ate to the bottom of the plate. The mixed drinks were great, and they had a decent beer selection. They also have a few floors, the roof top seating wasn't available when we went, but the view of the park looked like it would be fantastic. I'd go again.
(4)Carol M.
Eh. That's all I have. Because the GD are in town it was very busy. I kinda feel like I wasted a meal here. We had the chili, French onion soup, and fig flatbread. Not blown away. Just eh.
(3)Natalie H.
The food was nothing I couldn't throw together in my kitchen in 10 minutes. The chopped salad was bland, at best. But it wasn't just the food that makes this place a total waste of time and money. There were plenty of tables open when we arrived at 5:30 on a Saturday, yet we waited a full hour for a table. The prices undoubtedly don't match the food and service. Will not be returning.
(1)Rachel S.
Went with my boyfriend while visiting Chicago after his 21st Bday. Recommended by the concierge @ the Renaissance Marriot. Great twist on regular American food. I got the Hippy Burger (vegetarian. Basis of it was quinoa and black beans) w/ fries; it was delicious. My boyfriend got the Great Chicago Burger and said it was the best burger he'd ever had. Calamari was also delicious, as was the apple crumble crisp.
(5)Greg L.
We decided to try the roof top area (Tavern Treehouse) when we saw the sign at the doorway that stated it was open. (It was a little difficult to find the entrance as the sign said "around the flower bed" which meant we had to go back several steps from where we came and then up the stairs to a building next to the Tavern to see the entrance hidden on the side.) All of the staff were very pleasant and did a great job which contributed to the enjoyment of our dinner. We shared a meatball flatbread as an appetizer which was very good with a sufficient amount of meatballs, cheese and sauce. My guest had the steak diane which I tasted and loved. It was four beef tenderloins on little beds of mash potatoes and gravy and it was good. I had the chicken pot pie which had a great flaky crust and it was full of white meat chicken and vegetables. We also had the Cloudgate martinis - a mixture of peach vodka and champagne. Yummy for the summer day! The price on the menu is $221, but that is if you want a Tiffany necklace also supplied with the drink. We settled for just the drinks and had a good laugh on that. The view is nice and it was a beautiful sunny day in Chicago, not too hot or humid, which really made this roof top experience a lot of fun.
(4)Desiree B.
I had high hopes for this place and nothing disappointed! I had a drink at the bar while I waited for the rest of my party and I was greeted immediately, and the bartender addressed me by name after I paid (I like little things like that.) I was a little disappointed by our booth because we were squished in behind a large party but I chose to ignore that. My party opted for dinner salads instead of appetizers. The traditional dinner salad is delicious. Very light and flavorful, but not too filling. And though our server was prompt and friendly, instead Of explaining the specials, he just pointed to the table tent that listed them. Oh well. Both of my colleagues for the ahi entree and I got the filet, we then ordered the garlic parm broccoli and fries as sides. My medium rare filet was probably one of the best I have ever had. Perfectly cooked and seasoned, and was a thick 9 oz cut. So. Good! The ahi was extremely fresh and served with an edamame purée that I tried and really enjoyed. My boss had to have the key lime creme brûlée so we ordered one more to share (between 3 of us), so we got the carrot cake! Omg. Insane! The Tavern is definitely pricey, but the food is fantastic! I was very impressed with the bartender and food runners, but our own server was lacking a bit and our table was hard to get into for us and the staff, making it noisy and semi-awkward (hence the 4 stars). Other than that, I will definitely go back on my next Chicago trip!
(4)Brad S.
Great late lunch. Hummus plate and cauliflower plate both were incredible. Hummus can easily feed 4-6 people. Big bar with window booth over looking Millennium Park. Heather was a wonderful server!
(5)Jenny K.
Lovely restaurant ambiance, service and food. Got the chicken caprese - a giant plate of fresh tomato chunks, perfectly salty balsamic, tasty mozzarella balls and shredded chicken. Was pleasantly surprised to be seated right away for table for 3 during lunch rush hour.
(4)Mel S.
Ordered a meal for carry out here on a Friday evening because I felt like staying in and having a fancy meal all to myself. I chose tavern at the park as it's located right across the street from my apt complex. I ordered the 8oz prime rib with two sides. The sites are enormous and I ate a few stalks of asparagus and maybe 1/2 of the baked potato so keep that in mind. The prime rib was good, maybe not the best I've had but I also ordered it to-go so it may be juicier served right away. The staff here take pride in what they do and I noticed that in the detail of how they packaged my food. Overall, this place is decent. I saw a large Friday night crowd so this place is definitely popular- think 30 min wait for a Friday evening. Share the sides, get your meat rare, and grab a seat on the rooftop.
(3)Christina L.
Our friend took us here praising the filet mignon and meat entrees. The appetizers were good but not great. We ordered the duck spring rolls, crab stuffed artichokes, and tuna tacos. The tacos were a must try. The entrees were the highlight of the restaurant. I ordered the petite prime rib medium rare, which was full of flavor and juicy. The sauce added even more to the delicious experience. I highly recommend the meat dishes here, particularly the filet mignon and prime rib! Besides this, the wine and service is superb. Without a doubt, I had an overall great dining experience here.
(4)Melissa M.
We lucked out and ate here during restaurant week. Have a lovely 3 course meal. Pork belly appetizer was amazing. The server was great and even the busboy was friendly and engaging. Overall an excellent experience.
(5)Erica H.
I had the mushroom risotto. I did not like it ---Way too salty.
(2)Anthony M.
A VIEW TO A DRINK We stopped in here on a Friday night after attending a show across the street at the Harris Theater. I was excited to try this place because who doesn't love an outdoor deck with a view. I am giving 4 stars for the view. Location location location and this tavern has it and more. You can see Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue from here. The moon was even out the night we were sitting here. This space is amazing and a perfect place to relax. Now the prices on the drinks are expensive. Yes you are paying for this view. The staff was okay. It seemed like it took a while to get our drinks even though it was not crowded up here The manager came over and said hi which is always nice. We did not have any food, so I'm not even sure what they have to eat here or if its even good. I highly recommend this place if you want to grab a drink with a view but beware of the prices. I say grab one drink and get out. There's more bars in Chicago.
(4)Leslie J.
Sat on the roof. Spectacular atmosphere, great service, not rushed at all. Good, fresh food, nice presentation. Reasonably priced for downtown Chicago. Looking forward to returning. Only negative, soft seating could have been cleaner.
(5)Bev W.
A friend and I tried to have lunch at Tavern At The Park today. We got there at a quarter to 12 - the place was pretty empty plenty of tables and views. We were taken upstairs to a empty banquet room with no windows or people in it. We asked for a better view and were told that where we were seated was all that was available. I repeat - most of the first floor and all of the second was sparse. Not sure what this was about, but we left. I would give this place no stars if I could and will be sending management a note on our attempted visit as well.
(1)Fran D.
Atmosphere & decor was fun. Our waiter was great. Food was spectacular! We had the fig & goat cheese appetizer. It was full of flavor. The breaded meatball appetizer was seriously lacking in flavor. For dinner I had the linguine with mussels, clams, scallops & shrimp. Fish was fresh & abundant. Hubby orders the scallops. He loves it. Portions were good. Overall a great restaurant to visit in Chicago.
(4)Kelsey J.
By far one of the best places if you want to eat outside in Chicago! My boyfriend and I came here two weeks ago, and it was the first truly nice day of the year. I'll break down our visit for you Service and Ambiance: We had a reservation for 7:00, and when we arrived they said they could seat us immediately inside, or if we waited till 7:45 we could eat on their rooftop patio. I'm so glad we waited! It's directly across from Millennium Park, so it was so easy killing some time there, and then the hostess called my cell when the table was ready, about fifteen minutes earlier than they anticipated! The whole experience was wonderful. We were taken upstairs in an elevator, and the hostess gave us great recommendations on the way up. We were seated at a really cute table by the glass wall of the patio with the most amazing view of the city skyline. It was dusk, and everything was gorgeous! Very romantic. I wish I could remember our waiters names" (that's right plural, waiters, we had two super awesome and attentive gentlemen serving us) because they both did a fantastic job. They answered all our questions, service was fast, and they made us laugh with their good-natured ribbing of one another. Food: This is why my review is 4 stars instead of a solid 5. We both got beers, they have a pretty ecletic and unique selection. They were large and priced right. We also got the calamari appetizer to share, and it was delicious. The aoili was flavorful, the portion was big, and the calamari was done to perfection. My boyfriend got the steak sandwich (I believe it was called the Blackhawk) and he said it was really good. I got the Hippie Burger, which was a veggie burger, with rice, beans, and chick-peas, and I wasn't impressed. It kept falling apart and made a mess! I couldn't pick it up and eat with the bun and toppings, I ended up scooping the bits of burger up with a fork. It was a little disappointing because everything else was perfect. I'll definitely be back this summer, I would love to try it for brunch, I'll just avoid the Hippie Burger in the future.
(4)Kay K.
This review is for the Treehouse at Tavern - absolutely wonderful place to take in the city! We stopped by late night a few weeks ago (toward the end of the outdoor bar season) and were so pleasantly surprised with the cozy, fun outdoor lounge area. The heaters were on, it was pretty quiet, and they had great music playing! We ordered a few drinks (which were pretty pricey), but the ambiance alone was totally worth it! The staff was friendly, too. We can't wait to come back in the warmer months and enjoy this great spot!!
(5)Matt O.
Stopped by the Tavern at The Park this weekend and when me and my date arrived we were greeted by the floor manager with a less than personable attitude. We had never been there before so we asked a couple of quick and easy questions (what time does upstairs open, do we need reservations, etc) and they were answered by short and abrupt answers that really didn't help us. It wasn't particularly busy so we weren't taking too much time away from him. Now with that said, we took a seat at the bar before the Tree House upstairs opened. We were served quickly by the bartenders who were both great energy. The drinks were great (whisky ginger and a sangria). Once upstairs opened, we were quickly seated and greeted by our server who we both knew we would like immediately. Drinks came quickly and all of our starters and sandwiches were killer! Despite the little speed bump right at the beginning I enjoyed the environment on the outside patio upstairs and the drinks and food were great!
(4)Tennille T.
The drinks and food was not horrible but definitely not the greatest...basically nowhere near worth the price. I ordered a margarita which tasted like anything but (it is my signature drink so I should know). I also got the lobster ravioli & for 8 small pieces with a few "pieces" of mini lobster bits on top it was not worth the money. It tasted ok but I could have gotten better at Olive Garden. My husband ordered a long island and half chicken dinner. He had pretty much the same experience. He did say half of the chicken & have the rest 2 homeless person. Our meal costs $114. Waste of money.
(1)Michael C.
Food tasted great! My favorite was Sea Scallops. The place wasn't busy on Saturday night so we just got a table right away. Calamari was good too. We enjoyed our dinner here.
(5)Maureen W.
Old school, that's how I would describe this restaurant. I went on a work related dinner. It was dimly lit, all paneling and glass. The service was impeccable. We had a large party and two very capable wait staff handled us well. The wine and water was never empty, lets just say. The food was good. It wasn't surprising or original but it was good. The best thing was the fig flat bread appetizer which was crisp, gooey and scented with truffle. Really yummy. I also tried the stuffed mushroom which was only ok. I had the prime rib, cooked medium. It was good. I also got a baked potato which was huge and a side salad. Nothing out of the ordinary and it all tasted good. Come here for a good old school steak and the nice service. And try that flat bread.
(3)Jean P.
Not bad! Great service and nice atmosphere. Wasn't thrilled with the chopped salad, but that's just me. It was fresh and well presented, but am not a fan of pasta in a traditional salad.
(4)Blake S.
Delicious food and friendly service make dining here a treat. The menu is diverse with interesting twists on traditional bar and steakhouse fare.
(5)Gregory C.
I think Tavern at the Park is a great place to grab drinks and business dinners. It's great for large groups. The food is good and serving sizes are pretty large. The service is great. I haven't had any issues every time I go here.
(4)Emily J.
I had a nice couple of afternoon drinks here the other day and I would certainly be back. Our server, Toby, was great and let us enjoy an upstairs table for about 3 hours, even though the section was technically closed. We wanted to use the patio deck overlooking Millennium Park but unfortunately it only opens at 4:00pm on Fridays. I didn't have the food but joined a group who did and they loved it. The burger comes highly recommended from them. Certainly a great place to stop and get lunch either on your lunch break or after a jaunt in the park. If you want the patio though be sure and call ahead as it's often closed for private events.
(4)Kevin N.
This review is for the restaurant, and I was able to be seated on the rooftop. The view is mighty beautiful, but I wish it was a tad higher up! Service: 5/5 nothing I can complain about. Servers were courteous and prompt. Atmosphere/decor: 4/5 the location of this place is spot-on, right next to the coolest park in the city! I would recommend wearing something a little more dressy to this restaurant, it's time to break out that navy blazer that you've had stashed away in your closet for years! Definitely fun to dress the part when you're at this restaurant. Food: 4/5 a tad pricey, but what do you expect? The food came out delicious though, I had the halibut and it was perfectly cooked. However, the portions were a little on the small side! And this is coming from someone that doesn't eat a lot! Whoa! haha maybe I was just really hungry that day. The fries were cut really thin and small, so it was pretty crispy when we ate them, but they cooled down really fast though! I've been back twice to this restaurant. It's a foolproof place to go when you don't want to hurt your brain thinking about where to go when you have out-of-towners visiting.
(4)lori c.
Another night of light bites! The complimentary dinner rolls & bread is delicious. We ordered the wedge salad, duck rolls and seared tuna. The duck rolls had an interesting pineapple dipping sauce that I didn't care for too much; but we enjoyed everything we ordered. Service was excellent (thanks Chris)! We would come back here again.
(5)Abishek M.
Good food. Excellent service. HUGE menu. Went here because we had a gift certificate and was pleasantly surprised. The French onion soup is amazing! RATINGS: French onion soup gratinee: 5/5 Brick Chicken: 3/5 Chicken Hash w/ black truffle: 4/5 Chocolate Peanut butter pie: 4/5
(4)Amanda J.
Review for Tavern Treehouse: Mediocre and over priced food. The view seems like it would be better from the street; once you get upstairs it's a letdown. If you must go avoid any pasta dish. The tuna tacos are pretty good ONLY if you REALLY like mangoes. Service was decent. Overall a big pass.
(2)Jenna S.
A friend and I walked here after attending a graduation at the Harris Theater. We needed a drink and this place seemed like just the place to go since we were wearing some fancy-ish digs and looking for good times. This place was way better than I thought it would be. We sat outside on the patio, which I highly recommend. The night was a bit chilly, but have no fear! The bar has amazing "lap skins" that you can rent with a credit card (no charge, just a hold in case you decide to steal one). Yes, I said LAP SKINS. They're really, soft, warm, faux fur blankets that do the trick when you aren't close to one of the outdoor fireplaces but you're chilly and need some warming up. Oh, and there's outdoor fireplaces if you're lucky enough to score one of those tables. Service was fast enough (could have been better), prices were decent and the food was delicious. The outdoor patio is the perfect place to have some appetizers, drinks and conversation with friends. We even witnessed an almost-fight between two rich WASPS over something dumb, like the way one of the guys was looking at the other guy. It was totally hilarious. I would definitely come here again. The atmosphere on the outdoor patio really did the trick for making an already great night even better. The views of Millennium Park and the city's skyline are wonderful and everything on the patio is modern, clean and fancy, so it all feels like something that should cost more but doesn't.
(4)Bobbie A.
My go to place before an event at the Harris Theater, it's right across the street. I had the Chicago Fire burger and it ranks in the top 5 for me. Can't recall all of the toppings but avocado and sircha sauce made the fire. Gooood. There's outdoor seating upstairs in the summer, craft cocktails. This place has it all
(4)Alfreda D.
Good spot for drinks after work. I've been here numerous times... in the Tree House during the summer, by the bar inside, in the main dining area. Last night, I came for a friend/coworker's going away celebration. We had a private room booked and a server. I don't recall his name but he was solid. The fact that he literally took everyone's name with their drink order and cleanly/easily kept everyone's check separate was fantastic. It's not that separating checks hasn't been done before but he was on point. His book was organized and ready to go... much appreciated. You know how that goes... 15 people show up for drinks and when the check comes the last 3 people standing are like "Wait, what? What's the balance?" LOL. Now that I think of it, most of my after work drink visits were work related and we've always had private areas and whatnot and the staff has always treated us right. I remember the appetizers being really good too but I can't review that right now because it's been a while. Anyway, the cocktails I had were good and reasonably priced, so no complaints on my end. And our server kept bringing out those warm bread baskets to help coat our stomachs since it was pre-dinner time. Ha... also much appreciated. We tipped him well... I hope he thought so anyway!
(4)Cassie G.
The tavern is right across from the Randolph train station and millennium park. So walking out of the station it's a short walk, which was very convenient. Loved the atmosphere, great service. A little more fine dining bar. But no need to dress up in your best suit. Food was pretty delicious. We enjoyed the buffalo chicken mac and cheese and the club. The club was alright, a little dry, not worth $17. But the Mac and cheese was very delicious. I would definitely come back :)
(4)Renee H.
The food and service were excellent! They apparently have a new chef so if you didn't like it before you may want to try it again. Hummus plate, beet salad and butternut squash ravioli were all device. Service perfectly timed.
(4)Patrick B.
For many years I have been a big fan of Tavern at the Park, as well as its parent restaurant Keefers. I come to Chicago a dozen times a year and always find time for lunch there. I've hosted business events in its second floor private space and on its rooftop patio. But I recently had as disappointing a dining experience as ever there. And blame it all on the manager. Although my first luncheon choice was not available, I happily ordered the Caesar salad with grilled salmon. The salad came, but the salmon did not. No problem. Kitchen mistakes happen. The waiter took the salad back to the kitchen and a few minutes later the manager returned with it. In a restaurant known for large portions, I've never quite seen as small and thin and burnt shard of salmon in my life. So I asked the waiter if this was the standard portion. He said no; apologized and summoned the manager, who gave me a lecture on portion control. Then bashfully admitted that the piece of salmon was indeed small. And overcooked. He then half heartedly offered to get me another piece and discouragingly said "but that would take some time." Instead he said I won't charge you the extra $9 for the salmon -- the small thin burnt piece of Inedible salmon. Thanks so much for the great customer service! Then he turned and walk away! So I paid the bill and I turned and walked away, never to return to Tavern at the Park!
(1)AJ M.
Great drinks! We watched the world cup here and enjoyed some unique drinks.
(4)Jay C.
Solid old school Chicago vibe. Steaks thick. Drinks stiff. Prices stiff too..but. not an everyday place you visit. Right across Randolph from Harris Theater..park. the bean...parking garage right there too... Grilled salmon was good. Food was good. Vibe made it great. Views are killer will return
(4)Nicki P.
I am a regular here since its right next to my office. The service is top notch, and the food is good, just good though. Portion sizes are huge and the general ambience is lively but casual. The typical crowd during the week are suits but the happy hour and patio crowd is a little more casual.
(3)s b.
Inattentive waiter, dirty glasses, warm whit wine, loud, very rude manager who wouldn't take feedback. Food was ok. But not for the price and experience.
(2)Andre W.
This place has one of my favorite things: a rooftop for warm summertime drinking Since it was hot as hell out, I decided to go with one of my favorite summer drinks: white sangria. It was very good and refreshing...me and my party of 6 had 2 rounds and had to roll out because the heat was ridic! Service was ok and they seem to be very meticulous when it comes to seating a group. Good stuff here
(4)Bruce M.
6 of us had dinner at the Tavern At The Park. The service started out great. But after we placed our order, we became invisible. It took forever to get our food and not once did anyone stop by and give us an explanation or see if we wanted anything else. The food was good - but not sure it was worth the incredibly long wait.
(3)Matt G.
I had hoped for something a little better, so I would say this place was just OK. Nothing that I would leap out of my seat for and come back. The Duck Egg roll was quite good, sauce was a little thick. I ordered the Bucatini with Crispy Meatballs. While the portion was HUGE, the meatballs were anything but "crispy" so not sure where they got the name for the dish. I was expecting them with a crispy Parmesan coating. Service was adequate, not phenomenal. The restaurant is a nice space and the location is great. Maybe a bit more touristy than I'd like and possibly what is driving traffic to the place.
(3)Jim K.
Came here for a business lunch. Conveniently located on the Pedway, this place features huge sandwiches and burgers. I had been traveling for work, so I was more than tired of massive portions. I went with the scallops for lunch, and they were very tasty. Could have come with a side for the price, but with the bread on the table, I was satisfied. The service was also top notch here. Very attentive and informative.
(4)Amanda K.
They have my favorite salad in the whole world - The Chopped Salad (I get balsamic instead of sherry vinaigrette) but don't bother showing up here for lunch without reservations or you will be brutally rebuffed. The hosts (and owners?) are a bit on the snooty side.
(4)Lisa S.
I had a great time. Awesome location great service. We went for lunch and we had a steakburger with fries and it was delicious. Best steak burger ever!!!
(4)Tisha K.
If you are in the Millenium Park area then this is in the area. I think the place looks nicer than the actual food. I had a friend in from Dallas and he wanted to eat around Millenium Park area and so I took him here, but I wish I had done a little more research as I think Chicago has a lot more to offer than this restaurant. I will say the service was amazing. My waiter was phenomenal and very friendly and helpful. I had the fish and chips. The chips were a little too thin for me and the fish (I think it was cod) was a little bland and honestly nothing to write home about. We did get a dessert and I will say their portions for dessert are HUGE!!!! Definitely share a dessert (four people can share one dessert easily). We got the apple crumple - and again nothing amazing. :/ It does have an outdoor area so I think on a nice evening during the summer this would be a nice spot for a date (drinks), go some where else for dinner!
(3)Katie S.
If just going for drinks, 5 stars.... great location, views, and staff. But the kitchen is completely lacking. I went with a large group of friends for dinner and two of us ordered steaks medium rare. When they came out...both came out well done (no pink whatsoever). We sent them back, and 20 minutes later new steaks came out and the manager asked if they were ok... this time they were RAW... looked like a good seared ahi tuna... unfortunately had to send back again. For $34 petite ala carte pricing... I don't expect the best, but I'd expect a kitchen to know temperatures. Many of my other friends said the food was OK, but had very little seasoning. however the desserts were a completely different story... absolutely amazing.
(3)H T.
Only had one day to spend in Chicago and really glad we picked this place for dinner. We had the crispy pork belly for an appetizer. We thought it would be like tripe but it was really just thick pieces of marinated bacon. Too heavy for an appetizer, but very tasty. My dinner was the short rib with vegetables. The short rib was very tender and the sauce it was stewed in had an amazing flavor. Very generous portion of meat, plus it came with vegetables, so I got a lot of food for the money. My brother had a steak and said that although he has had better, that the steak was still a high quality steak. Finally we had the key lime creme brullee for desert, and we both agreed it was some of the best creme brulee we have ever had. Be sure to dress kinda nice otherwise they will put you upstairs with the drinking crowd, where the furniture is uncomfortable patio chairs with metal bars and mesh. (that's what happened to us). We both agreed that this place was worth coming back to. Good food and the server was very friendly and accommodating.
(4)Jeff W.
If you're downtown and looking for a higher quality restaurant with much less of a wait, you should definitely check out Tavern at the Park. It's located in the heart of the fun stuff and has a great menu. The service was wonderful and the food was really pretty darn good. The menu isn't anything revolutionary and it's a bit expensive but the food is tasty and well prepared. The one unique thing you'll have to try is the Prime Rib Chili. They use actual cuts of (presumably) the unsold prime rib to make their chili. Instead of ground beef, you get huge hunks of steak in your chili. Yum! My fiancee and I got the lobster Mac and Cheese and while 30 bucks is expensive for Mac and Cheese, they certainly did not skimp on the lobster. We also split several appetizers with friends which were all very good. Definitely worth a stop during a fancier date night in the city.
(4)Peter K.
Based on review on Yelp, made the decision for a last minute reservation before theater. Had never made a reservation using yelp. Easy. and when we got there ( it was a snowy night in Chicago, so I thought it would be busy...it was.) We were offered and accepted the only remaining table at the time .../bu the window..a booth..cozy on a snowy night. French-onion soup was great...one of the best ever..nice and cheesy..richly flavorful. Had not seen the "iceberg"lettuce with blue cheese on a menu in ages..so jumped at that.. It was enormous..bacon crumbles, lost of crumbled blue cheese., lumpy blue cheese salad dressing. The combo of onion soup and the salad was MORE than enough. didn't finish the salad..just to much as I had eagerly sampled the rolls and bread nice assortment. But did finally opt for the Key Lime ( a nice twist )Creme Brule.. Service was attentive...and will definatlely have this as a "go to" restaurant before theater/symphony etc again. Nice "Clubby feel to the surroundings in the bar area, with the view..GREAT !
(4)Kevin L.
We had seen Tavern At The Park on one of the foodie networks and marked it down as a must visit. My wife had seen their special martini that was laced with silver and included the special gift from Tiffany's. It's located by the park and is convenient for drinks were pretty good. The silver was weird but she really wanted the silver 'bean' necklace so was pleased. Fairly pricey of a place for what you seem to get vs other places on the mile.
(3)Nicole L.
I don't know much about this place, but I do know one thing. I ordered the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich after the waiter told me it was the best steak sandwich in Chicago. I found that hard to believe until I tried it. OMG it's been over a month and I'm still raving about it!!! It was AMAZING!!!!!!!!!
(5)Bryan S.
Had dinner on the roof top with a bunch of work colleagues while in town on business. Wonderful atmosphere, great views, great ambiance. I do agree with a lot of the other reviews about the door/hostess staff. They're a little fussy, but once you smile and make a joke with them, we got upstairs quick, even before everyone was there. Policy about full party is weird when your restaurant is empty. Food was okay. My ceviche was excellent, but pasta was horrible. Waitress was great. And dessert was outstanding.
(4)Sam K.
Thought my cab driver recommended this because it was the closest place where he dropped us off (across from millennium park) so I was a bit weary. Boy was I wrong.. This place is amazing! Wings were excellent. I had the fillet mignon sandwich for the main course and it was amazing. Do yourself a favor and eat here!!!
(5)Karlee Q.
Very nice experience. I went here with some friends before the ballet on a Friday night. The atmosphere is great...cozy, yet sophisticated. I also liked how the tables were not crammed together, there was nice spacing. I sat at the bar while waiting for my friends to arrive and had a drink. The beer menu is selective, but covers all the bases. Both at the bar and at our table, the service was excellent. We were seated even though we did not have our full party, which is a plus compared to some other places I've gone that make you wait. The food was well prepared and beautifully presented. The menu is a little on the pricier side, but it is well worth it. I recommend the house-made hummus as an appetizer, and do NOT leave this place without ordering a brownie sundae. It is to die for. I took the blue line and walked from Washington, which was not a bad walk, so I'm not sure about the parking situation. The reason I gave this restaurant 4 stars instead of 5, because really I have no complaints about the service or the food taste and presentation, is because the menu has limited vegetarian options besides salad and one veggie burger. I would like to see a mushroom sandwich or some sort of delicious pasta dish, but obviously I ate something and it was fabulous. I would definitely come back here again.
(4)Julie Z.
This review is strictly for the Tree House which is their rooftop. I think it's pretty fair to say that most Chicagoan's love a rooftop, including myself. This one is great b/c it's in the heart of downtown and across the street from Millennium Park. The view is legit. The drinks are pricey but that's no surprise. The bartenders are friendly and attentive. I did not eat here so I can't review the food but if you're looking for a happy hour spot or to grab a few drinks before dinner, check this place out. Arrive early too! It gets crowded quickly.
(4)Eric L.
We went here last night on Valentine's Day, and it was awesome! I had fried calamari and a medium steak burger with cheddar. The burger was so juicy you didn't have to add anything to it to make it great, no sauces or salt or anything. My girlfriend had the chopped salad, which was large and tasted great. Also, this place has good beers on the menu, which we had a couple of. We will definitely come back to this place. It was a pretty big bill but well worth it. The service was good and quick as well.
(5)Tom D.
The owner is terribly inappropriate, and he has the worst sideburns that I have ever seen. Corey is a great server The owner used the "f" word at the table towards us and proclaimed how classy he is. If the place is so classy, they should turn down the music.
(1)Kacie B.
Had an amazing dinner with excellent service and atmosphere! Everyone's meal was delicious, between our table we had calamari, the pasta, port shank (which was huge) and brisket...divine! Get the potato pancakes ( came with the pork but can also be ordered as an app), you'll thank me! Their desserts were great also. We all split the carrot cake and red velvet cake, not too sweet but full of flavor. Watch out, though, they are also huge! Will definitely be going back!
(5)Justin P.
I did not feel welcome here at all, and will not be going back. Every host I interacted with was smug, and acted as if I was in the wrong place. When I finally got to their rooftop where my buddy had a party, I was told by two different employees "there is a private party outside, so no one is allowed on the roof." So I go "yeah, that's my buddy's party." They acted as if I was crazy... For it to be overpriced and in an area with slim options to park, they should be more appreciative of clientele.
(1)Casey B.
Went there cause it was close. The food was good the drinks were better. The wait staff was absolutely amazing. They were very helpful with everything.
(4)Dan R.
Very nice. I was pleasantly surprised because I never really noticed this place or put much thought to it even though it is next to my work. Lots of seating on two levels and well staffed. It's a good place for a business meeting or a quiet meal. The fish I ordered for lunch was very good. Other than that I really can't say much more as that is the limit of my experience there. I will definitely go back for the convenience, dining room setting and the food.
(4)Monica S.
Come here for the Bloody Mary's - Stay for the Bloody Mary's (oh and the food!) They make their own Bloody Mary mix in house which has been perfected with the perfect amount of kick. Each drink comes with your choice of vodka (their well vodka is Svedka...which is not too shabby for their cheapest vodka). I got mine with Absolut and it was perfect. The garnishes also make this a must drink - hot pepper, cheese cube, olive, and lime on a seasoning-dusted glass rim. (hey, stuff some blue cheese in that olive!) I ordered the chopped salad which I could barely make a dent it. This is no side salad here, you get a huge mountain of food. (Shoestring fries on a salad? madness.) Our server Brian was great. Very attentive and showed up at our table at all the right moments. He must have had some sort of alert system to notify him when my drink was getting low. I'll definitely be back hopefully sooner than later. Also, the Tree house roof top seems tempting for an after work happy hour. Apparently, they have a whole different menu....very intriguing.
(4)L T.
Love a place that has the Smiths playing!
(4)Patrick F.
I'm torn between 3 and 4 stars, but since I keep heading back it must be 4 stars....right? I've really only gone here during business lunches and is a great reason to be out of the office on a work day for 90 minutes. It's hard for me not to start with one of you hearty soups or house salad and then dig into the lobster roll with a healthy side of asparagus or some other green. In fact, I do this most times I there. I swear next time I'm going to venture outside of my comfort zone and try one of your many overpriced lunch dishes. Well till next time Tavern at the Park - I know that I will be seeing you soon! I also hear great things about the rooftop, but have yet to enjoy this experience.
(4)Jenna K.
I never write reviews but I feel like the service that I have received at Tavern at the Park deserves one. My company hosts client outings fairly often so I have worked with quite a few event coordinators and restaurants across the city. That said, I have yet to experience the level of service that I have at Tavern at the Park anywhere else. Tabitha, the event coordinator, has been wonderful to work with and is extremely responsive via phone and email. Every time we hosted an event Tabitha stopped by before our guests arrived to thank us for our business. She also went the extra step of staffing our event with the same server (Ryan) each time which added to our experience. Ryan remembered me and my co-worker, and even called us by name which was impressive. I truly appreciate the service that Tabitha and Ryan have provided and will continue to give them our business moving forward. If you are looking to host a party of any sorts I would recommend Tavern at the Park over anywhere else.
(5)Abby M.
I've been here for lunch a few times and like others have noted, it is pretty pricey. But the food is good, and the portions are large - so you're definitely getting what you pay for. They honor my seating requests with no complaints (sunny room, please) and everyone is friendly. We went yesterday and I had the steak burger salad - I asked for it Medium and it came out rare (in my opinion - I know this varies from place to place). They took care of it without batting an eye - even when they didn't have to, especially because I had ate at least a third of it! I thought that was going above and beyond to make their customer happy. They also have some seating up on their roof, which is great in the spring/summer time. From what I've heard, it's open all seasons - so we may have to stop for a happy hour sometime soon!
(4)Rick C.
They would get at least a 4 for their service and food. Outstanding. I am giving them a 5. I left my prescription sunglasses at their establishment. They found them, kept them and I had the pair in my hands instantly. Fantastic!
(5)Cissi C.
Seafood items are well prepared here. They taste fresh and lightly seasoned with refreshing taste. Nice environment inside and outside (at the patio), too.
(4)John R.
I was in Chicago last weekend and was dying for a steak. We went to The Tavern and had their NY. It was excellant.
(4)Chantelle A.
The rooftop is where its at! It took us awhile to actually find the entrance to the Tavern Treehouse but, once we arrived....we ARRIVED! Gorgeous views of the city....so posh...so relaxing.. It was a Friday night, the first night of Lollapalooza, and you could see the back of the Bud Light stage where Black Sabbath was performing. We ordered the Ceviche with huge pieces of Halibut, Cod, Scallops, Shrimp, tomato and cilantro drenched in this awesome lime vinegarette served with crispy tortilla chips. My friend ordered the Type O cocktail, which was made with their housemade Blood Orange Grenadine....it was pretty tasty. I ordered The Flying Zombo...made with ginger....it was very refreshing on this perfect night.
(5)Rhonda G.
Ah...nothing is better than when happy HOUR turns into happy HOURS. Pretty friendly, attentive staff. Some drinks are kind of on the pricey side but I kind of expected that going in. Mixture of the after work crowd and the cargo short and sun visor wearing tourists. Pretty decent wine list but the martini selection is pretty minimal. Worth checking out.
(4)Beth C.
I enjoyed my Grilled Vegetarian Dagwood, but I will not return because a waiter was making a rude comment about customers who were in the dining room. I, of course, after hearing the remark, couldn't resist my teacher stare at the unprofessional waiter who quickly made a hasty retreat. I understand needing to blow off steam, but not on the floor where service is paramount. I'm even willing to overlook the kitchen errors with our food, but not blatant disrespect by staff.
(1)Katie V.
If this place were cheaper/not trying to pass as fine dining, I might give it 3 stars, but everything was pretty underwhelming, especially given the price point and the ambiance they are striving for. Heavy-handed is the word that comes to mind -- the portions are huge, the plating inelegant, and the menu, while expansive, lacks focus. The special pizza, which came with lobster, pancetta, tomatoes, and spicy onions, was almost too spicy to eat, and I'm not a sissy when it comes to heat. There were jalapenos sort of randomly on there, too, despite no mention of them in the description. The combination of flavors was unusual, but not really harmonious. Felt like a kitchen sink pizza that could have used a little more thought/finesse. Beet salad: good, but standard. Chunks of beets were pretty clunky/big, not pretty to look at. Sockeye special: Fish was good, not overcooked, but the whipped potatoes it came with were cold. The other things on the plate included two sliced tomatoes, some cucumbers, olives and frisee. Weird set, didn't really go with the fish. It was sort of like a nicoise and a Greek salad got together and procreated. For $28, I felt a little cheated that my salmon basically just came with a side salad. My date got the truffle chicken hash, which looked good. Huge plate of food, and he barely made a dent, but it looked more interesting than my dish. The service was pretty good -- only annoying thing is the server kept asking us when we wanted our entrees to arrive. Right after she brought out the apps, she asked if we were ready for entrees. No, we said, we'd like a little time to eat the apps. She asked again 5 minutes later. The kitchen was closing, but still....it's the server's job to time the courses properly. Don't ask me when I want my entree -- bring it after you've cleared the first course, duh. I would like to check out the roof deck. For cocktails and a good view, I might return, but not for a nice dinner.
(2)Stephanie H.
This place is A-OK. I took one star off for the prices and another star for the food. I've been here several times since I work nearby, but last week was the first time I came here and paid for my own meal. That was a mistake. This place is really really pricey and this is quasi-upscale American food. For example, the last time I was there I had the chicken pot pie, this was $22 and sadly I've had better at Mystic Celt of all places for a lot cheaper. I also had the ceviche to start which "was sooooo good" according to the waitress who claimed that she had never had it before and when she tried it here she asked the chefs to give her the recipe. Clearly she really never had ceviche before because it was really weak, and as you can guess it was pricey. Other times I've been here I've had the bookmaker burger which is really good, but again this is a $20+ steak sandwich. I understand this is in the tourist area, but all of your dishes aren't worth shelling out the money.
(3)Chelsea B.
Delicious food, great location across the street from millennium park, generous portions. Tabitha, our waitress was phenomenal with our 2 kids. Even though there is no kids menu they were very accommodating. You cant ask for a better place. It was fabulous!
(5)julie q.
Atmosphere = cozy, woodsy, and nice Servie = slow and unattentive for most of the night Appetizer = Duck Egg Rolls = meh. Entree = Chicken breast lightly breaded and stuffed w/mushrooms, proscuitto, sun dried tomatoes, shallots, mozzerella, garlic and served over bucatini = for the price, not bad at all. Dessert = strawberry shortcake that should be illegal and senteneced to jail Side order my friend had = mashed potatoes = they were the same kind I got in middle and high school in the cafeteria. For a pricey $7, they should have been whipped with cream and butter and real potatoes Wine = $30 per bottle and it was good I think for such an expesive bill, sans wine, i expected a helluva lot better for the $$$$. Will I be back? Only if someone else is paying.
(2)Doug B.
Overall it was just OK. The service was relatively good. The food was hit or miss. The steak sandwich was great. The steak Diane was good but ridiculously small portion.The chicken hash was just poor.Great location across from Millenium Park but the dining room has no windows and no view.
(3)Burak G.
Had lunch there with my two little kids. Staff was super nice and accomodating. Server was excellent. Food was superb. I asked for fast service, and food arrived within five minutes.
(5)Matthew T.
Great food and service!!! The prices are sightly higher, but worth it. The atmosphere was very nice. We sat in the back so the lighting was dimmed, which was very relaxing, and then there is seating close to the windows overlooking Millennium Park. I ordered the turkey club, which was huge, and it came with a side (stacked higher than the sandwich) of fresh cut fries. My wife ordered the BBQ beef sandwich also came with fresh cut fries. Great wine and beer list (lots of different craft beers). Next time we visit Chicago, we will go back here again.
(5)Cody F.
I wish this place was good, but it simply is not. My experience was so terribly mediocre and at such a high price. The service was odd, the waitress literally tried to talk us out of our initial orders. The food is exceptionally uninspired, which is totally absurd considering the price. I would not recommend this restaurant, nor will I be returning.
(2)Liz K.
I've had two good experiences here. The first was for lunch, the second, dinner. Both times I've been overwhelmed by the amount of food on my plate, and when you consider that with the quality, I think the prices are fair. I don't remember the name of the salad I got at lunch, but there were four chicken breasts on the plate. FOUR. For one person! That could have fed me for 4 separate meals. In any case, the salad also had goat cheese and apples and it was just yummy all-around. For dinner, I got the vegetarian lasagna, and again, it was enough for 3 or 4 meals. This is nit-picky, but I would have liked bigger pieces of veggies so that they wouldn't fall off my fork after the noodles were cut...but anyway, it was delicious and I can't wait to eat it for lunch today. My dinner guest was also impressed with her sandwich (the short rib, I think?) and had the same feeling about the portion. We both had the Sonoma Sauvignon Blanc and enjoyed it. The service was friendly and quick both times. It was a little bit loud, which is my only complaint.
(4)Mahsa T.
Surprisingly, I actually liked this place, it didn't feel touristy at all on a Wednesday night. I was greeted warmly by the host. We sat at the bar and got great service from the bartender. I ordered a glass of wine (which is more like two glasses of wine because they bring you a full glass plus a little carafe) and he ordered a Guinness. Not much of a beer selection on tap, but they have a pretty good selection of wines. Dark woodsy interior was cozy and charming. The place was decorated beautifully for Christmas so that totally upped the ambiance. I didn't get to try the food, so I will have to update the review when I do, but the four stars is based on ambiance, service, and drinks. Great happy hour or date spot.
(4)Tsveta V.
The atmosphere is a little stuffy for me, but the food was good and it wasn't as packed as other restaurants around the New East Side making it a good pick for a business lunch. I got the Chicken Black Truffle Hash which was recommended by the waiter. The portion was very large, and it was pretty good but nothing to rave about.
(3)Johanna L.
Came here for the "groom's dinner" before my sister's wedding two weeks ago. There were passed hors d'oeuvres and wine available. I had the sliders (YUM) and the various fruits and cheeses available. There were also bacon-wrapped scallops, which I'm not a fan of in general, but I'm told they were lovely. Great food, kind of cramped (we were upstairs) though. Might be nice to come back when there is room to sit down to enjoy more of the food. The service was great, and everyone working there seemed very intent on us having a good experience.
(3)Jenny P.
the only place in Chicago that makes a pina colada the way I love it topped with whipped cream !
(5)Stephanie H.
I had been aching to try this restaurant out for ages after constantly passing it on the way to and from work. I absolutely love outdoor seating, which is what I think draws guests to this restaurant. I finally had the chance to go a few weeks ago. My friend and I shared the butternut squash ravioli and chopped steak cheeseburger. The cheeseburger was delicious, but the butternut squash was very mediocre, and the portion was rather small. Our server was attentive, but his behavior was a little odd. Overall, I don't think the outdoor seating is enough to bring me back.
(2)Trey M.
Great menu. Service was very good. We had the lobster ravioli and Cajun prime rib. Huge chunks of lobster in the dish, and the prime rib was cooked perfectly.
(5)Will D.
Nice location, upscale atmosphere and attentive service, but very disappointed with my entree. The brisket was rubbery and fatty, but at least the mac and cheese and cole slaw sides helped salvage the meal. Somewhat expensive to boot, so it was not a good value for me. I expected a lot, lot more. Note to self: don't ever order brisket north of Dallas again.
(2)Scott Y.
We had an enjoyable meal. Too bad the place is so noisy! It was difficult to have a normal conversation.
(3)Tom Y.
On a recent business trip to Chicago, My buddy and I wanted a comfortable grill/restaurant where we could enjoy a good meal and watch a hockey game. The Tavern turned out to be a perfect choice. When we arrived, we were hoping to find a table or a couple seats in the front lounge (with the TVs over the bar). Unfortunately, it was completely jammed. The host, knowing we wanted to watch the game, said he cold find us a spot. He took us back into the dining room where there just happened to one empty booth with a TV right in front of it. We each enjoyed a few beers and a nice meal while the game played on. Our own luxury box! The food was quite good. The menu includes a variety of items sure to please a mixed group. I had the brisket which was served with a large side of mac cheese and coleslaw-very tasty. My friend commented that his whitefish was the best he ever had! Portions were large. Our server took excellent care of us. Prices seemed in line with other Chicago restaurants. If youre looking for good food and great service in a comfortable setting, I highly recommend the Tavern at the Park.
(4)Chamell B.
Tavern At The Park brings back the joy of dining out. My fiancé and I had the best dining experience ever thanks to our server extraordinaire, Luisa. She was truly interested in making sure our dinner at Tavern was top notch. Before we ordered she asked if we had any time restraints, any food allergies and most importantly for me, how hunger were we so she could provide menu recommendations. She had a fun personality and knew the menu. The drinks were outstanding; we had the Alison in Wonderland and the Shake Down. The food from the starters to the dessert were perfect as was the pace of the dinner. We never felt rushed. Luisa and the manager checked on us during our meal without being pushy. If you have one night in Chicago, I would highly recommend Tavern.
(5)Syngin A.
I'm ashamed to say I've lived in Chicago for the last 16 years, have walked past this restaurant for almost 2 decades and never went in. Since my SO was working in the Aon Center and we were meeting for lunch on a Saturday afternoon, I thought I would finally try Tavern at the Park out since we make it a point to eat everywhere in the neighborhood at least once. Lunch is such a wonderful time to try out a restaurant like this because 1) it's not busy and crowded 2) you get attentive service 3) you are not in a hurry to get to a play, symphony, or other event and 4) lunch menus are cheaper and a good indicator of whether you really want to spend more for dinner on another night. The entrees are truly wonderful, creative and very affordable for this class of restaurants. My black truffle chicken was divine and $21.00. Truthfully, it was enough to feed two people, but I gorged myself silly. I simply loved, loved, loved the Irish Potato Cake. It's like someone shaped grits and cheese into a biscuit. The poached egg on top of the ensemble seems like the new trendy thing to do with burgers, but there it was on my black truffle chicken. It was like have breakfast and dinner combined. I also had their fired banana split dessert. That was ingenious frying the banana in what I assume is cornflakes! My SO loved his hamburger. The interior was more casual than I assumed from looking at the outside, but maybe that's because we were seated downstairs across from the bar. Perfect for lunch and a great, first introduction to Tavern at the Park.
(4)Milind B.
I had been here twice before an year or two ago and it had been okay, so last Wednesday (Sep 4, 2013), a friend and I decided to go get a couple of cocktails late in the evening. We went, asked if there was a place, we were given a table on the roof, by the edge and then the wait began. We waited for 30 minutes or so without a single person asking for us. Nothing at all. We tried to catch people's eyes, they didn't respond. It was terrible. We finally got frustrated and decided to head out. We also decided to post a complaint to the concierge at the front, for which the response was "okay" that's it and she went back to looking at whatever piece of paper she had in front of her. For a place that boasts such decor and location, it was pathetic service. For any place which calls itself belonging to the hospitality industry, it was pathetic service.
(1)Tiffany H.
Amazing location! Super trendy type of restaurant and bar on the rooftop of a building overlooking Millenium Park. The location and view is 5 stars but the food was just ok. The rooftop isn't very large so when we visited it on a whim looking for a place to grab dinner, we anticipated a wait. However, when we checked in with the hostess, she couldn't and wouldn't tell us how long the wait was which is quite odd and poor customer service. She said we could wait at the bar but she said she had no idea when she could seat us at a regular table (maybe an 1 hr, maybe more, maybe shorter). With that vagueness, we opted to eat our dinner at the bar which was ok but not ideal. For the venue and the price, I would anticipate the food to be a little better.
(3)amy z.
service is great but food is sub par.
(2)Pete B.
We went there for lunch because the place we wanted to go originally was already closed. The restaurant was relatively nice in a good location, but the food was just okay/nothing special. It's a little pricey for lunch ($15+ for lunch entree), but the portion was huge, so I guess that justified the price. Service was lacking since I had to stop and ask the waitress to refill my water after waiting for a long time for her to come over even though there were only 3 other tables besides us. Why go here when there are better restaurants in Chicago?
(3)Meredith K.
They have Templeton Rye so that's good! I've been here for lunch a few times and its always been solid. Kind of on the pricey side esp for a salad but all in all good. I took my parents here for dinner before a show at the CSO. The dinner menu is different and more expensive than the lunch menu (of course!) I had the black truffle chicken hash which was good but big. I took half of it home w/ me. Everyone else enjoyed their meals. My only gripe was the brownie sundae. The brownie was not good. Dry, not rich, just blah! I'd skip dessert next time although my boyfriend is bummed that we didn't get the family style banana creme pie.
(3)Jamal T.
Nice ambiance and impeccable service. Brisket was tender too
(4)Bill R.
Since everyone else chose alfresco dining, we asked to be seated indoors. Therefore it was pretty wide open. We got put off in a corner, near the kitchen entrance and an elevator door. We were told "no one uses the elevator", until everyone did. My beef is with the shaky table. I personally got on my knees to fix this in full view of management, servers and bus staff. Every time a server set something down, the table lurched, yet did nothing. Table presence in general is poor. Glassware piled up on the table. We gathered bread plates for some time but were never offered bread. With our appetizer, the plates were badly chipped. Too bad, this is all a deal breaker, because the food is good. Everyone had a seafood dish that drew compliments. My wife complained on getting a lot of scales on her snapper. My observation was with the "flatbread". I imagine flatbread to have a thin, cracker-like, crispy crust. Instead it was thick and doughy. One half of the crust was burnt, the other half, under-cooked. Call it "Pizza", because this isn't flatbread. First impressions are everything. If you can't enjoy your meal, because you need to keep you feet firmly planted on one end of the table base so no one spills their wine, you are dining at an establishment that just doesn't care.
(1)Adriana F.
Good food, good location.
(3)Sally V.
Nice outdoor seating. The food was good. Nothing spectacular.
(4)Kelsey R.
Best food and service that I encountered in Chicago. The strawberry chicken salad was amazing.. Tons of chicken and fried goat cheese. Fresh fruit on it was delicious. Luisa took care of us and was outstanding.
(5)Phil L.
Went to Tavern last night. It's got a pretty good location, but we weren't able to sit upstairs due to a private party like we wanted. We sat at the bar for a bit, but seating was limited- another party was going on downstairs. We finally got seated outside (downstairs) with about a half hour of the restaurant staying open. Wish it stayed open later. That, along with access to the upstairs, would increase my rating.
(3)Hoang L.
I went here a few months ago and I ordered a filet mignon with lobster crust and a loaded baked potato for lunch. This might sound foolish, but I had to load the potato myself! You come to a nice restaurant like this, you would expect to have the food ready to eat. The filet mignon was tough to eat and I usually order medium (occasionally medium rare). You can see how burnt the piece of meat was from the picture I uploaded. I won't be coming back here, even if the lunch was paid by my company.
(2)J and S.
My fiance and I went last night for the first time (eventhough we live about 2 miles away). We had a reservation, and upon entering we were asked if we wanted to sit in the bar area or the dining room. We were seated at the first table when you walk in (the host said he suggested the bar area because there was more going on). I would like to check out the dining room, and I will definitely be back when the weather isn't stupidly terrible (when we originally planned for a date night I figured, Mid-May- sit outside and overlook the park... not so much). Star 1- I appreciated the Host providing his suggestion for seating. Star 2- I ordered a glass of wine and my fiance got a whiskey on the rocks (quite a generous pour!). Drinks were large and reasonably priced! Star 3- Service. Geremy was our server and she was fantastic! She was there when we wanted her, she was not overbearing, she was super friendly and seemed like she truly enjoyed her job. She gave great recommendations and comments on the food- she knew the menu well. It was honestly the best service I have had in along time! Star 4- The Food. The prices arent cheap, you should know that going into your evening, but its worth it. I ordered the bookmaker steak sandwich ($22). I am not a huge steak fan. And this is only the 2nd steak sandwich I have ordered from a restaurant. I eat steak probably twice a year at Ruth's Chris, and the only other steak sandwich- Morton's. This was DELICIOUS. I ordered it medium rare, and it was cooked to perfection. Why was it $22? Well... there was a TON of meat. It comes with a delicious truffle aioli that melts in your mouth- and is delicious with the crispy onion strings. I am currently fighting to finish this sandwich for lunch the day after (I was full for HOURS after 1/2 of it). It comes with about 5 servings of fries. I normally am not a fry person, but these were good!. We ordered a side of creamed spinach- I could do without it, but it was pretty good. Next time I will order an appetizer or dessert instead of a side! My fiance had the Lobster Ravioli (our server suggested that over the Lobster Mac n Cheese... but it was a close call). Not only was the ravioli stuffed with Lobster, there were large chunks throughout. I'm allergic, so I cant tell you how it tasted, but he was very pleased. The dish was $34, but the amount of lobster I could see made the price extremely reasonable. All in all it was delicious and we will definitely be back! Next time when its nice and we can sit outside with a beautiful view, have a few drinks and the Duck eggroll and fig & prosciutto flatbread appetizers! Why no 5 stars? I was still sad about not being able to sit outside and there were some d-bags running between the upstairs area and the bar downstairs that annoyed me (not the restaurants fault, and it wouldn't have been that way in the dining area!) oh and I am so not a fan of having to go upstairs to use the restroom. Other than that... great experience!
(4)Stephen C.
little bit too long in between courses but all in all very good
(4)Sara B.
This is the perfect place to enjoy a nice afternoon or a clear evening. The views are stunning and the cocktails are delicious - unique yet easy to enjoy. The music selection was great too - sounded like they had bogarted our Pandora station! We stopped by here randomly and decided to come back again the next afternoon because of the views. I highly recommend it!
(5)Carol T.
We went here for dinner after going to the theater, and sadly could not get reservations at my preferred restaurant. I thought that Tavern At The Park was good, but I wasn't blown away. The food was good, and we had a fantastic server. They also had a decent wine selection with reasonable prices. However, I took one star off for the food prices, which were really high even for Chicago, and particularly so for the quality of the food (good, but not amazing). I took another star off for the portion sizes, which were ridiculously large. I ordered the Black Truffle Chicken Hash, and I could probably have fed a family of 5 with it, and certainly couldn't finish it all. Again, it tasted just fine, so if enormous portion sizes are your thing, or if you really like being able to take home leftovers, then I would recommend this place.
(3)Stephen R.
Service here is always great Staff is very friendly Bar area is the best part Food is above average Service, Service, Service is really well done here. Great place in the warmer weather.
(4)Christina M.
Great location, salads, baked potatoes, and wine selection. My bf and I live pretty close to this restaurant so we frequent it often. He really likes all of the meat sandwiches, and I think all of the vegetarian options are good. Overall, nice place to meet someone for lunch or dinner.
(4)Michelle P.
My parents I and stumbled across this place last year when they came to visit (I avoid downtown as much as I can since I work downtown.) We weren't going to go in until a guy walking by said you have to try it. So we did and feel in love. We recently went again for my moms birthday and again the food and service was amazing. If you are visiting Chicago this place is a NICE change from the typical places people usually visit. Enjoy!
(5)Amy L.
Great location. Upscale atmosphere. Inside and outside dining. Very nice. Food was excellent, however I ordered what the server called "flatbread" and it came out as a pizza. :/ The restaurant is huge. Everyone else was satisified with their food. I would recommend this place. We even drank at the bar after dinner, when the place was closing and the staff was super cool.
(4)Heather S.
Delicious meal and great service! The Tavern at the Park has a great atmosphere! Whether you are here for a business lunch or stop in after touring the local attractions, it is a welcoming place to get a spectacular meal & refreshing drink.
(5)Allen C.
Had lunch here and thought food and service very good. A bit pricey, But worth the visit. Fresh bread and crackers served before meal. BBQ rib sandwich piled high with crisp onions on soft roll with fries Was tasty. STEAK DIANE served over mashed potatoes was a bit salty But tender. Key lime creme brûlée desert a fine lunch finale.
(4)Amanda M.
I went here with my sister and my dad when our flight to NYC was cancelled. First time in Chicago and ended up at Tavern. Ambiance is so classy and cozy. Our service this night, which was a Saturday night, was fantastic. Our server, a girl new to the area, was so sweet and really friendly. She helped us out with the menu and recommendations. FIG & PROSCIUTTO FLATBREAD is a must! I love the blue tinted glass that the water was served in. The bread basket was also amazing. I had the steak sandwich with the onion straws on top- delish. My dad ordered a fish which was awesome- can't remember which one. And he also got the tomato bisque which was pretty good. I am surprised at some of the negative reviews here, but then again, I'm not a local so I don't have any other comparisons in the area. Excellent place in my book! ...and definitely more like a $$$ if you are planning on eating a full meal and having any alcohol at all. $$ is more for one drink and appetizer.
(4)Marc W.
Enjoyed the wedge salad; refreshing and quite large. The signature Tavern steak (16oz) was one of the better prepared cuts I've had in a while; medium with incredible flavor and tenderness. Just what I was craving. 3 stars for the service/cost...quality was there with the food, but the service was average and cost expensive.
(3)Kyle N.
The food here was excellent, but the service was even better. We had a fantastic waitress who was very attentive and helpful to our rowdy group of family who hadn't seen each other in quite a while. We were seated at a large round table in a private room at the front of the restaurant. There was a door to our room, so we could close it and tell as many stories and laugh as loud as we wanted -- it was great! The food just kept coming (probably because we kept ordering since it was soooo good). Between the five of us we got the lobster mac&cheese, the pork roast, the spaghetti & meatballs, and a couple other dishes that I can't recall for our entrees. As for appetizers, the waitress helped steer us towards the bread pudding and the pizza with bleu cheese, figs, bacon and an amazing sauce on it -- it was DELICIOUS. After the appetizers, many of us got soup and/or salad which were all delicious as well -- especially the tomato basil bisque and the french onion soup...YUM! We were all stuffed when it came time for dessert, but my aunt decided we needed to see the menu anyway. We ended up ordering the two LARGEST desserts on their menu: the carrot cake and the berry tart (i forget the real name). Both were monstrous and delicious. I'm pretty sure we spent 3+ hours eating, talking and carrying on and we closed that place down on the Thursday night we were there, but the staff was incredibly friendly and didn't seem to mind at all. In fact, the manager visited our dinner room during the evening to make sure everything was going well. Over all a great place to eat and enjoy yourself! Ask for the private room if you can -- it made all the difference in our dining experience here.
(5)Adam K.
Took my cousin here, she was very impressed and so was I. The host told us a 20 min wait but we decided to eat at the bar. Pulled up and ordered a Matilda, my lady got Put Your Honey Where Your Mouth Is which made me cringe to order but when it came out she was enthralled, I took a sip and yeah, it was pretty girly, but good! Next round was "Left at Albuquerque" which I wanted to get cuz I am huge Bugs Bunny fan. and also because it featured a "home-made jalapeno syrup" which sounded intriguing. This drink was amazing. I highly recommend it. Tasted NOTHING like booze but i was fully fershnickered after 2. To eat I got: Salmon and Tuna tartar - Shredded Horseradish, Toast Points, Rice Crackers & Wonton Crisp. nothing to write home about except for the weird butter sauce, that they dont even mention in the descrip. WOW this stuff was like crack. I scooped it all up. Bookmaker Steak Sandwich - Sliced Filet Mignon, Crispy Onion Straws, Truffle Aioli & Whiskey Butter On A Pretzel Roll. Ummm yeah, home run for me, altough i ordered it medium rare, which i know is a relative measurement but it was a bit on the rare side for me. Which i do not mind. I am not that guy who stands up and says "ExxCUUUSE ME WAITER, THIS IS RARE, I ORDERED MEDIUMMM!!!" I hate that person. It was really tasty however, and I will get it again but order it medium. I think maybe the whiskey butter added to my fershnickeredness. Baked Whipped Potato Casserole - Holy dear lord they give a lot of potatoes for six bucks. I could not even finish it all, so tasty. After we were done it started storming so we hung out for awhile, we did not feel rushed or bullied as we were just chillin. That was nice. The ambiance gets 5 stars, service 5 stars and date night factor...5 stars. So why did I not give the venue 5 stars? Its not the kind of place I would rush back to to eat again. I wanted to try Gage but the wait was an hour and ten mins and it was SOOOO noisy in there. Here the noise level was perfect and the patrons seemed way less snobby.
(4)Shradha A.
My eternal search in Chicago is for vegetarian-friendly restaurants where we can host clients. I'm yet to find that place that works out - in terms of quiet environment where business can be talked, good food can be ordered and enjoyed, the service can be relied on and the bill doesn't burn a hole in a startup pocket. We tried Tavern at the Park today - the one catch is they open at 2pm on Saturdays (yes, we were doing business on the weekend). The atmosphere is great - not very dark or loud, the menu had some good options for salads that could easily be turned vegetarian, and the service was sharp and attentive. The chopped salad and the wedge salad were both good. Soups are all made in chicken broth though... Definitely on the shortlist, because of the lack of choices otherwise. P.S. Open to new suggestions for business meals (brunch and dinner)!
(4)Reuben H.
Wonderful space, not so wonderful food, and the service we got was downright creepy. Not sure if the guy was drunk/high or socially retarded, but he was really just overbearing and stared and lingered for way too long. Food was nothing to write home about, in fact for the prices charged- the food was bad. The space itself is really very nice. Plus with it's location so close to so many downtown business buildings and directly across Randolph from Millennium Park- it has great potential to be a good spot for a nice bite to eat and a drink. Next time, I will stick to drinks. Besides, I don't think Mr. Creepy is a bartender there.
(2)Ronald C.
I'm a longtime customer of the former Chicago Bar & Grill, which now calls itself Tavern At the Park, dating back nearly 30 years now. Owing to its intimacy, quality, location and the ability to always get a comfortable seat within seconds, it has stood for decades as the ideal place to go for dinner and/or drinks after work, for quick business meetings, after taking in social functions, entertainment, shopping, ice skating or whatever. You can rest assured, however, that after my experience there last night I will never set foot inside the place again, and I will admonish my friends and professional colleagues to avoid this establishment as well. Several news stories have been written and published in local mainstream media over the past couple of weeks detailing how suburban whites are now eschewing the suburbs they ran to more than 40 years ago, and are returning to reside in the downtown Chicago area--like it's a good thing. What not one of those articles has emphasized is the African American populace that they are displacing, and the attitude, arrogance and sense of entitlementment that some of these "newly urban" white transplants are bringing with them to the city. A female colleague of mine and I decided to meet at Tavern On the Park last night just to catch up on things, and enjoy some cocktails. She arrived minutes before I did, and was asked by the metrosexual white, male host to stand by because there was a "45-minutes-to-an-hour wait" for a table (we are both African American). Once I walked in, my friend informed me of the situation and we stood off to the side, but watched intently as at least three non-African American guests and their parties were very warmly greeted by the host, who proceeded to assure them that "whatever table opened up next was definitely theirs." He repeated this audibly, three times, almost as if he was determined that we heard him. My friend then simply walked over to the desk to ask about our place on the list, and out of nowhere was rudely, verbally assaulted by this blonde, pompous, male (expletive omitted) like I have never heard a woman addressed before. Then, he calmy turned back to his white guests, smiled like a Cheshire cat and said, "now, how can I be of service to you?" This person has no idea how very close he came to a physical confrontation with me for insulting a black woman and friend of mine like that, but we just determined that it wasn't worth it, and that after three decades Tavern At the Park no longer deserves our money. It's like these days, so long as most downtown Chicago establishments are packed to the rafters with white, college-aged kids freely spending mommy and daddy's money and chasing butt, proprietors feel like they can address and treat black patrons any kind of way because serving people who look just like them is what they prefer. Handing downtown over to white, former suburbanites may be a cash cow for merchants, but that's not Chicago. Character is no more. It's essentially a college town after 5:00 p.m. People of color, if you're in search of an establishment where you'll be respected, Tavern At the Park is not it, and it starts right at the door with the so-called "host" that they have in place. How very disappointing with an accomplished restaurateur like Peter de Castro, Jr. as the owner.
(1)Fleet H.
Reviews of blue cheese bread pudding are right on: awesome appy. Whiskey sour: who'd a thunk they were so good!?
(4)Dustin H.
The filet was awesome! Somewhat pricey but I think it was worth it.
(5)Aaron L.
We had a group of 7 for drinks and apps. They were very accommodating (we asked for the private room) and service was excellent. The apps were also very good.
(4)Richard S.
This place is great! The food is awesome and the service is great - very upscale. It is conveniently located to the Illinois Center so we often bring associates and customers to enjoy the experience. For visitors, this is a place that will always delight and usually have no wait to get a seat. The bar is phenomenal and the restaurant even has a roof top deck that overlooks Millennium Park (for the warmer evenings).
(5)Ebonie T.
I took my husband to The Tavern for Sweetest Day. Very expensive for a below average experience. I ventured out for a dish I'd never tasted. The menu name escapes me, but it was a sliced beef served with coleslaw and mac and cheese. I hated all of it. I even tasted my hubby's steak and potatoes and even they left a nasty after taste in my mouth. Our waiter was awesome. I believe his name was Gary? Very bubbly and informed. He even assured us that our water was "triple filtered." He knew a lot about the chef, the restaurant's history and how all of the food is made. All and all, I've had better meals for a fraction of the price.
(2)Jacque R.
I went with a group of co-workers one cold day after work. I really liked the cozy atmosphere.There were many people there, but didn't feel like it. The have a great rye bread with fruit....so yummy! I ate light and got the house salad with mussels and they were both great! The salad had celery, tomato, and cucumbers with a light champagne vinaigrette. The mussels were topped with tomatoes- which I loved. My co-workers liked their meals, but didn't rave about them (Pork Chop special, steak and Rotisserie Amish Chicken) I highly recommend the 2009 Les Fontanelles Pinot- inexpensive but smooth and really nice!
(3)Shoesoffnrun R.
Stopped in here for lunch while away on business. The food was good, and the bartender was friendly. Nothing amazing, or to write home about.
(3)Sean N.
I've been here a couple of times for drinks and food. I give two stars because I feel that if you're going to offer something it should either meet or exceed expectations. Alcohol and ambiance are nice, so it's great if you're looking for an after work spot to unwind, however, the food leaves much to be desired. Typically bland, and although at times eclectic, you get the feeling the chef in the back less a culinary artist and more a kid in the sandbox.
(2)Jennifer T.
The rooftop deck has a great view and the service was good. My issue was the food. I ordered the blackened grouper for $29. The seasoning was bland and the the size of the fish was 3" x 2" with a couple pieces of spinach and a small nibble of rice. I would not come back because of the food.
(2)Jaime G.
This is my go-to place by the office. Always consistent food and service for entertaining clients and friends with such a great ambiance to match. For starters, the must try is the grilled pallenta in a garlic and Italian sausage sauce. Wow - really full of bold flavor and spice that everyone just loves. My favorite entree is the Seared Ahi Tuna. Very basic but it hits the spot every time. Comes lightly seared with just a little salt and pepper on top of a delightful cabbage salad. Salads are ginormous - the ceaser salad can easily feed 2 people. I also like the fish sandwich that comes with a load of fries. You should try creamy potato side though too. Sometimes i just have this as my entree. So creamy, garlicy, and cheesy that is so satisfying. Bar is ok to just have a drink but tends to get crowded fast. Beer and wine selection is good. Has a nice little outdoor area and the second floor has a fantastic view of Millennium Park but beware - can get full of tourists fast.
(4)Heather H.
Chicken Noodle/Matzoh Ball soup was outstanding. French Onion soup was outstanding. Main Dishes: Mac & Cheese w/Filet, Chicken with Black Truffle Hash were very good. Chicken pot pie was good as was fish and chips. Kyle was the waiter and he delivered STELLAR service. Glad we went here, had a good meal for the price, lovely location and leisurely stroll back to the hotel. The service really was tremendous.
(4)Cerene P.
Great after work spot. Stopped here after work on Friday. Good food, drinks and atmosphere!!!
(4)Mary Ann C.
So...I have been wanting to try this place for the last few years, as I have a yearly conference at the Hyatt. I ate at the Gage for lunch the day before, and it is hard to top the Gage. Anyhow, I was dining solo, so I elected to eat at the bar. A glass of wine and Millennium Burger made up my forty dollar lunch. Pretty pricey in my opinion, especially compared to the Gage. The burger was quite good, even though it was not prepared medium as ordered. Loved the duck confit, cheese, organic greens, and other tasty toppings. It is a fork and knife burger! Huge. The fries were quite good. Other than the price, my other complaint is that I was in the middle of taking a bite of my burger, when the bar tender wanted to start a tab on me and asked for my credit card. Very odd, as I had ordered wine and waited for my burger, which took at least 15 minutes. Why ask for the credit card when I was mid-bite?! Pretty unprofessional even for a meal at the bar. In fact, all of my years living and dining in Chicago and all of the years that I have traveled have never brought on such a request mid-bite. Better training for the staff could improve such things. Would have given the place four stars, even with the burger that was not medium and high prices, but asking me for my credit card in the middle of my meal is over the top! Three stars for Tavern at the Park! Plus, the Gage is better and more affordable!
(3)Barb B.
I actually would've given this restaurant 5 stars if not for the one super important detail to service which you will learn about later. I visited on vacation and was celebrating my friend's 40th birthday that evening (it was just the 2 of us, not a large party). I'd gotten a recommendation from the concierge at my hotel and after reading the reviews on yelp thought it sounded perfect. Walking distance from my hotel, great view from the rooftop, known for great food and service. Once we arrived I let the hostess know we were celebrating a birthday which she then shared with our server who was excellent throughout the entire time. The food was fantastic, everything was cooked perfectly, other servers in the area were also very attentive, even had a visit from the manager asking if everything was OK, which up to that point everything was great. We hadn't finished our meals in order to save room for dessert and while getting that packed up we asked our server for the dessert menu. He then informed us the kitchen was now closed (it was 10:45pm on a thurs and they close at 10). He did say he'd go and speak to the chef and see what he could do. He was gone for awhile but in the meantime we just chatted and enjoyed the view. About 10 or so minutes later he arrived to inform us the chef would not serve us dessert. At that point, feeling somewhat dumbfounded we asked for the check and left. I did leave the server a 20% tip because he was excellent. We however left feeling very disappointed and turned off from this restaurant. Our complete experience went from absolutely perfect to less than just OK because we couldn't believe they wouldn't serve us dessert. The bar was still open with plenty of guests being served. What about a birthday drink offer? Or an ice cream scoop with a candle? or a chocolate cake slice? Something to show that you care about the special occasion. It was my friend's 40th birthday and we celebrated while on vacation, out of all the restaurants we had to choose from we picked this one and this is how it ended? Pretty sad actually as I've worked in the hospitality industry my entire life and service is a huge deal. I was feeling rather embarrassed and felt bad for my friend. Some things only happen once and this was it. This is the last memory we will have of Tavern on the park because we will not be going there on our next visit to Chicago. I understood if the desserts have to be cooked but seriously, any effort would've made us leave with a smile instead of a frown that night. This is just a warning for anyone celebrating any type of special occasion or romantic event, or anyone who is looking for a special night. In the least I would've appreciated a "we're closing the kitchen at 10 so if you want dessert, tell us now" but nope, nothing, nada, zilch.
(3)Katherine R.
My mom, sister, and I ate salads with Ahi tuna here. Mom had an individual pizza and my sister drank an assortment of red wines. The server was very nice and humble. I think the ambiance was elegant with the long quiet narrow table layout along tall windows to see out to Millenium Park. The fruit and vegetables in our salads was just a colorful and fresh and crisp presentation and taste. I don't drink but they had a non-alcoholic light ale Guiness that taste like butterscotch and it was very good. Thank God he brought that out instead of the high sugary virgin pina colada that I was thinking about. He was right on track. The dessert was good. The banana split with fried banana was drizzled in chocolate syrup and as usual we shared it with three spoons. I thought the Ahi tuna in the appetizer could have been sliced thicker in the salad.
(4)Nina M.
I still don't think I can improve my rating, but I did want to at least mention that the owner contacted me regarding my experience. I always see it as a good sign when a business cares enough about comments to respond and use it as a training opportunity for his staff.
(2)Michael F.
We dined there last night and while I'm a vegan and my coworker is a vegetarian, they were able to accommodate us nicely. I had a margarita pizza with extra tomatoes and no cheese. Had a salad and side of broccoli...which was cooked perfectly and a generous portion. My coworker had the blueberry bread pudding and he said it was great. Even more than that our waiter was very, very kind, helpful and courtious. While a bit spendy, the food and service were top notch. I'd recommend if you're in the downtown area. Next, off to the Chicago Diner for lunch and really looking forward to it.
(5)Gary M.
We had a pleasant experience. I will give our server five stars -- absolutely the best! The food was delicious, but was fairly standard fare. If anything, the portions were too large, so we left feeling full and wishing we didn't have a starter.
(4)Justin Z.
The food was very good and moderately priced. I had the brick chicken and it was quite nice.
(4)Jessica C.
Excellent service, great atmosphere, high prices...very average food. The place is really cute inside, well lit -- lots of windows, letting the sunlight in, nice hard wood floors. The servers are cute and very nice, very friendly, super attentive. The menu is full of things that sound amazing. Sadly though.... No. I ordered the seared ahi appetizer -- it came with a weird chopped mix of vegetables (peppers, celery, onions), which looked interesting, but wasn't. The tuna itself was tasteless, and had a green drizzle on it that also added zero flavor. None -- I still am confused as to what ingredients you could possibly mix together to get something that void of taste. I was hoping that was a fluke, and thought maybe my taste buds were just hungover, like i was. But that wasn't the case -- my taste buds are one sense that never let me down. I ordered the wheat penne -- it sounded amazing -- white wine sauce, portobello mushrooms, artichoke hearts...but it was a major let down. It was way too creamy, oily, lacked flavor, and the noodles were soft and mushy. My boss and I both left more than half of our food on our plates...knowing that we might not get another chance to eat until dinner. Knowing that we (I mean HE) spent over $70 on this lackluster lunch...but we didn't care. We just booked it to the airport so that we would have time to get something more edible there.
(2)Ian B.
Visited the Tavern in a Private group of about 35 people sat in a side room upstairs, appetizers came around and were tasty, especially the bacon wrapped scallops. Service was friendly and attentive, meal portions were rather large - unusual for a place at this price point, atmosphere was comfortable and not pretentious. We didn't feel rushed as you sometimes do in a large group, everyone had a good time.
(4)Kristen H.
We had an engagement party here last weekend. It was amazing, Lacey did a fantastic job, she was around before, during and after the party, we never had to hunt her down for anything. We had a last minute change on the wine and she managed to get what we wanted. The staff was fantastic, they were also always around and had awesome attitudes. Which makes for a fun party! Our food was really great, people had the choice of chicken or steak. The chicken was amazing. I have to say that this is the place to have a party, we had a really hard time finding a place that was reasonably priced and that wasn't in the basement of a restaurant Tavern at the Park ended up being perfect. The whole party sat upstairs and we had an amazing view of the lights from millennium park. I really, cant say enough good things about this place.
(5)Ron E.
Great food. Great service. Will definitely return.
(5)Farrah D.
Perfectly fine place to eat--Americana food, but it's not an exciting experience or anything. Good for groups--went here with some friends from out of town. It was close to the parks, but on the corner of a busy intersection. I could see these place better suited for a business dinner or something to that effect. The food was great, the service was great, the drinks were great--you get what you pay for--a little pricey. I had some nice ravioli, and my husband said it was one of the best burgers he's ever had.
(3)Hannah A.
We had a great table on the second floor, and after a night of eatting in a crowded resteraunt, it was cozy, yet spacious. Its also on the north side of Millenium Park, so its very convienent. My family ordered a bottle of Hess wine, which was quite good, and skipped appetizers to go straight to the main course. My family had prim-rib and 9 ox. filets, while I had the prichutto wrapped sea scallops. I should have gotten the filet. The scallops were typical yet good, but nothing compared to the perfectness of the filet. My father's was parmesan encrusted and it was amazing. Remeber though, that the dishes are a la carte, so it's recommended that you order some sides. Their shoestring fries are pretty good, but I definately recomend the baked mashed potatoes and the creamed spinach. I could of just had those for dinner and I would have been perfectly content. The service is pretty good as well. It was efficent and timely. Nothing too bad, but nothing amazing either. Seriously though, its almost worth going just for the dessert! They have an amazing brownie with homemade carmel ice cream that will knock your socks off! I always share it with someone, so that I can eat the ice cream! I recomend it for a dinner before a play, or a perfect place for a business dinner.
(3)Collin M.
This is a very convenient stop for lunch if you need to catch a train at Millenium. The prime rib lunch sandwich with five cheese fondue was outstanding. They come served as three sliders (I hesitate to call them sliders because they are loaded with shaved meet and melted cheese - they are not small) and are delicious. The rest of the massive plate is loaded with their tasty french fries. This place is a little on the pricey side, but the portions are very large and the quality is there.
(4)Linda N.
A long-time-no-see friend and I came here for lunch Friday noon. I felt bad for our server, who I thought was extremely patient with us, as we took a fair amount of time to catch up before even opening our menus. During our chitchat, my friend reminded me it was meatless Lenten Friday. That meant no Chopped Steak Burgers for either of us. *shakes fist* Started with the New England Clam Chowder which was on the lunch specialty menu. Creamy with a hefty portion of unshelled clams. I settled for the Lobster Roll on a brioche hot dog bun, which was undeniably delicious. Large chunks of lobster with hardly any fillers. My friend chose the Fish and Chips. How can you go wrong with beer batter? With Fat Tire beer batter, you can't. Great service, did I already thank our server for being patient with us?
(4)Leann W.
We went here on a whim a few weeks ago and it was one of the best dinners I've ever had!! The staff was super friendly and accommodating. We both had the Black Truffle Chicken Hash and it seriously was the best entree I've ever had. Although it was 1386 calories, it was worth every single bite ( we asked for the calorie count to enter it into our MyFitnessPal app. Lol) Only disappointing part was the rooftop wasn't open yet. But we definitely be going back! Make sure you check it out too!
(5)Max M.
I don't have a lot to say about the Tavern, except that the "Chopped Steak Cheeseburger" was likely the best damn burger i've ever eaten! Perfectly seasoned, perfectly juicy, perfect buttery bun, cheese melted perfectly... just perfect. And it was HUGE! What was that?... 3/4 lb?! Well, maybe it was only a 1/2 lb, but it was big enuf that i ate half for dinner, and then next half for lunch... and i can eat! This burger was so good i ordered it twice during my week-long stay in Chicago. I really loved this meal b/c i really don't care for Chicago food in general. Also those complimentary buttery buns w/ the parmesan cheese on top were absolutely phenomenal as well... I also got the Irish Potato Cakes, which is something i'd never had before... they were like mashed potatoes fried crispy on the outside like hash browns, and they were huger than the burger... and there were two of 'em!... Way too much to eat... Pretty impressive! I can't wait to try more items here the next time i visit Chicago!
(5)J T.
Great location - right next to Millennium Park and walking distance to business district and major shopping - all good. The food and prices for it; adequate. Know what I really really really like about this place? OK, I'll tell you...We told the waiter we had a meeting and needed be in and out quickly - and he totally delivered. Lunch was before us in less than 10 minutes and the bill was delivered at the same time as the food - no waiting or asking for it. We had time to enjoy our meal and make the appointment without being rushed. That type of speed almost never happens - anywhere.
(4)S G.
Went here for dinner before a show. Overall service was good. The bread was warm and yummy. I had pasta primavera -eh. Too watery. My husband had halibut and liked the butter sauce. Friends had the fillet - they said it was ok. Pretty good wine and beer menu.
(3)Bridget G.
Good, not great. I went once before about a year ago and just tried it again with the same result. I feel it's a little pricey for just OK food. Last time I got pasta and this time I got the chopped salad (no chicken or bacon). The dressing for the salad was more on the kind of bitter side of tangy. Interesting. I gave the leftovers to a homeless man on my way home. Location is great, right by millennium park, which is I'm sure why their prices are inflated. Two other things that have zero impact on my rating: 1) there was this woman in the bar on Friday afternoon who was absolutely screeching like a banshee. Cringeworthy. 2) My mom cannot get the name of this place right. She keeps calling it Tavern at the Green, Park on the Tavern, and so on. This amuses me.
(3)Beth A.
my rating is being upped to a *3.5* because this afternoon i received an email from the owner of tavern regarding my previous review he took a moment to offer an explanation of the dish i had eaten that i hadnt been 100% thrilled with (thou it was tasty) and even offered me a drink on the house during my next visit...it was nice to see how invested he is with his business and it has been noted :)
(3)Angela J.
I think Tavern At The Park is good for happy hour or later night drinks if you're in the area. The location is fantastic, the drinks too expensive for what they are-- but what did you expect, YOU ARE BEING LAZY! The restaurant is full of huge booths that fit an average of 8 normal sized humans (you can use that metric to do skinny girl/basketball player math depending on your friend's sizes)-- either way it's ideal for group drinks. Have the duck flatbread, a couple cocktails and go have dinner somewhere else.
(3)Jen H.
I have seen Tavern a million times but never scrambled in because I was too afraid it was overly touristy- I was wrong! It was beautiful... everyone from the waitress to the host to the owner was so, so nice and went out of their way to say hello and check on us. It is pricey- but the food is amazing. I never mind paying a lot when the food is that good. No raspberry cosmo on the menu- no problem... they made SUCH a delicious version and I loved it!! Don't feel that it will be a tourist trap... it is just as much for us regulars as anyone else and delicious. I will be back. Every week.
(4)Jen H.
We were looking for "bar food" and someone recommended this. Probably not the best fit of a rec on their part. This is more upscale than what we were wanting. Our food was decent, but for what you pay to eat here you can do much better in Chicago (my bbq chicken was $22 a la carte). You are probably just paying for the location as it is right across from Millennium Park. Our services was great service, but I don't think we'll be back unless we're in a pinch.
(3)Jon-David J.
This is one of those places that you forget to go back to because you put it in the "just for tourists" category. But the food and service is great and it's right there in the park. Great pours!
(4)Laila P.
The food here is decent. The wine list is fabulous! The building and location are beautiful and the bathrooms were awesome. I found the service to be top-notch. I would probably try someplace else before I would come back here. But we did have a nice experience.
(3)Desirae K.
Let down. I live in the neighborhood for over a year and always walked by this place but never checked it out. Now that I've visited, I MIGHT go back for a drink, but probably not the food. (-) Slow Roasted Prime Rib .... Avoid. Ordered medium rare, it came out a strange shade of red that made me think it was medium rare at first. Nope. It was brown all the way through and tough. When I flipped it over to check out the other side it was completely brown. Told my server it wasn't prepared medium rare as I ordered it. Rather than taking it right away she said she'd have a manager come over, the manager just walked by the table and swooped up the plate, not a word to me. The next prime rib they brought out was exactly the same and tasted like garbage.* (NOTE: after writing this review, I was contacted by the owner who let me know that their Prime Rib is prepared in-house and not pre-made/packaged prime rib, so I'm not sure why it came out incorrectly prepared) (+) Heirloom Caprese Salad .... really good, but not worth $13 (+/-) French Onion Soup Gratinee .... I've had better Service was nothing to write home about.
(2)Annette M.
A place that doesn't disappoint, always consistent. One of my favorite lunch places.
(4)Crystal O.
It was a Valentine's day. Just us both, my lovely girl friend and I:) I suggested this place because it was only a 5 minute work from my workplace in downtown and there was really no need to walk in the cold searching for food unless you live in the suburbs. heh. We had early dinner there around 5pm so thankfully we got to skipped the long queue and sat right down:) The servers were extremely polite and helpful. They were always on standby to take our plates, refill our drinks, replenish the breads, and asking us how we were doing every couple of minutes. I can't say for sure if they were exceptionally nice because it was a special day or they've always displayed such great mannerisms. I gave it only 3 star just because I wasn't all that impressed with their meals. There was nothing exceptionally special about it as it tasted like any other American restaurants that serve similar burgers, ahi tuna and the usual appetizers.
(3)Dustin G.
I'm never disappointed! I've dined here many times and I always leave happy and full. Tavern is actually one of the first restaurants I dined at in Chicago. Their tomato basil soup is the best I've ever eaten and it simply cannot be beat on a chilly day. Their cocktails are always liquid perfection. I usually order a martini, the soup and the fig and prosciutto flatbread. I've tried other dishes but those are my favorites and I've never been able to pass them up. Every time guests come in from out of town I take them to Tavern and they always love it and and go on about how good everything is. It's great for a night with friends but it's also intimate and perfect for a romantic evening. Go for lunch and save a little money. Oh, and the wait staff is amazing and friendly. One more thing, their water glasses and bottles are really cool. I always think about stealing one...joke.
(5)C W.
We've only been here once, but it was impressively good. I think I should try it again soon. It might be worthy of another star. The food was interesting with bold favors. Wish I would have known there was a rooftop.
(4)John T.
I went with a small group of friends after the Taste of Chicago and had a nice time. I didn't think that it was at all expensive, nor did I think thtat the service was bad. I had a solid experience here. The crowd was very mixed as it was after the Taste and this place is close by. I would be interested to see what the usual crowd is like on a typical weekend. Look to spend around $5 for a beer, so very average.
(4)Natalia S.
we go there to enjoy the rooftop and the view! appetizers are great too (have not tried the fool dining yet)
(5)Joan M.
Actually a 4.5 star rating! My husband and I were visiting for the Chicago marathon - We ended up eating here twice because the food and service were phenomenal We would have had every meal here because it was so good, but being in such a rich restaurant town we thought we'd better try others. We're almost sorry we did that because Tavern at the Park was the best of all of them! They were accommodating to our off the menu requests. The food on and off the menu was great! Very tasty and fresh - and portions were very filling. Chefs, servers, assistants and host staff were very friendly! We'd eat here again - and definitely recommend it to others - local and those visiting. The ambiance was very nice - you could request a table outside, inside the bar area, or in the dining area - choices for all, FYI, the only reason that we deducted a half star was because our dog wasn't allowed out on the patio....Maybe that's Chicago laws...but....I'm just sayin'... PS: Just like Liz K. there was SO much chicken added, my doggy ended up getting an awesome meal too!!!
(4)Boyd K.
I've eaten here a number of times. I love the service and the food here. The Chicken pot pie is a favorite. I took two of my teenagers here this past weekend - picky eaters - and they both loved their meals - one had a london broil and the other prime rib. Our waiter was very patient and answered their questions and was very helpful with one who had a peanut allergy. I always enjoy their specialty cocktails.
(4)Z Z.
I suppose it would be my own fault for falling into the tourist trap restaurant.. but hey, the menu looked decent, a few reviews were pleasant..so why not? Our waiter was very very very nice - let me give him a little credit. The food? awful. Maybe my taste buds are tainted from the delish-ness had while in San Francisco and my new favorite in Milwaukee - Allium.. but honestly not good. I had a grilled vegetable salad - which was a lunch salad, but they still allowed me to order. Portion was SO large I barely made a dent into it. Husband had chicken caprese salad - it didn't even look as good as it should have by the description. $110 (tip included) later.. (2 drinks a piece, 1 app, 2 salads) I had super bad buyers remorse and longed for a freaking veggie hot dog from American Dogs on State. Probably should have gone with my instinct and stayed away from the tourist trap. bummerrrrrr.
(2)Steve M.
Went to a nice engagement party here this weekend. Service was excellent, the wine was flowing, and the steak I had was great - chicken was better! I'm glad I didn't see the final bill, but was happy to see Tavern step up it's game for such an important event. One more experience like this, and Tavern is in the 4-5 star range.
(3)Jackie P.
If I wanted to treat my coworkers to a salt lick then I would take them to the salt lick my parent's have on their 10 acres. At least it would be free and I know the salt would be good. Mom only buys the best for the deer. Some coworkers and I went here for lunch. By the time we got back I felt like I drink have an ocean and two others had horrible stomachaches. The portions are huge and you won't be hungry the rest of the day but that's if you can keep your lunch down. Sadly disappointing when this place had such great potential.
(2)Maxxy C.
This has become one of my favorite restaurants. I dine here several times a year. It is very accessible with public transportation. The service is excellent and the venue / atmosphere is wonderful. The food and cocktails are outstanding!
(5)Cam C.
We have ordered take out since we live next door. The food was scolded hot when we get back to our apartment . The prime rib sliders was amazing. The wings was a nice surprise but the best was the ribeye. It was executed very well. Looking forward to try other dishes and dessert.
(5)Luke D.
Tavern at the Park Feels like a chain restaurant Unmemorable If you are entertaining someone who loves leather seating and lousy food, Tavern at the Park is the place to see and be seen. This restaurant is like Bennigan's or Ruby Tuesday in an upscale setting. Among other miscues, the bread service at Tavern at the Park is notably abysmal. Another Yelper compared this place's bread to rolls from Jewel and that is probably being generous. It only gets worse from there. In a city with a million awesome restaurants, why anyone would eat here is beyond me.
(1)Mark K.
Had dinner here tonight with a small group of work colleagues. Ordered the prime rib. A little chewy, and a bit undercooked. The server said it was their specialty. Not impressed by any means. Service was good and a great location which is why I give it 3 stars. Will come back for cocktails only.
(3)Sarah G.
Stumbled upon this fantastic rooftop patio on a recent business trip to Chicago. Great view of the city, friendly, attentive staff, and overall, a fun (yet touristy) place to hang out and enjoy cocktails and dinner. The food could have been more interesting & inspiring for the caliber design & atmosphere, but the cocktails were delicious. The one other drawback is exceptionally poor wifi...with the super comfy seating in the Treehouse (w tvs) overlooking the park, you've gotta have wifi too!
(4)Rajiv H.
My feelings on Tavern At The Park are very mixed. I give five stars to the service, which includes both our waitress and the host. They were both extremely kind, attentive, and accommodating. Also, you can't beat the location. We sat outdoors on a perfect summer day with a breeze. Then the food and drinks happened. I mean it is a restaurant. My Wife and Mom-In-Law both started with what they claimed was a Cesar salad. These salads were coated with mayo like white on rice. I've never had a Cesar salad this disgusting. I'm not quite sure how you screw up a Cesar salad this bad. It's hard. I mean real hard. I mean this stuff comes in easy to use grocery store kits for lazy bachelors that tastes halfway decent. I did however find it hilarious when the two women started brushing their tongues with the bread to scrape off the mayo taste. We also got a couple glasses of white sangria (no pitchers? no red sangria option even? okay, fine, I'll stop being picky). The glass was about 3/4 ice and only had three berries in it. There were all raspberries. W. T. F. Kids, that stands for Why The Frugality. As you could imagine, we weren't expecting a ton from the main courses at this point. My Mother and I got the Saturday Night Special: a 14 ounce Prime Rib (it's $22, how could we not?). My wife had the Chicken Milanese, and mom-in-law the Veal Chop Marsala. My Prime Rib was excellent. I honestly didn't expect a cut of meat so good for this price from a place like this, but they did well to keep things simple with some horseradish sauce and some au jus. The Chicken Milanese was decent. I have a feeling the balsamic reduction really saved what could have otherwise been a bland dish. The Veal Chop Marasala was too heavily breaded for it's own good. I'd go back to Tavern At The Park for the Prime Rib. The service, weather, and location - right next to Millenium Park - also helped saved the night for me. I can see the place getting way to touristy at times, but on our Saturday night it seemed just fine.
(2)W P.
This place suffers from pride of location. What a shame, as it could be Chicago's 'Tavern Under The Bean". Spotty (but well intentioned) service. There was something wrong with every course, which was corrected by an embarrassed manager. There was a huge noisy party (25 people) seated adjacent to our table and any chance of having a conversation was lost. Won't be going back - rather eat at the ear shattering Gage across the street - the food is better.
(2)Leah C.
inconsistent and never great... i only go here once i've exhausted other options for lunch outings. i always order the same thing - the grilled veggie salad (note: not on their website). it has either been inedible or just "good enough". nothing ever above that. when in the "inedible" state - it's soggy (who likes soggy lettuce?), salty and void of many of the listed ingredients. i will give this place 5 stars though for the excellent service. they know how to handle a lunch rush.
(2)Keri K.
Took my boyfriend here for his birthday, we love close by and have always wanted to try it. I always walk past and the food looks to die for. Which turns out, it is. My vegetarian pasta was AMAZING I dream of it. My boyfriend had steak and he seemed to really enjoy it. I like the atmosphere, though it smelled a little weird inside. We had drinks on the roof after dinner which was very nice as well. I would definitely come back here and I recommend you should try it too.
(4)Nathan C.
such a waste of fantastic location. apparently this place has some kind of grandfather law protection... food is mediocre at best. beer selection is bad. service is hit and miss. atmosphere is a toss up. prices are an absolute joke. unfortunately ive been here probably a dozen times due to proximity to my office. if youre in the area, hit the Gage or Henri instead. prices are similar but least you get an incredible meal.
(2)Charlie J.
you know what? for what could very easily be an over-hyped over-priced joint, this one actually passes the muster. i eat here all the time - lunch only, though. i'm telling you the lobster roll has to be one of the most authentic...and probably one of the best...west of Maine. and the service is really very attentive. maybe annoyingly so. but attentive none the less. enjoy.
(4)Eduardo M.
Went here for an office thing, so I didn't have pay for anything. Best kind of lunch/drinks opportunity. The food was tasty, although the sandwich breads seemed a tad too salty for my taste, others in the group didn't seem to mind too much. Also, the drinks were well made and service was friendly and prompt. I'd say I'll come back, but I never seem to find myself in the loop nowadays.
(3)Keara K.
We had a very nice dinner at Tavern at the Park. Hubby and I shared the Fontina and Chicken Fondue, we both ordered the 14oz Prime Rib with Gorgonzola Mashed Potatoes, and finished with the Key Lime Brulee. Everything was very good (although I'd like to have seen more fruits with the fondue, as it was very bread heavy, and some of the breads paired a little strangely with the fondue), the prime rib cooked to perfection, and the dessert, while simple, was fantastic. And for the person compaining about the flatbread looking like a pizza- that's what flatbreads basically are at any fine dining restaurant-- fancy wording for foo-foo pizza. We came on a fairly busy evening, and the service was pretty good. Our server was being held up by a very high-matinence (ie. 6 crabby old people) table, so he understandably was a bit absent towards the end of our meal. But if I had to deal with those people, I'd be too busy running around to be found too. I liked Tavern, I'd even reccomend it. While it wasn't quite what I expected, I thought it was pretty good! :)
(4)Janet I.
My husband and I finally tried Tavern at the Park today after living in the area for a few years. We assumed it was more of a tourist stop due to it's location adjacent to Millenium Park, but we were pleasantly surprised. Very nice atmosphere inside with outdoor dining available also. Service was very good along with our entrees. I had the Vegetable Lasagna, which was wonderful, and my husband had the Chicken Milanese - very good also. It was nice to discover another quality restaurant in our neighborhood. We will definitely try it again.
(4)Leah L.
Great private room as you enter, great outdoor area in the summer, great food
(4)Louise S.
I have never written a YELP review before but I was so taken aback by the service I received I had to write this one. I made a reservation at least 21/2 weeks prior to my lunch appointment last Tuesday. I specifically picked this restaurant because I rarely can eat outside and I wanted to have their grilled vegetable salad on a warm summer day. I scheduled my appointment for 1p instead of the noon hour in hopes that I would be able to get a table outside. I realize that I only made a "request" for the outdoor seating but clearly they don't even pretend to honor those requests. There was no, "we know you requested an outdoor table and you will get the next one available" or "now that you are here, we have put you at the top of the list" or anything like that. I purposely got there a few minutes early and told the man at the host stand that I had made the reservation requesting outdoor seating and the reply was, "there are two parties ahead of you and it would be about 30 minutes for outdoor seating." When I asked if there was any preference for reservations, he replied, "we only have (7) tables". I don't know many business people that can wait 30 minutes for a table during the lunch hour? That is why you make a reservation. When my lunch companion arrived a few minutes later I told him the situation. He knew I had picked this restaurant in hopes of eating outside so he suggested we go elsewhere. Now, we could have just left, but I was courteous enough to let him know I would no longer need the reservation as I really wanted to eat outside and unfortunately I could not wait 30 minutes. We then proceeded to go around the turnstile on the revolving door and I noticed two tables; one leaving and one getting their check. I literally did not leave the revolving door and went back to the man behind the counter and asked how long it would be as two tables were leaving? He said; well now there are three parties ahead of you as someone was asking him about a table as I walked up. I said, "you are kidding me, I had a reservation" and his smart ass reply was "you're going to my competition, now it is three". I would not have been so angry if the man behind the counter was not so obviously one of the managers if not the owner. I own and operate a conference center located within a two minute walk of this restaurant. Unbeknownst to them, I have referred hundreds of people to this restaurant over the years. It is no longer on our recommended restaurant listing. I would never recommend somewhere where I did not receive good service and this manager /owner did more than just not provide service he was extremely rude!
(1)Kelsey P.
I went here with 7 coworkers while in Chicago for a business convention. At 7:30ish on a Saturday it wasn't too busy, but our server was slooooooooow...I'm pretty sure we didn't leave till almost 11. Since our company got the tab, we didn't hold back in ordering several appetizers for the table -- most involved meat/seafood and I'm a vegetarian so I didn't try any, but everyone else seemed to enjoy them. I also appreciated that there were several interesting vegetarian options on the menu. What I didn't appreciate so much was that my swiss chard ravioli seemed like it had been doused with salt :( Maybe there were too many capers? Either way, yuck. The somewhat veg-friendly menu warrants 3 stars (there was also vegetable lasagna, a few appetizers, and lots of hearty sides) -- otherwise, this restaurant's nothing special.
(3)Kate C.
I went to go watch Ellen film a special show from Chicago at the bean last night and my friend and I were so cold (it was snowing!) and hungry after the filming that we decided to go to the nearest place to warm and and get a bite to eat. Tavern at the Park was the first place we saw and I am so glad we decided to go there. Next time I will probably sit at the bar instead of the dining room but the whole atmosphere is very nice, relaxing and upscale. Our waiter and the entire waitstaff were all friendly and got things taken care of right away for us. We split a bottle of wine and had the Tavern Teasers as an app. Ask for a plate with one of each kind on it, each one comes with a variety of sauces too. I had the chicken pot pie and my friend had the lobster ravioli. There was a lot of large pieces of lobster in the ravioli which was good and the chicken pot pie was so large that I barely made it through half of it. We got the brownie sundae for dessert. It is definitely shareable, the brownie was one of the biggest I have ever seen. Overall, it was a great place to go. Kind of expensive if you are just looking for a casual dinner but would be a great place for a drink after work or a party. I will definitely go back!
(5)Mike D.
We went into this place after a great experience at the Gage and wanted something similar while trying something new. This place was GOOD but it was just lacking something in the air. Although it was a casual lunch spot, it just seemed too nice to feel ultra relaxed and comfortable. The service at the bar was very good and my chicken salad was honestly way better than I expected it to be. The food got great reviews from the other two people I was with but there was definitely something lacking here. I cannot say anything bad about this place, the food was great, the service was good, but like some movies I have seen in the past, you know they were "good" but you just weren't into them. That's the best way to describe this place but maybe you will have a different experience!
(3)Chris R.
Have eaten here twice now. First time we sat at the bar, had excellent food and great service. Second time was yesterday and food was equally as good (except cheese on top of French onion soup was not brown AT ALL, my pet peeve) but service was iffy at best. If you have longer than an hour for lunch, I recommend sitting in the restaurant. Otherwise, ask to sit at the bar. But I will be back for the excellent salads, burgers and veggie lasagna.
(3)Nicolas H.
Been here a couple times now for lunch and I have to say its pretty darn good. At first I didn't want to like it because it seemed like they were trying too hard to be fancy, but the lunch options definitely aren't that way. The chopped steak burger is exactly what you'd think. It's large and served on a great bun. But even better are the tavern tasters: your choice of three mini burgers with their awesome french fries. The prime rib was great, served with a nice au jus. The buffalo chicken mini was nice and spicy, served with a side of blue cheese dressing. The salmon burger left a lot to be desired though, so next time i'd get the regular burger instead of going the fish route. The service was good and fast and the french fries are definitely not to be missed...
(4)Michael M.
We went for lunch the other day and we did make a reservation. The hostess was very friendly and led us to a table upstairs which was very pleasant. The music could be heard from downstairs but that in no way impeded our conversation. My mother had the tomato basil soup and a lobster roll. The soup was thick, rich and delicious. I had the ahi tuna appetizer and a lobster roll (it was Ash Wednesday). The tuna was beautiful with the greens that it came with. The lobster roll was full of lobster meat all the way through it didn't seem as they were skimping at all. We barely had room for dessert but we attempted it anyway. My mother had the fried banana split which was large, unique, and delicious. I had the chocolate chip cookie sandwich which was two large chocolate chip cookies that had crispy edges yet slightly soft in the middle- perfect for me. A generous helping of mint choc. chip ice cream in the middle and the whole thing is drenched in a rich hot fudge sauce. I couldn't finish it but I gave it the old college try. Now on to service-- our server Lauren was, for lack of a better word, OUTSTANDING!!! She was on top of things without being intrusive. She has a wonderful sense of humor and was very engaging. She even asked at the beginning if either one of us had any allergies the kitchen should know about. We don't- but my son does so now I know I can take him here and he'll be safe. I wish all restaurants did that. The drink list had some very unique combinations that I will have to get back to try soon as I understand the mixologist tries to keep things seasonal. Overall a great lunch with outstanding service.
(4)Steve P.
Exceptional visit to the roof deck for dinner on a lovely, warm summer night. Nice music/vibe, well dressed crowd, incredible views of the city. Great burger, chop salad, sparkling rose. Portion sizes very generous and pricing appropriate for the city. Service was attentive and friendly. Kitchen was incredibly accommodating to special orders and allergy concerns. Highly recommended for a casual, relaxed eating experience.
(5)Abhay S.
Came here for lunch today with a visiting co-worker. We didn't have any reservations, so we ended up sitting at the bar, which was OK with us. I ordered the lobster roll and my co-worker got some sort of flatbread with sausage deal. Hers came out looking very close to a pizza. (uh, didn't see that in the description) My lobster roll was decent, but the fries were cold. I also would have liked something different than fries, but they offered me any of the sides for half price except for the onion rings which would have cost the same as the given fries. The service was excellent - the waiters always made sure I had a full glass and asked a few times if everything was OK. Two thumbs up to them. The restaurant manager even stopped by to see if everything was OK. Given that I work close to this building, I'll come here again. It's not a bad place when you're looking for a decent sit-down lunch in the east loop.
(3)Gregg D.
Seated immediately and all the little things were done well. Servers were attentive but not intrusive. Had the filet and it was cooked well. Not the best steak I ever had, but very good. I would come back at any time
(4)S C.
I keep trying this place again and again because I live so close, but every time I visit I remember why I promised myself I'd never return. Very over priced, and the food (when it's edible) is nothing special. The service is slow and unfriendly, the atmosphere is stuffy and dark, and their food is really not exciting. At all. Here's the breakdown of everything I've eaten there. Appetizers: Duck egg rolls - fine Fig & prosciutto flatbread - too sweet but fine Portugese "style" mussels - incredibly salty and funky Fried calamari - greasy, but not chewy which was good Salads House dinner salad - actually quite good; I like the matchstick potatoes Wedge salad - a wedge is a wedge is a wedge... Chopped salad - enough to serve an army and totally not exciting Entrees Brick chicken - the skin was the only delicious part, nothing else was memorable Seared scallops - absolutely terrible, the mustard tastes poisonous and you cannot taste the scallop at all. Just AWFUL Prime rib - funny color so I didn't even eat it... sent it back Butternut squash ravioli - THE WORST THING I'VE EATEN IN YEARS, the smallest portion of under-cooked pasta, flavorless filling in a bowlful of "pesto" (which should have been called "green oil") Ricotta gnocchi - This was the last straw for me. The gnocchi was tiny and had no flavor, it was covered with two pounds of mozzarella, and there was more of the crappy sauce than there was the crappy gnocchi. NO! Dessert Key lime creme brulee must be the only thing that saves this restaurant; quite good
(1)Vickie L.
I went with my boyfriend in February after a free day at the Art Institute. This has a great location, wonderful views. Dark tones inside with lots of windows and wood all over. To our surprise it was during Restaurant Week with the 3 courses for $32 yay! My bf got the buffalo chicken sliders for his appetizer - they were just okay, too much bread, not enough chicken. I got duck spring rolls for my appetizer and they were really really good. Very crispy, a good amount of duck, and the mango sauce was very tasty. Main course - I had the brick chicken - wow, it was so tasty and juicy. At first it looked small, but that's because they put the dark meat piece over the white meat piece, after I found that out, it was HUGE! My bf got the prime rib - he ate every last piece, it was cooked very well, very soft and very tasty. Dessert - I had the hot fudge sundae, it was very good, nothing special, but very tasty after that rich meal. My bf got the chocolate mousse, and it was the only bad part of the meal - it was so grainy! Not smooth at all. Our server was really attentive. During dessert she noticed my bf had only eaten a few bites of his mousse and asked what was wrong, so we told her it wasn't very good. She was very apologetic that we did not like the chocolate mousse and offered to give us another sundae. We declined. Service was excellent. Wow what a deal, I'm so glad we happened upon this place during Restaurant Week. The regular menu selection was good, but we thought it was a bit pricey for the type of food offered they offered, nothing was really stand-out as being a specialty, but it IS right across from Millenium Park so you pay for the location.
(4)#NAME?
Dined here again for the 4th time and as usual it was great-This was the 2nd time dining in the bar area for me, tonight I just wanted something light so I felt appetizers would be perfect- I initially came here to eat the Butternut Squash Ravioli but decided to go outside my comfort zone and try something new, so I had the Scallop Rrisotto-It was very good and just what I was looking for, I didn't know what to expect since the menu said it had strawberries in it, but they fit right in-The risotto is rich so the strawberries provide a nice tart/sweet difference, and I loved the aged balsamic that was drizzeled on the plate-The only thing I noticed was that the scallops probably didn't need to have salt put on them- For dessert I wanted to try the Key Lime Crème Brulee, it was nice and light, slightly chilled and cleaned the palate- Our waiter Tom was professional and very helpful, as is the management and staff at Tavern, I'm just glad it's a 5 minute walk from our place-
(5)Nancy S.
Location & Dessert = Great! Love the restaurant interior & the strawberry shortcake Service = Went from bad to worse Food = Let's just say...the mashed potatoes were instant
(2)Kathy S.
This was my first time in Chicago since I was a kid and had no idea where to go. Looked for places around our hotel and we chose Tavern At The Park. We really enjoyed our food (he got the filet sandwich and I had a burger) and the atmosphere was great. It was just my boyfriend and I and it was a great place for our date. Everyone was really friendly and they had a pear cider that I really enjoyed. BF had a few Knob Creeks and Coke. Our bill was not really $$ but it was well worth the extra $.
(4)Kate C.
We went to this place on a whim when we wanted to take a break from the rain at Gospel Fest. We were seated right away (party of 5) even though it was around 7 on a Saturday night. It seemed like more of a tourist place to me. From a first glance of the menu, it seemed a bit pricey to me. Overall, there was nothing unique or special about the restaurant. The service was good, and it was a quiet place to sit down and take a break. As for the food, it wasn't anything out of this world, though none of us had real entrees. I had the chopped salad, which had a ton of ingredients and was very large. I actually enjoyed it quite a bit, but again, it was a bit pricey for what it was. I also tried the butternut squash ravioli (delicious) and some of the polenta (also very good). Although I guess I had a decent experience at this restaurant, it just wasn't very unique and had a kind of weird/empty atmosphere. I definitely think there are cuter, more interesting places in Chicago for the money. You can't beat the location though!
(3)grzesiek k.
I had such a great experience yesterday.2/14/2013. Took my Girlfriend out for Valentines day dinner. Fantastic service off the bat. The appetizer , Ahi tuna, was so really good and well prepared. We both had fillet Mignon with different toppings but well done and just perfect. Big juicy full flavor. Had mushrooms and asparagus for our side which also were really tasty. Had key lime pie and New York cheesecake for dessert. A must have! Overall the food was great. Full of flavor, hot and phenomenal taste! Service was great from the door to the table and out. Will definitely go back soon!
(5)Candace M.
One of my fave spots to sit outside and eat. I only indulge in the Tavern Pleasers, 3 miniature sandwiches (Prime Rib Five Cheese Fondue, Caramelized Onions & Au Jus On Onion Roll; Buffalo Chicken Blue Cheese Dressing & Creamy Coleslaw On Brioche Bun and/or the Sirloin Burger). What I LOVE most about this restaurant is that they are the only place that I know of that provides my favorite wine, Saracco Moscato. Huge kudos for that alone!!!
(4)Mary A.
I enjoyed my experience at this restaurant. I ordered short ribs and they were tender and delicious like they should be. The string fries were plentiful and good and we shared a chocolate cake and ice cream dessert. The atmosphere was sleek and modern and intimate. In other words it wasn't noisy like other large city restaurants.
(4)Barbara S.
We were a party of 8, so I made a reservation. When we arrived, we were escorted to a private room. Perfect! Great food, great conversation, great fun with my family. With so many people, we were able to try a variety of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, entrees and one dessert. Everything.was wonderful; lots of choices, unique food combinations, the servings were plentiful, and the prices were reasonable. The strawberry shortcake was so large that we could all share it. When in Chicago, the Tavern at the Park is a must!
(5)Hope G.
I walked past this restaurant everyday on my way home and surprised to say that I've only been twice. Even though the food both times was satisfying and tasty, I have almost no desire to return. It's nice, but just not memorable. I went on a thursday night after the happy hour rush and the dark interior was quiet and a good place to talk. The service was nice. I ordered the Tavern Teasers - and had a sirloin slider, roast beef slider, and a buffalo slider. They were all really tasty - no more than three small bites though, so you find your mouth wishing there was more on the way! I like that they have great appetizer options, so I have yet to sample their entree menu. While I certainly would never avoid eating here, I am not climbing all over myself to get back!
(3)Jim W.
The Saturday prime rib special is well worth it! It's a large slab of meat, tastier than Lawrys (Bev Hills), but imo not as good as House of Prime Rib (SF). The horse radish needed to be spicier and chunky, but aside from that, I was satisfied. The lobster mac was also really delicious and the french onion soup, satisfying. Sitting outside is a nice touch, but not really much of a vibe at Tavern..the crowd really ebbs and flows. I had booked a reservation on open table, but pretty much any time was available. The restaurant was busier when we left at 945p than when we arrived at 815p, and the upstairs was completely empty. Service was a bit bumbled. Couldn't tell if it was a case of the waitress (it seemed like her 2nd day, she misheard, didn't hear orders) or if it's the place in general. I felt prices were fair, in general, considering it's a Millenium Park restaurant.
(3)Amelia B.
Tonight was fabulous (Monday night at 7). Sat in a booth at the bar with a fantastic music selection. Wonderful ambiance. Wait staff was terrific - manager came by to check in on us (3 college age gals). Food - soooo good. Had a salad, Mac and cheese, chicken pacatta, and chicken hash -- all were excellent. Wonderful overall. Would highly, highly recommend.
(5)Melissa C.
We had our wedding reception at Tavern at the Park. The food, service and ambiance were AMAZING. Our guests continue to rave about it. Alyssa coordinated the event and did a fabulous job.
(5)Daniel S.
This establishment is in the lobby of my building so I pass by daily. It is usually always full, but I am not sure if that is such a good barometer as that crusty Bennigan's is always full too. But really, Tavern at the Park is far better than Bennigan's. I have dined there twice since it opened several years back. I would say this falls within the unspectacular genre embodied by Catch 35, Capitol Grille etc. There is a fairly large menu, and my favorite item is the polenta. It is seared to creamy perfection. They have an ample wine list, and I hear they make a respectable cocktail. In short, this is not like a Rick Bayless restaurant, but few are so maybe that's not an equitable measurement. It is respectable though, and the service is amiable.
(3)Ben B.
The view is very good and the atmosphere seemed both upscale and comfortable to me, but the food was nothing special. The menu items look like they would be great, but most things seem to have too much salt. My wife and I had the butternut squash ravioli and scallop appetizers. The scallops were too salty for me - I found myself scraping part of the top of mine off - but the ravioli was very good. The salads that came with dinner are just greens, cherry tomatoes, and your choice of dressing, which was overly simple for me. I did like the prawn risotto, although my wife was unimpressed by the salmon. As another reviewer mentioned, the music is a bit out of place. I honestly felt that I might fall asleep a couple of times, even though it was 7:00. Overall, I think the appetizers were the best part and that there are better places to eat for the price.
(2)adam C.
The Good: The leather tablecloths are really nice, and the service is quite fast. I ate here before the opera on Friday night. The first thing my wife and I were impressed by was the clean well done design inside. Our next impression was made by our waiter, a clean cut, attentive guy with a bit of an "american psycho" vibe to him. Great service, but something about his near-musical vocal delivery and his movement made us think that we were dealing with someone who kills men for sport. The Prime Rib, with Gorgonzola mashed potatos was prepared well, but nothing seemed to be big on flavor. At best, flavor was mild, but it did approach bland. This may be due to them trying to cater to the older opera crowd that the restaurant probably relies on. We both enjoyed our french onion soups, and portions all around were well sized.
(3)Ginny D.
I don't know if they are under new management but I've visited twice - the first time was awful and now 2 years later on my second visit - WOW! Great food, great ambiance, new management perhaps? It still took a while to get a table but much better the second time around! The service was more attentive and helpful and the food was great! Note: get the fries!!! The portions were huge, my clients were thrilled at the "American" fare and I was pleasantly surprised! You bested Park Grill for sure!
(4)Kat P.
We were in town on a Friday before 5 looking to have a cocktail to celebrate the beginning of a mini vacation and to catch up on the Masters. We did not eat dinner, but had an appetizer (meatballs) and a cocktail. Both my husband and I found the drink sizes relative to the price (granted it is Chicago) to be pretty generous. Also, they had a nice wine selection. The appetizer was good, however, I felt a little pressure from the server to either eat a meal or get out of his section as there wasn't any additional space available at the bar. I'd grab a drink here next time I'm in town, and probably give the food a try.
(4)Norbert W.
was there for lunch at an off hour, meaning not crowded and no tourists. depending on that, the rating could plummet. I'd bet it's a very good 3.5, somewhere between three and four) Server was really cool. Was able to work with our quirky humor and hopefully enjoyed in the fun, as he was very welcome! Appetizers: chicken liver was terrific. Very smooth. Good flavor. The greens and bacon that accompanied it were also excellent Baked goat cheese: not too shabby. Fulfills expectations. Entree: I had the Max Burger. Was between that and the one with foie on it. (next time.) cooked just right. The beef patties are very thin cuz there's so much going on with it otherwise. Fries were crisp and not salted, yay! (IOW: they know how to make them. Getting salted fries ruins the effect - that's a "do it yourself" mineral) buddy had the scallops. looked good with good presentation. He wasn't expecting that much garlic, which didn't dampen the flavors! Since it was his birthday, they brought out a chocolate cake with an excellent ice cream with it (maybe caramel. possibly homemade) Someone ordered THAT martini. it was an excellent time. no restaurant newbies within earshot going on about this and that with the meal. good stuff. And they played some Styx on the system. heh! NA bier selection not that good. Caliber, or whatever the Guinness one is. It's the NA equivalent of having 'Bass, Harp, crap" on tap, but oh well. (yes, you cannot get pejorative enough for those "biers")
(4)Sheila G.
This is a great place for a quick bite if at Millennium Park - the appetizers are especially good. Try the Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread. The main entrees and specialty cocktails weren't as impressive. I think they have Happy Hour specials on the apps on certain days too.
(3)T C.
Fantastic restaurant, one of my favorite places for lunch, or drinks after work. The service is superlative, the atmosphere is energizing, the food is wonderful, and the owners are always at the front door shaking hands and assuring that all of the customers are well taken care of. Three of my favorite menu items are the Chopped Salad, the Strawberry Salad, and the hamburger. The prime rib sandwich is pretty fantastic as well. I highly recommend Tavern at the Park.
(5)Curt E.
So my wife, my sister-in-law, and her boyfriend were looking a place to eat and heard good things about this place so we thought we would give it a go. I definitely liked the ambiance of the place. We had made reservations and were seated immediately upon arrival. We were promptly greeted by our server Quinton who was very prompt and attentive throughout our meal. I will say that I'm not always adventurous in my choices and thought I would love to have a good piece of prime rib. While texture was there, there was very little flavor. All it needed was some garlic and some herbs and it could take it from $35 for this!?!?? To, Yum! Who cares how much it is?? Additionally I ordered the potato cakes which were good I must say but a huuuuge portion for one person as a side. My wife ordered the rotisserie chicken which she enjoyed but I felt was rather dry when I tasted it. I wasn't impressed with the barbecue either. Overall it was a good experience but when something so simple and pricey is screwed up it leaves a bad taste in my mouth (pun intended) . I would go back but more than likely choose another item from the menu.
(3)anthony t.
NIce staff, solid food selections with some of my favorites being the peppered wings and the short rib sandwich which is absolutely delicious. Great vibe at happy hour and I can't wait for the rooftop patio.
(5)Alyssa S.
Three stars because it's simply not as good as its neighbors, The Gage and The Park Grill. We did have a very nice work lunch here - excellent service. I thought the menu was a bit spare on options. I finally settled on a parmesan crusted Chicken Caprese that was good, but I usually don't get chicken at restaurants and only did so here because the rest of the menu options were kind of blah to me. My co-workers had salads that were gigantic! They seemed to like them a lot. As for atmosphere - it's a little weird that they didn't make more of the view. On the upper floor, you're sitting on a balcony with barely a view of the park. Again. the service was great, we never had to ask for anything. A little bit more creativity on the menu could raise this place up.
(3)Michelle M.
My office is on the same block as Tavern at the Park. I stopped in for the first time last night and now I know what I have been missing. The specialty cocktails were amazing. One of them tasted just like sipping the holiday season...served up in an extra-chilled martini glass. For dinner I had the gem-colored roasted beets salad and fig and prosciutto flatbread. Both were outstanding. The service was impeccable as well. I will be back, repeatedly.
(5)cos f.
i really want to love this place ... the proximity to the park and michigan avenue is terrific...outdoor space upstairs and down... it is a big restaurant... great bar...and good drinks... but the food? meh.... just so so... i had this chicken hash, described wonderfully on the menu, but really roughly chopped vegetables and left over chicken ...the eggs were poached perfectly...but there was a stew of juice overwhelming my plate... it would have been nice if it were a sauce... they had told us 3 times there was bread coming and until we asked again they brought it with our meal... i will go for a cocktail but not much else...
(2)Heather K.
Went to Tavern for an office party, and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed my dinner. I went with the horseradish-crusted filet (the smaller portion), and it was cooked perfectly. Since the steaks don't come with sides, we split a bunch for the table - green beans and mashed potatoes ("whipped potato casserole," I mean) were excellent. For reference, each side dish was approx. 2 servings. The entree salads were gigantic, too. Since we were a large group, my brilliant boss made the decision to get one of each dessert at the end of the meal. Wow, I was in heaven. I'm a chocolate lover so I gravitated towards the brownie, but the bread pudding was also very tasty. Due to the location, Tavern definitely has a business/corporate crowd atmosphere - even though I freakin' love filet mignon, I wouldn't suggest this restaurant for a family function, or a date, etc. But for biz lunches or dinners I can see how this would be an excellent option.
(4)Mari B.
Nice restaurant in a good location. Ordered at chopped salad that was decent, but had too many blue cheese crumbles and they forgot the chicken. When I asked the waitress (Margaret) if it was supposed to come with chicken (as it said on the menu)she was rude in return and made the whole situation awkward. She responded "Well I don't see why it wouldn't" and "it doesnt have chicken on there?" My plate was right infront of her so I'm not sure why she couldn't see that there was no chicken. I told her I didn't taste chicken or see it in my meal. She said she would check with the kitchen then came back to the table with a cup of chicken and said "heres some chicken just in case they didnt put any in there". Not sure who would eat all their chicken then lie about not having any ust to get more but it seemed like thats what she thought I did. She tops my list of rude waitresses and I would not return or reccommend this place because of her. The salad was $13 and app size.
(2)Scott S.
Had service outside on the upstairs patio. Extremely disappointing. Good atmosphere but poor service. Portions were miniscule. Had halibut which was salty and drowning in cream and butter. Gave only 6 small pieces of asparagus. Unaccommodating to special requests. Completely overpriced including their drinks. For a hamburger, they gave hard chips as a side. They serve overpriced wine from screw top bottles. Your just paying top dollar to be outside overlooking the park. Not worth it!
(1)Kristin V.
I think this restaurant is okay. We have had several work dinners here, but mostly because it is close to the office. The crusted fillets are pretty good and the desserts are huge, so share. The service when dining is pretty good. I have also had drinks at the bar, but don't do that, the bar tenders are not pleasant. Overall, this place is nothing special.
(3)The Hungry American E.
Food was standard. Layout is nice. The service was excellent and the place is clean. I had a sandwhich that was nothing to write home about. Little pricey. Visited in 6/09
(2)Jeanne K.
Although the view from the rooftop bar is worth a visit, the service was deplorable, except for Mary, who saved our experience. We live in the city and wanted a drink after a movie...since it was such a gorgeous night, we decided to finally stop in and have a drink after reading so much about this establishment. Thomas, our first waiter, could not be bothered with us after we informed him that we weren't having anything to eat. The TWO bartenders...not even busy, as there was a small crowd...stood around talikng to one another...and when my husband asked for a glass for his beer, you would have thought he asked for a kidney for a transplant. Thomas never returned to ask if I wanted another glass of wine...really?...do the owners want to make a buck?...and when I simply asked for another glass of water...he replied, "Uhhhh, sure"....great service, huh?? If it wasn't for the view, we would never go back.
(2)Oscar the Death Cat B.
I have mixed feelings about Tavern at the Park. It's a nice looking place, and apparently pretty popular - though it has a very spacious two-level dining area with plenty of tables, there was already a 1-hour wait for a table at 11:30 the morning our group visited for lunch. Fortunately, we had a reservation, though the host initially claimed that he could not "find" our name on the reservation list (another reviewer mentioned this same issue, perhaps the host is overdue for a new prescription on his eyeglasses?) The menu featured just a few lunch-y type items, but I think the cheapest was an $11 burger. Aside from a few sandwiches and regular entrees, they had some "lunch" specials that were more like dinner entrees when it came to price ($20 -$25 each). So this is definitely more of a business meeting/special occasion place to lunch. The food was a mixed bag - appetizers such as calamari were excellent, as were the fries. A couple of us ordered the prime rib, was supposed to be prepared medium but what we received was very pink & bloody & I swear I could hear mine making moo-ing sounds as I cut into it. Another person who had ordered the same dish sent it back to be cooked more, to the credit of the staff they gave her a whole new entree without a hassle. Everything is served in generous portions, if you still have room in your belly, they have a few good desserts - sharing is recommended as most desserts are enormous. In summary, service was very good but the food was a bit heavy and pricey just for lunch. I may have enjoyed my visit more if it had been dinner rather than lunch. I might come back to this place again some day - as long as someone else is buying.
(3)Chester R.
my advice for ownership: 1. your bar is facing the wrong way ! you are on one of the best corners in all of chicago....overlooking grant park....why is my back facing it ?? 2. i needed a guide to find the bathroom. maybe we put one on the bar level?? 3. the position of the tv's above the bar almost caused me to break my neck looking up to try and watch them. perhaps we revisit their location as well?? nice atmosphere, great service....and really expensive.
(3)Jims L.
Just went in because I pass by the place everyday. Better to sit at the bar than to stay for dinner. Unforunate that the service is really great, because the food is nothing special. Crossed off the list now and will probably never return!
(2)Dani J.
Good food, good ambiance, great location! I had the butternut squash ravioli which was excellent and my man had the prime rib sandwich, which was literally a slab of prime rib on bread that had to be eaten with a knife and fork- delicious! My only issue here is the to $$ rating as far as price goes here on yelp. With local delights such as Panda Express and Quiznos being one $, I did not anticipate the prices at Tavern at the Park to be so high on their two $$ rating, however I suppose for the area, the prices were reasonable. Be warned to my frugal friends who pay attention to those $$$$$ markers :)
(3)Adam S.
Great service. Good drinks. FRIENDLY crowd. Good quality food. The place is consistent and the owners REALLY care about keeping clients happy. They make me WANT to give them more stars but if you see the others restaurants in my list, you will understand why 3 is "pretty darn good" on my scale. Go here for lunch or dinner. You will not be disappointed. You won't be blown away, but I have never had bad food here.
(3)Tammy Q.
I don't think I'd ever come here for "fun" -- been here twice, both for business meetings. The chicken with applewood bacon and bbq sauce sandwich was not too shabby. I love fries. I love fries that are fat. This place has the skinny shoestring fries that were not bad at all. I totally dogged it. The prices are a bit much for contemporary American fare -- but the location is great. Get seated upstairs to look over Grant Park. In the summer, the rooftop deck should be happening happy hour time.
(3)Karyn K.
We had a really nice dinner at Tavern at the Park, except that I couldn't quite people watch from our booth! We started with the polenta--YUM. For dinner I had the Chicken Milanese--amazing!! Other people had veal and beef dishes, which were enjoyed by all. The entrees are huge and we probably should have split them. We also got a side of mashed potatoes and a side of green beans--also delicious. Every time I've walked by this place, I've wanted to stop in. And I'm glad that I did. Good service, good wines, good food.
(4)Jean Z.
Been to this location several times. The food was great, and the service was great each and every time. From happy hour, to lunch with friends, to a nice dinner after touristing around michigan avenue.
(5)SM J.
I was there in July for a corporate work function. My company rented the entire patio for dinner and I cannot begin to describe how wonderful our evening was. The service was AMAZING. Every little need that we had, the staff catered to immediately, sometimes without us even saying anything. They were so incredibly accommodating. The food was to die for. A special shout out to a server named AJ who went above and beyond to give us 5 Star service. He was so sweet and worked his butt off!!
(5)JV L.
This was a great place for me b/c I needed: --a place near Millennium Park --pasta options with chicken --nicer than fast food, but not necessarily fine dining Tavern at the Park is a bit pricey, but I figured you pay for the location. And my chicken parmesan entree was enough for three meals, so the price didn't bother me too much afterward. This probably wouldn't be the first place I would recommend, just b/c Chicago has way too many other awesome restaurants. But, if you're near Millennium Park and want good food, a nice atmosphere and excellent service, this is the place. It also seems like a good restaurant to take picky eaters or to celebrate a semi-special occasion.
(3)Jenny S.
Had a wonderful dinner here last night. Due to rain and cab messiness, two of us were very late but the waiter was awesome and took our orders as soon as we showed up and then brought everyone's food out at the same time. I ordered the chicken pot pie which was flakey and delicious. The waiter was extremely attentive and two of the managers also visited our table to make sure everything was going well. I will certainly be going back again. The restaurant wasn't very crowded and I hope that's because it's very new. It pains me that people will wait for an hour to eat at Grand Luxe when there's an even better restaurant down Michigan avenue with no wait at all.
(5)Kevin S.
We've been here twice now and both times my impression is the same: this place skates by on its location, but the food and service is sub-par at best. This last time I ordered the mahi mahi special; the fish was very fishy smelling. My wife has a very good nose, and she could smell it from across the table. We sent it back and the waiter relayed that the chef said all the mahi probably would smell the same (WTF?) so I ordered the Chicken Milanese. It was just OK; the tomatoes that came with it were clearly the hothouse, flavorless kind. My wife's rack of lamb also was just ok, there was a lot of fat on it. They were slow to clear dishes, and when I asked to take part of my meal home, the bus person misunderstood and threw it away. The noise from the bar can intrude to the dining room. Nice location, nice view of the city - that's about it.
(2)Mandy S.
This place has a great look to it, and amazing location and view. They did a good job of playing upon that with the design. I will say I've been meaning to try this place for awhile now and was curious as to what it was about. Went on Friday night with a group of four. We had a reservation and were promptly seated. In fact, we were one of the only people in the place. This always kind of irks me. When I go to a restaurant and a reasonable hour for dinner (8 pm) and it is quite empty. It just doesn't feel as festive to me and I feel kind of jipped. Plus I wonder what other people know that I don't. Fortunately my group of friends is a complete riot and we were able to keep ourselved entertained for the meal. I had the salmon entree and it was amazing. It came with no sides, but did come with a starter salad. For the price of the entree, I think a side would be in order. Everyone else was pleased with their meals: lobster ravioli, the tuna, the chicken milanese--aside from one guest who was confused and upset as to why a pile of cabbage was placed on top of his... Overall, it was a good experience. I'd rec to anyone looking for a group friendly atmopshere with a central location who doesn't mind spending a bit extra money. For anyone with an out of town guest, it's a nice place to bring them, but so is Park Grill and the Gage nearby, really. I'd probably go back to either of those places before I came back here. If someone else was footing the bill, however, I'd come back!
(3)Shelley A. D.
I really like this place. The staff is polished and attentive. The location is perfect for pre or post theater and/or for lunch between business meetings. The food is high quality and fresh. The portions are generous. The wine pours and drinks are also abundant. I should mention that it is best classified as a steakhouse. As a non-red meat eater I usually have a soup and salad. As unfortunately the menu is pretty slim on seafood options. That said Tavern is still it is worth visiting if you have business or pleasure in the area.
(4)Shanti N.
Yay! They have Gnarly Head Zin-- my fav-- by the glass, to boot! I came here twice-- once for a cocktail, and once for dinner (bar and booth, respectively)-- and was impressed by the solid service both times. Prices are reasonable, particularly for the dinner specials (including choice of soup or salad). As I had eaten a later lunch the evening I came here, I opted for the soup/salad. My dinner companion ordered the prosciutto-wrapped scallops, and we ordered the calamari to start. The calamari was a bit rubbery, which the breading more than made up for. Recommend the signature bee's knees cocktail-- bourbon, organically milled honey, and a few squeezes of lime-- for a dose of elegant simplicity and antidote to mojito malaise.
(4)Casandra G.
Dropped in for cocktails and appetizers, 3rd of july. Classy, clean place with high cielings and big windows, looking out toward millenium park. Prompt seating, polite and helpful servers. Artfully prepared (read: very pretty) cocktails that get the job done and are not much more expensive than those of other bars downtown. The food, unfortunately, was a bit underwhelming. For example: seared scallops on a risotto bed. Superb scallops, but a bitter, slimy risotto. Bottom line? Come for drinks in a pretty setting. After you eat somewhere else.
(3)Dan R.
This was a really great lunch. I got the lunch special, Chicken Caprese, and it was delicious. Chicken encrusted in Parmesan and breadcrumbs topped with cherry tomatoes, fresh basil and balsamic vinegar drizzle. Yummola, as Rachel Ray would say. Only thing that was weird was the table cloth. It was vinyl. This place is classier than vinyl table cloth--- get it together Tavern.
(4)John Z.
This is my favorite lunch and dinner spot in the loop! They have the best lobster roll west of boston and their meat is always cooked to perfection. The drinks are killer too, my girlfriend is in love with the martinis.
(5)Christiana S.
This restaurant reminds me of this accountant I used to date. He was really cute, made a ton of money, extremely intelligent, and most importantly, crazy about me. I should have been head over heels about him, but for some reason I just couldn't get into it. Something was just....... off. Tavern at the Park is like that accountant. It's a good-looking restaurant (if I were rating it based on looks alone, it would get five stars) in a great location with menu items that sound delicious. Unfortunately, I left dinner vaguely disappointed. While there wasn't one big glaring problem, I thought there were lots of little ones. Service gets an A for effort, but a C for execution. Our waiter was friendly, but struck me as inexperienced. I mean, who doesn't know that a chilled white wine gets placed in a bucket of ice once it's brought to the table? (Not that it mattered too much, since we polished off the bottle pretty quickly.) As far as the food is concerned, it was not promising when the bread basket arrived with store-bought dinner rolls (these were seriously awful........ not even Jewel-quality) and cold butter. While it's a minor detail, this should be one of the easiest things for a restaurant (especially one that is attempting to come across as upscale) to get right and they didn't. I ordered the rotisserie chicken, which was cooked and seasoned perfectly, yet slightly overpriced at $18. Entrees are served a la carte here, so I had to shell out another $5 to get some broccoli (which was also cooked and seasoned perfectly). My boyfriend had a club sandwich and macaroni and cheese, both of which he seemed to enjoy immensely. (Of course, he'll eat anything, but I suppose that's beside the point.) We ordered the cookies and cream fondue for dessert, which was yet another part of this dining experience that was great in theory but not in practice. I think white chocolate is really too thin for fondue, especially if the point is to incorporate something like bits of Oreo cookie; the mixture didn't really stick well to anything. It should also be noted that the rice krispie treats and marshmallows were vaguely stale, and that green apple, white chocolate and Oreo cookie crumbs is not a good flavor combination. And yes, I know it seems as though I am being really picky, but I am a detail-oriented person. So there. However, much like my tumultous relationship with the accountant, I will give this place another try because I really do want things to work out (also, it's in close proximity to my office).
(2)Ingrid G.
Not an upscale dining experience, but certainly tavern style food with the potential of great views. I should remark that if you're looking for a well executed dining experience with more upscale choices, the Park Grill is a much better choice than here. But if you're looking for a casual place to relax and have some drinks and dip the Tavern at the Park is the place for you! We had a party of 6. I had called several days before and requested a table with a view. We were seated promptly, though to my dismay, our only view was of a plasma TV in an odd windowless room on the second floor. The appetizers are all about the dips. Crab dip, chicken cheese fondue (skip it) mac and cheese, artichoke, etc. Main courses: Most of us stuck with the tried and true fillet which was pretty good. You order sides a la carte, and you are offered the typical steakhouse fare of creamed spinach, green beans, broccoli with cheese etc. My bf had the pasta with scallops, it was huge and pretty good. My aunt had a grilled cheese sandwich with bacon which looked really good. Overall: The service was marginal. Our waiter, bless his heart, was very inexperienced. They were featuring a heart of palm salad, and he volunteered that though he had never heard of heart of palm before today he thought it was kind of like asparagus. He was very eager to please but unsure of what to do almost every step of the way. The one very important exception to this was at the beginning he made a point to ask if there were any allergies (there were) and he was very intent on making sure that the allergy sufferer was taken care of. Our dishes were cleared promptly. Once again, not fancy schmancy but definitely OK, and the prices while steep aren't outrageous. I am looking forward to returning in the fall, when the leaves are changing.
(3)Joseph E.
Took the family here before an opera at the Harris Theater across the street and we absolutely loved it. Great food at a good price. I only wish I'd ordered a steak instead of the Ahi tuna. The latter was good, but the ribeye my wife had and the filet my daughter had were wonderful tasting! We'll definitely come here again.
(4)Amanda D.
Tavern at the Park had the best grilled calamari. What a great way to start the meal. The food here was decent, but nothing to write home about. Service... worse. Our waiter seemed like he had just started and was very clumsy with everything which was not comforting. They perk up their "view of the park", but most of the seating is hidden and has no view. Overall feel: meh
(2)Tasha H.
Loved this place. Went there last night, the first time for both me and my friend. We both had steaks and salads, and vegetables as sides. First, I have to say that our waiter was outstanding. I tend to be a bit of a smartass, and from my starting out by asking for a very pink drink (for Pinktober, which I consider a month dedicated to me and my cancer), and then going on to ask what specific kinds of tomatoes were in the heirloom tomato salad, he totally went with it all, good-natured. His recommendations were great as well. The steaks were perfect, and the grilled veggies were some of the best I've ever had. I know, how can veggies be that great? But they were. Oh, and at some point someone who i assume must have been the owner stopped by our table to ask how everything was, which was a nice touch. Overall, I'd definitely go back. And the pink drinks were excellent! Oh, and how can I forget the bread pudding! Best. Ever.
(5)Joelen T.
The Tavern at The Park can certainly cater to a large group of women who love their drinks! Having been here with girlfriends, we enjoyed the service provided as we spent several hours here chatting and drinking away. Some menu suggestions we thoroughly enjoyed: Warm Goat Cheese Parmesan Bread Crumbs & Tomato Fondue $10 Chicken Pot Pie Braised Chicken, Wild Mushrooms, Thyme, Madeira Wine With A Puff Pastry Crust $17 Blackened Sea Scallops & Fettuccine Tossed In A Spicy Vodka Sauce With Mushrooms & Spinach $27 Chopped Steak Cheeseburger American, Cheddar, Bleu Or Swiss $12 Braised Beef Short Ribs Boneless And Slow Roasted In A Red Wine Demi-Glaze $25 Lobster Ravioli Lobster Meat, Mascarpone Cheese, Asparagus & Lobster Cream Sauce $28 Whole Wheat Penne Pasta Artichoke Hearts, Roasted Red Peppers, Shitake Mushrooms, Fresh Mozzarella & White Wine Garlic Sauce $17 Warm Blueberry Apple Bread Pudding Fresh Blueberries & Lemon Sauce $6 Triple Chocolate Cake Chocolate Ganache, Chocolate Fudge Icing, and Chocolate Cake $8 One downside: this restaurant doesn't offer any happy hour specials, unlike the many other places in the area. Despite the lack of drink specials, the food and service made it worth it!
(4)Ryan M.
The girl and I celebrated our anniversary last week and part of our celebration was dinner at Tavern at the Park. All in all, the meal was just fine, but I think my dear friend Keara's review below caused me to get way to excited about it. It didn't live up to expectations, but that doesn't mean it wasn't good. We began our meal with some drinks. I ordered a scotch and water and to my dismay, it was served to me in a regular drinking glass rather than a rocks glass. I'm not normally a snob (when I'm at home, not owning a rocks glass, I drink from a Shrek glass I got at McDonalds), but at a nicer restaurant I would like to have my drink served in the proper glass. For an appetizer, we had the grilled polenta. This was a part of one of my new years goals to try a new food every month. I'd never had polenta before, but understanding it to be basically uncooked corn bread (sort of) I thought it might be ok. Texturally, I didn't care for it, but if I got a piece of sausage and some cheese and a just a little polenta, it wasn't too bad. I didn't care for the sausage served in the chunky tomato and pepper sauce, but that's my own pickiness. From there, we moved to main courses. The girl had blue cheese crusted filet mignon and absolutely raved about it. I had the prime rib, which was outstanding. Cooked right, tender, flavorful. Just great. The star of this portion of the meal was the Ashley's Mac and Cheese. Some of the best mac and cheese I've ever had in my life. Let's finish with desert. It was the highlight of the meal. Our waiter told us "Our deserts, with the exception of the cheesecake and the crème brulee are huge so you're only allowed to order one." But at the recommendation of Keara, I was having the key lime crème brulee. Holy balls. It was fantastic. The lady got the cookie ice cream sandwich, which she could barely finish, but since my crème brulee was light, I made quite a dent in it myself. I can say we were satisfied, but I think for the price tag that came with the meal, it may have been a little lackluster. I think we paid about 35 bucks too much, in my opinion. No biggie, just my opinion.
(3)Laura F.
I took my parents here over the weekend and it was fab. Everyone loved it- the food was delish and the waiter was super nice. We were a bit underdressed as we had been at the air show all day- but nobody seemed to mind. I ordered the Chicken Milanese that was very good and I also have to recommend trying the Mac & Cheese side- it was heaven! We skipped on dessert but the coffee was really yummy and I'd love to try the Cookies and Cream fondue. This is a place that could be a nice place for a date or somewhere to take your parents. All in all a nice experience, highly recommended!
(5)Nick K.
Went here for dinner and had a great experience. The place wasn't all that busy so we got seated for our reservation right away. The service was absolutely great and the food was excellent as well. We were started off with a basket of assorted breads, which were good. I had the Filet Mignon with the parmesan crusted topping. I have had this before at Wildfire and this was very similar and just as good if not better. The steak was cooked perfectly to how I ordered it. We also got the whipped potato caserole as a side and that was delicious. We were both full after dinner so we skipped on dessert, but they had something that looked delicious that I've never seen before. They had a cookies n cream fondue which is served with assorted fruit, marshmallows, rice krispie treats, and pretzels. Being the sweets lover I am, this sounds delicious and I want to go back and try this sometime. Overall, this was a great dining experience. Hopefully, more people start going so that it stays open.
(5)Annie S.
I only like this place because it's a block away from my place. The drinks are pricey and not very good. It was kinda funny, one time I was there the waiter carded my friend and she was like "how old do you think I am" and he's like 18. HAHA! And she's 24. I thought that was hilarious. They have this $100 drink (not sure if they still make it but they had it a couple months ago) and I don't know who would spend that much on a freakn drink. I think it had diamonds or something inside... haha =P The place is pretty big and it's nice inside. The bathrooms are large, which is always nice. I do want to try this place again to get food because they've gotten good reviews for that.
(3)Jen K.
This place gets 5 stars just based on the crab dip alone. It was absolutely amazing. And it tasted just as amazing when I ate the leftovers for breakfast the next morning. I had the French Onion soup as well which was good. I also had the filet sliders with blue cheese. The sliders were a little overcooked and the blue cheese wasn't quite as flavorful as I normally prefer. The wine list gets an extra star since it had one of our favorite bottles on it that is hard to find. Finally, the service was perfect. Our waiter Tim was very friendly and helpful and always looking after us but not intrusive. Two managers stopped by our table as well to ask us about our meal and our night. I'll definitely be back again soon.
(5)Ellen H.
Not bad. Wait. Quite ok, actually. I'll be honest, I was skeptical when the place opened. I work in one of the office buildings next door and am ALWAYS looking for non-Bennigans options, which seem to be the norm in that neck of the Loop. But, Tavern at the Park is a fairly solid spot....for the following: Lunch with co-workers (they have a great chopped salad and the fries are awesome...although I think all fries are awesome.); Casual dinner with visiting P's during the week/after work (dads will find ok steaks and moms will find decent chicken/fish options); After-work glass of wine (or two) and some appetizers at the bar (the goat cheese/tomato sauce is surprisingly tasty). The place is clearly not something to go nuts over but in the winter, and given it's location...for those "where the h*ll am I gonna take so-and-so after work" moments...Tavern is a safe bet.
(4)Faith G.
Great location and GREAT food. We had the polenta app, Big Mike burger, Petite Filet and the broccoli. I have to say the food was amazing from start to finish. We spent 6 days in Chicago and after visiting all the "recommended historical" restaurants.. this was by far my favorite. The service was great and I would highly recommend giving this restaurant a go!
(5)Zack C.
The menu at this establishment is somewhat of a limiting factor if you're looking for a smorgasbord.
(3)Sarah Z.
Horrid! The food here was absolutely terrible!! Our waiter was nice and the atmosphere was ok- has a nice view overlooking Randolf Street... but the food was soooooo bad, I would never go back!
(1)Todd C.
There's a ton of great steakhouses in the area, but the New York Strip at Tavern At The Park might be the best steak buy downtown. The service is great and the have this great whisky cocktail called "Them Apples". Mmmm, it's good. This place is also close to the Millennium Park, so you can walk over to The Bean afterwards. It's a great date spot.
(4)Giri C.
The food and service were both excellent! We ate dinner in a private dining room with a group of about 20 so it may not be reprensentative of the main dining room, but I found the whole meal very good. Definitely get the Apple Crisp for dessert! I'm partial to apple desserts, but this Apple Crisp topped with caramel and vanilla ice cream was incredible!
(4)Ali K.
This restaurant was okay, but nothing special. We were in Chicago for a few days and this was the first place we tried for lunch one day. After having a couple other meals in town (on recommendations), I wish I could take this one back to do something "more local". This felt a little like a chain restaurant. I had the Southwestern Chicken sandwich which was alright, but again, there are better places around if you're only in town for a short period of time. I'm sure if you live in Chicago and don't need to do the touristy places, it would be just fine. We also just had sandwiches; some of the entrees did sound pretty good and I will say, the service was pretty good.
(2)Suz C.
This is a preliminary review based on two visits. It was OK - I think they're still working out the kinks. Hey, is it Tavern at the Park or Tavern on the Park? Not to be confused with Tavern on Rush. I wasn't blown away, but I will probably eat here again. I've been here for both lunch and dinner. For dinner, I ate the grilled vegetable salad. I hated the dressing, and the food tasted overgrilled, if that's possible. My friend got a grilled chicken sandwich and loved it. For lunch, I met a colleague, and I tried the sirloin burger salad and I liked it, although the sirloin was a tad too overcooked. My colleague opted for the braised beef short ribs, and she thought it was OK but thought it could have been better. Gorgeous, dark wood interior. For the location, you'd expect an amazing view of the park, but you really don't get any view in the back dining room. I hear you get quite the view if you eat upstairs in one of the rooms. Good loop location, nice interior (safe for a business lunch or after-work drink), but the food was ehhhh and the waitstaff seemed pleasant, albeit harried. Great bar - I'd like to try it for happy hour sometime. A little expensive, but you're paying for location and a fairly nice interior. I think this restaurant competes with Park Grille and The Gage - they're all about equal to me.
(3)Stacy C.
I've been here twice now, for a company happy hour and just a casual lunch. This place is nothing special, but I think it's perfect for business lunches or work gatherings. When my company visited we had a spacious area upstairs and excellent service. (Let's not discuss the fact that I threw up on the Red Line after one too many Petron margaritas on this occasion.) The appetizers were tasty but pricey, at least for my standards. On my second visit I had the delicious grilled vegetable salad and my mom had the grilled cheese, bacon and tomato, which was amazing. Once again, overpriced for my small salary, but if you're using your corporate Amex then who cares! Our waiter was great again; I noticed that they made a special point to ask if anyone at the table had food allergies, which I thought was a sign of their superior service. The atmosphere is cookie-cutter "antique" Chicago posters and photographs, but at least there's a nice view. It gets a little too dark in the evenings though, so if you're going on a date with a two-face then maybe this is the place for you.
(3)Dan N.
We went to see the bean in our last trip to attend our daughter's graduation and happened to come here for lunch since it's next to the park. The food was mediocre at best (the service was okay) and the host was extremely rude (it was a hot day in june and we dressed casually for sight-seeing). Avoid even if you have to walk further out to find some food.
(1)Heather H.
I had excellent service and a great meal when I was here, and the drinks were a strong pour. I took my mother for her birthday dinner, and she thoroughly enjoyed everything including the great dessert the waiter gave us compliments of the kitchen for her birthday. The waiter made modifications to my moms meal graciously and I would absolutely go back.
(4)Jo Jo B.
If you want a sterile yuppie place to go to then this is the place for you. I went here the other night because it is in my neighbourhood and I wanted somewhere local where I could meet a client. This place really is a business place and I did not dig it even for my purpose of my meeting. We sat near the window, and throughout my time there I was bloody freezing! I was not the only one who was complaining they were cold either. Staff were attentive and friendly, but rightly so, when they are getting tipped on top of the prices they charge here. A glass of wine is approx $11 and up and the selection for a glass is very limited. Of course they have quite a selection by the bottle. I wonder why? I ordered a Cavattapi dish with artichokes and tomatoes, something I thought would be fairly tasty. This dish came out so bland, I was getting concerned about my sodium intake in order to make it palatable. Seriously when you have great ingredients in a dish, (especially tomatoes) NO dish should lack flavour like this did. My clients Ceaser Salad was so so, I tried it and it was a bit blah to say the least. This place is expensive for what they offer. It is convenient for locals and business people to hang out but as far as good food goes, I would pass. They have flat screens so you can catch up on a game and sometimes it can get a bit noisy to have a conversation here. BTW parking around here is insane unless you valet or park at Millennium Park. Add that to your bill and you could easily have spent $70 for a basic experience. Try Subway, it has more character and is a lot tastier. :O(
(1)Joanne C.
Can't beat the location of this place. I came into the city to see the Grant Park Symphony one weekend and Avenue Q another. It is very convenient. The food is good, not fantastic. Portions are HUGE. And the staff is very nice. My sandwich was so big I couldn't finish it and the waiter offered to put the other half in the fridge so I could pick it up after the show on my way back to the car. The crab appetizer was very good. I had the club sandwich that I'm surprised for a restaurant like this was processed meat and not fresh. It tasted fine but nothing special. The whipped potato casserole was good but was cold.
(3)CJ J.
Just went there for the first time and I must have got there when the wait staff was changing shifts because there seemed to be a lot of confusion on who would be waiting on us, Dirty Martini was fantastic but the chopped salad (which I had heard really good things about....) was not. I will go back though, as it's close to where I live and the martini was worth a second visit!
(2)Kelli W.
We stopped in for a cocktail after walking from the Natural History Museum. I would love to say that it was bad, but we didn't even get acknowledged by any of the 3 bartenders. One of the bartenders picked up two cocktail napkins, looked at us, then put them back down. I felt that we weren't served because we were wearing jeans that day. After waiting for about 10 minutes for eye contact from someone, we decided to take ourselves elsewhere.
(1)Jill S.
Four of us had an early dinner on a hot night, looking for light, seasonal, simply prepared dishes. We ordered a variety of starters and salads. The water was tepid, no ice. The waitress took orders for Prosecco and then said, "Oh, wait, we don't have Prosecco." The only dish that was right was the steamed mussels. The Farmer's Trio of chalky, bland chicken liver pate, "roasted garlic" puree that was mostly chickpeas, with no hint of garlic, and so-so eggplant dip was mediocre at best. The French onion soup was all wrong--why have it on the menu if you don't know how to make it? The side salad was limp lettuce topped with a tangle of gummy onions. The heirloom tomato caprese features chunks of underripe tomatoes topped by a blob of untangy, unfresh mozzarella. We tried to like it, but really--for the price, it was a disgrace. And there is no excuse. All these dishes can be made ahead and held and be delicious. Although the Alsatian Pinot Gris was nice, the wines by the glass were unappealing and overpriced. Pedestrian fare, with no heart and no soul, at premium prices.
(2)Eugene E.
Always have a great experience here! Genuine service. The dinner food I've received a mixed bag of responses. From really well prepared to not so great, but they are attentive enough to make any change you may request. The do however have excellent desserts. The brownie is pretty on-point. To the credit of the physical location, a nice view. Also, be weary of the "tomato soup" - it is not vegeterian. They make it with chicken broth.
(3)Joscelyn M.
I end up going here more than I could care to because I work in the building. Everything is just OK, but prices are a bit much. Good wine selection and the food is decent. Service is pretty slow.
(3)Scott S.
A taste of suburbia in downtown Chicago. The dark bread is pretty good, but I'm pretty sure the culinary practice here is the same as it is when I cook at home: taking something out of the freezer, making it hot, putting it on a plate. The food here is about as innovative as the Catholic Church. But the weirdest part is the background music. It's all stuff from the 10 free CDs you got from Columbia House when you signed up back in 1994. If everything else in the neighborhood is closed and you're in the mood for a drink and a sandwich and your favorite color is brown, then come on down to Tavern at the Park.
(1)Manda H.
I really enjoyed the bar post work. The bartenders were quick and really nice and my drink was the perfect strength. It can be a little bit pricey but I have to say I am not complaining on this one. Tried a few appetizers, nothing too special. Duck was an interesting choice. This place is huge, I like that there are a few private areas to have a smaller gathering. I don't know why I haven't checked this place out before.
(4)S S.
I recently met 7 of my former colleagues here for a "going away" dinner. We were seated in a private room, just off the main entrance. The privacy was nice, but the food was the star. We split appetizers at the table - though I didn't sample, so I can't comment - everyone gave a thumb's up to the calimari. For dinner, I had the Chicken Pot Pie (made with fresh veggies, tender chicken, pitch-perfect sauce and a beautiful pastry shell). We split a large order of the Fondue for dessert, and all went away happy. Overall, service was great, and my meal was perfect -even if it was an American classic. (Yes, you can screw up a pot pie with too much cream and overcooked veggies - they didn't do that here). Perhaps the winner, though, was the Mint #2 Drink that I had (well, two of them) at the bar after dinner. Pomegranate, Effen Cranberry Vodka, and some other delish combinations in a nice, large glass would be my after-work drink of choice if I worked nearby. Delish. Great food, great service. Reasonable prices. Something on the menu for everyone. I'll be back.
(4)Karen L.
I would give this a 2.5 stars. Really, the food was ok but not great. It was a lot fancier and pricier than what I was expecting, but then again, it is right across the street from Millenium Park. I only ate some appetizers there and I will have to say that the portions are pretty generous. The menu actually looks better than what you get. It seems like really fancy, innovative dishes, but when you taste it, it is just ok. It is a convenient location, right downtown, so if I end up going there again I would probably just go for drinks and apps again.
(2)Jeanine S.
Meh. I met with family and their friends visiting from out of town. It was a great location, but that about all that I loved. The food was very good, but unmemorable and could have been eaten anywhere. service was slow and unattentive. We had a large group, but the place didn't seem very busy for a Friday night, so I feel we were a bit neglected. My dessert of bread pudding with blueberries and apples was enough to share with the entire table and still take some home (although it took 3 requests with 2 servers to have it wrapped to accomplish just that.) The size somehow made the treat less special though. The prices were a bit on the high side for the quality, wine nothing too out of the ordinary. Overall, I felt that the location beckons to visitors to our beautiful city, but that it is a shame that it doesn't represent our diverse and fantatic foods here in Chicago, nor did it represent our friendly and knowledgeable people.
(3)Amy C.
We went here for lunch and the food was good but not great. I had the tomato bisque and it was delicious but my prime rib sliders were a little disappointing. It was not flavorful and was a bit cold. I had lots of fries so that was good. Overall, the food is nothing special...
(3)Sam S.
On a Monday night, my 10 year-old son and I were looking for a place to get carry-out to take back to the lawn at the Pritzker Pavilion during a concert. We took a chance and went into Tavern at the Park. Wearing shorts and a t-shirt, I fully expected to be rushed out of there. On the contrary, the host and hostess could not have been nicer. My son and I sat there and took our time coming up with a list of food to buy. They accommodated everything we ordered, and the host was very careful to make sure he understood everything and any special requests (eg. plain hamburgers for the kids, cut in half). Everything was prepared quickly and packaged up nicely into two shopping bags. The good was really good. I was most impressed with the care and attention that was given to the careful packaging of the food and all the extra items, so that there was nothing missing (utensils, napkins, condiments, etc.). They really did a fantastic job. My wife and I are looking forward to returning to dine in-house.
(5)RJ W.
It is obvious the rating from Bobby S is a fake. I just wanted to make things balance out
(1)Mike R.
I've dined here on more than one occasion, and I have never been disappointed. The food is excellent and the location is even better. The staff is very knowledgeable and the management is hilarious. I think some of the poor reviews given to this restaurant are from people who are expecting something out of the ordinary and contemporary. The reason for this is because many of the people who rate this restaurant are from out of town and have expectations for a Chicago restaurant based on what they see on TV. Tavern is not going to go out of its way to be famously artistic with the dishes; from my experience, they concentrate on comfort food cooked to perfection. They pull this off better than any other restaurant that is trying fit this same genre (i.e. Table 52). Try the Double-Cut pork chop, which is always a crowd pleaser. As is the chicken and fontina fondue. I've never been a fan of their chop salad so probably steer away from that, but I have enjoyed the grilled vegetable salad, which is fantastic and different. Like I said, don't come here if you want a menu that has been overhauled to squeeze in items such as "black truffle foam, creme fraiche coulis, duck confit-stuffed rack of lamb with a roasted puree of pequin capon," because you're not going to find that. Tavern will give you great dishes that you grew up with, incorporate a cool twist, and cook it to perfection (i.e. Ashley's Mac & Cheese, Coca-cola BBQ sauce, Prime Rib Sandwich). Enjoy it for what it is and you will truly enjoy your food experience. If you expect every restaurant in Chicago to be cookie-cutter uber-chic joints, then you will be disappointed.
(5)Thomas W.
Initially the service was great. I got greeted by a nice man who showed me through the restaurant which had a nice atmosphere and ambiance to it. Upon sitting down and waiting several minutes the waitress greeted us by saying, "What can i start you off with?" Not even an introduction, no name, no specials of the night, nothing. I did not receive her name the whole night. A man (assuming it was a manager) came to the table and asked if the food was satisfactory and our table replied with a yes. He then walked away swiftly without any introduction of any sort. The food was mediocre and the menu sounds a lot better that the actual food you receive. I would not go back to this restaurant.
(2)Katee C.
Yum yum yum! I was searching for a somewhat affordable place to take a friend from out of town while staying at the Palmer House and this was suggested. It was a nice walk from the Palmer House and, with reservations, we were taken right to our seats. It's a beautiful view and we enjoyed the time there. First of all, our waiter was great. Super personable and gave us plenty of time. There's nothing worse than feeling like you're rushed and that didn't happen here! We had the calamari for an appetizer. It was good, but nothing super exciting. My friend had the Chicken Piccata and loved it. I had the Bookmaker Steak Sandwich and OH MY GOD. It was so incredibly good. Great cut of meet, onion strings, truffle aoli, whiskey butter, toasted pretzel roll ... mmmmmmmmm. It was very rich so I could only eat half but I wanted to marry the other half. If only it were legal! :) There was also about a pound of very good fries. I will definitely go here again. A great all-around experience!
(5)paul z.
Great dinner tonight. Crab cakes/sole wonderful. Lobster mac and cheese also great. Chicken Noodle/Matza Ball soup is the best. Big thanks to whoever found my cell phone left on the table and chased me down for a block to give it back...how good is that. They could have just waited for lost and found. Don't know who you are, but, thank you, thank you. Good food and customer service makes you very special.
(5)Daniel T.
I had heard such great things about this place that I had higher hopes. Perhaps this was a problem. Had dinner there late after an evening in Grant Park. The atmosphere is dark and not very warm. The staff was very friendly and our waiter was very helpful in recommending some items. The food was decent, but way too pricey. Nothing exceptional. Doubt I'll go back.
(3)Aimee C.
hmmmm, i love the slider plate, i attempted to order three pulled pork sandwiches, but then at the last minute decided to mix it up and get one of each, prime rib and cheeseburger slider... and boy was I pleased.. the pulled pork was my least favorite... and i'm a girl that has a soft spot for shoestring fries... (note: aimee can be bribbed with fries) any day or night a restaurant that can make a great shoestring is A+ in my book. I was meeting up with friends for a birthday drink but ended up staying for dinner.. was quite pleased for a tuesday night, it was pleasantly filled with people/travelers/businessmen and of course, us crazy kids... The one part that I will say I disliked the most was the slowness of our "new" server.. I hope that he will be up to par on the next trip.. and where, oh where is the bathroom, all the way upstairs in the back behind the curve.. i thought I was in an endless labyrinth.. luckily I was only on the pursuit of washing my hands... Note to self: remember to be prepared to make the venture way before it's needed. enjoy.. i know I did.
(3)Beth O.
For what it is (downtown, thus frequented by working stiffs and tourists) the Tavern is great. Must dos include the chicken flatbread pizza. Although my drinks were ridiculously expensive, the flatbread was cheap, tasty and huge thus kept the tab down for a night out on the town with a friend.
(3)Jen F.
I'm really not sure why I don't just trust the yelp reviews. This place is next to my apartment for my 2 months in chicago. Once I read the reviews and factored in the proximity, I figured I would give it a chance. It was pretty busy at 9 when I arrived, so I stole a place at the bar. Bad choice. I was next to two drunk women, on of which was describing her sex life in way too much detail. I ordered the rib eye and the creamed spinach. The spinach was very creamy and cheesy, way too cheesy. I ordered the rib eye black and blue, the bartender even verified exactly how I wanted it, too bad the kitchen didn't pay attention. The key to a black and blue is the black part, and my steak was missing the char. Once I got my food and my last glass of wine the bartender forgot about me completely. (pretty sure no one would care if I left without paying) The food, still in front of me, is a cold mess. Even my wine glass is empty. The annoying woman next to me finally realized that the guy she is sleeping with is married to someone else and her friend stumbled trashed out to a cab. This entire experience has been a waste (ok, the chili was pretty good and that warranted the one star.
(1)Andy G.
Yesterday I took my team at work to Tavern at the Park for our annual holiday lunch. I hadn't tried it and was very excited to go, since I pass it on a regular basis. The entire experience started out on a sour note. When I arrived I checked with the host he mentioned I did not "see" my reservation and asked if it could be under another name. I had made the reservation weeks ago and asked for a table with a veiw of the park. I saw my name on the computer screen and told him it was the last name on his screen before he said, "Oh - I thought it looked like something else on the sheet." Sure. Anyway, we were seated at a table (without a view) in the downstairs portion of the restaurant. The service was adequate, but not overly friendly. The place was packed, but still, we didn't feel welcome the entire time we dined. The food was not the best I've ever had - but it wasn't terrible, either. It was pretty common, actually, nothing exciting on the menu and the prices were high for what we got. All in all, I'd probably go back again and give it another shot, but I won't be in any hurry. It's a good addition to the neighborhood, but nothing to go out of your way for.
(3)Tuya S.
The three stars are really for the food not for the location and neither for interior decor. Should probably include the remarks that doorman made to my date for wearing his Burberry cap inside the dining area. Therefore, no hats, no designer fancy shmancy hot and trendy. Uptight and smart is the motto! or at least, it must appear so. . . The wine selection was not far distinct and even satisfying. If you want upscale-ish atmosphere and definitely not out-of college crowd, this is the place to stop by.
(3)Quantas G.
I will give this place credit for having a great view from the second floor. You can see portions of Millennium Park and Michigan Avenue outside of the window. But the prices definitely don't match the quality if the food. Maybe it was my fault for ordering a lobster roll this far west of the Atlantic. But $20 is way too much to charge for the sandwich and fries I was served. The sandwich was like a lackluster seafood salad sandwich I could have picked up from Subway. The ambiance was nice so I guess that is what I was paying for but I would rather have better food at a lower price for my next Loop lunch.
(2)Dane K.
Went here for a kind of late lunch... The place was fairly empty (maybe 2 other tables eating in the whole place?). With that in mind I'd call the service spotty. And it's a bit on the expensive side... It's clearly a business-expense-account oriented type place. I ordered a French Dip sandwich... which was $17. $17!!! that's f'kin crazy. it's a roll, beef, some cheese... and au jus. The sandwich was pretty good, though. Most of the other sandwiches were in the $15 range, and I don't think there was anything less than $12 on the menu. The appetizers were mostly in the $10-12 range. We ordered an appetizer and entrees... the appetizer came in a timely manner (10 minutes or so), but then I swear there was another 20 or 25 minutes at least before our entree came, which is just puzzling given that we had ordered it at the same time as the appetizer, the place was nearly empty, and we had both ordered sandwiches. Other than the slow food delivery the service wasn't overly impressive, I felt like I was eating at the bar with the bartender taking my order (though I wasn't). I work in Prudential Plaza, so I was hoping when they opened it would be a good place to go for an occasional somewhat splurgy lunch or a good business lunch... Apparently the place is very busy and you pretty much need a reservation to get a lunch table here (unless you're OK with eating at 2pm...). So that's a strike in my book, but I guess you can't fault them for success (or at least temporary rush success). It would be nice if they'd have a late afternoon special or something to get in more people, aka me. Given the extremely slow service and what not, we were there long enough to find that the place started really packing them in to the bar after 4. For fun, read the martini menu... there's a $199 martini on there, which includes "something special" from your favorite jeweler. Whatever that means. (And totally a copy off of some manhattanesque bar) ..The space itself is nice. I guess there's some sort of upstairs area too, which probably have decent views of... the street and the sculptures across the street. And let me throw in the cliched "really a 3.5 star"..
(3)Connie W.
A little pricy but the service and food is always good.
(4)Kodey F.
The girlfriend and I were walking through Grant Park one Saturday evening, and we decided to walk by, thinking it would be crazy busy and not even worth waiting. We were surprised to see that they had inside seating available. We were outside all day so we just wanted some air conditioning, but I can see how nice it would be to sit outside on a nice day/night. The place is very nice looking, but still has TVs playing the cubs game over the bar, so don't feel bad coming here in jeans. The service was suberb. The wine list had a good mix of inexpensive and expensive wines. I ordered the Lobster ravioli and it was one of the best I've ever had. Girlfriend had the caprese salad, and it was plentiful; big chunks of mozzarella and large fresh tomato slices. We were too stuffed to dessert, maybe next time. some of the dishes are a little on the expensive side, but for dining steps from Michigan Avenue, it seems rather reasonable. We definitely will go back, and might even pick up carryout sometime.
(5)Michelle E.
There really isn't anything wrong with Tavern at the Park. But there really isn't anything phenomenal about it either. Perfectly acceptable food, a good place to go after work, or even for a work function. Or, in this case, a good place to meet the parental units for dinner! The one thing I found interesting was that the bar was packed with corporate guys in suits! So this is where they have all been hiding! I personally LOVE a man in a suit, and it depresses me that most companies now have a casual dress code. This place is actually pretty big, they have 2 floors of dining rooms. The night I was there the 2nd floor was closed for a private event, so consequently the 1st floor was a bit more crowded than usual. One thing that I thought was a nice touch was that each table gets its own bottle of water. One of my pet peeves is an empty water glass. I'm not saying you have to buy water either, you can have your very own pretty blue glass bottle of tap water on your table! The menu had quite a few sandwiches on it, which I found a bit surprising. We started with the sticky fried shrimp, which was fine. I decided to try the chicken milanese for my entree, which was GIANT! Giant and good. My dad had the double pork chop with the cherry cola BBQ sauce. The pork chop was also giant, I swear it had to be 3 inches thick! The BBQ sauce was super tasty. My mom had the fish of the day, which was nice. We had the triple chocolate cake for dessert, which was also good. Really, I can't complain about anything, perse. Everything was good. But nothing was mind-blowing, or anything that I would HAVE to have again. I wouldn't mind going back to try the filet mignon, as you can choose from several different kinds of crust, ie parmesan or blue cheese. But then again, would I go Tavern at the Park just for a steak? Not likely.
(3)EV G.
Great location, overlooking Millennium Park. The food is really forgettable - not horrible, not wonderful, not interesting. But if you are looking for a place to have a business lunch, this is not a bad choice. Service was fine, prices for a sit down lunch are pretty average for the location. The same folks run Keefer's where the food is much better so maybe they just need some time to get their act together. Here is an arcane tidbit about this place - if you are wearing black pants, you can get a black cloth napkin so if any fibers rub off, they will not show up on your clothes. Just in case you are wondering why there are black and white napkins (as I was - OK so I am a freak for weird details).
(3)Agnes F.
slight improvement from last time i visited i came here with a colleague and we shared the fried calamari appetizer, the breading was too heavy and calamari was not very meaty had the salmon for main course and it was ok, little flavor and slightly overcooked, my friend had the burger and she didn't say much about it so all in all, haven't changed my view about the place for a quick business lunch this is ok but i won't come back for anything else
(2)Scott T.
Better than you would expect for a Millenium Park hub, their waitstaff is very friendly and attentive and the food has improved quite drastically over the years. Make sure you don't fill up on bread, however tempted you are. Drinks are portioned well, wine is cheap and plentiful, however they could use more local options for beers on tap (look into Half Acre, please!). A downtown staple that won't disappoint, expect a business-heavy crowd for lunch on weekdays and note that they're closed on Sundays.
(4)James W.
My wife and I have been in Chicago for a few days seeing the sights. Today we had a great meal at Millers Pub on the loop (Best Prime Rib in a LONG Time), took a nice river cruise, and were walking and thought we would stop for a beer. It had been raining today and we were both wearing a ball cap. The gentleman at the door welcomed us in and told us to have a seat at the bar. The bartender was friendly and we were thinking we had walked into another cool Chicago establishment. We began talking to some others on vacation and we are all planning on spending some time and chatting with the locals. Then a real butt head came up and acted like we had pissed on his floor and was a complete jerk about our caps. Not sorry, and won't be back! No signs posted and our caps did not seem to be bothering others in the establishment. So, the six of us (four wearing caps) that were thinking on drinking left and found another friendlier establishment just down the street and once again were appreciated. Oh, and the caps on our heads was a problem, but the zombies sitting in there were OK.
(1)David K.
I was very pleased with this place. I took my wife for her birthday dinner. One of the owners (Donnie) gave us a table that I requested and made sure to say happy birthday to my wiife. I really appreciated that. Great food. The fondue app is very good. Wife had a filet that she liked. Great night, we will be back
(5)Joy K.
I went to Tavern At The Park awhile ago with a friend. She ordered the Chopped Salad and I order some monstrous burger. I definitely regretted ordering the burger. It was bigger than I imagined and I gave up trying to eat it a quarter of the way through. Also, I was bent of having dessert so I decidedly took most of my entree home. For dessert she had the Apple Crisp and I ordered the Homemade Brownie Sundae, which was more like a cake than anything else, in size and texture. Overall the food was okay it was nothing to write home about. I loved the atmosphere of the restaurant. The Host was amazing! We had made a reservation but suddenly decided to eat earlier than planned. I called and the host was extremely accommodating. When we got to the restaurant he greeted us warmly and immediately had us seated. Tavern At The Park has very low lighting and a mellow atmosphere in the dining room, but the bar seemed like it was fairly ruckus for a Thursday night. Although, it's kind of an inconvenience to have to take an elevator to the restroom, I felt very chic doing it so it made up for that.The wait-staff, on the other hand, is okay. I wasn't impressed. Our waiter seemed as if he would have rather been somewhere else. Perhaps he was having an off night... Who knows? Nevertheless, the food is ok at best but the portions are huge so bring your appetite with you. The atmosphere is appealing for a large group or an intimate dinner. (I saw both taking place while I was there and neither seemed out of place.) In the end, if you are near Millennium Park and don't feel like walking in the freezing cold to get a bite to eat elsewhere, stop here. You won't be raving about this place, but you won't be disappointed with your experience either.
(3)Carlo S.
Stopped by for a midday bite. French onion soup was top 5 I've ever had. Ate at the bar...as an out of towner bartender was very helpful with city tips!
(4)Rachelle T.
Went here for a work lunch meeting and had a good experience. The decor and ambience is great (love the blue glasses and water pitcher) and it has an upscale feel without being stuffy or uninviting. The menu was decent and even the strict vegetarian/vegan with us was able to find an entree without too many problems. I knocked them down a star because I will say the shrimp on my salad was overcooked and for an $18 caesar salad that shouldn't happen. But overall I was pleased and will definitely go back again!
(4)Kevin C.
Hmmm....Tavern on the Park.....where do I start? First off, I personally like the decor . The interior is done in a warm mahogany finish and is dimly lit, my sort of place! Second, the service was decent though our waitress seemed inexperienced but there was another server watching over to ensure that she was doing her job correctly. Third, the food was decent but a little pricey for the money. Overall, I would come here for drinks and people watching rather than for the food.
(3)Heather G.
We went to this restaurant on a Friday night with reservations and we were seated right away. The bread that came before the meal was great and we ate several baskets while we waited for the entrees. I had the grilled vegetable salad which was really unique. It was good and much more than I could finish. The self-proclaimed "chicken expert" that went with me found the roast chicken to be one of the best he's ever had. We shared a side of fries that were also fantastic especially considering I don't usually like the shoestring variety. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone looking for a quiet, nicer but less expensive night out. This dinner for two cost less than $50 even including wine.
(4)Anne M.
Technically, I'd give this place 3.7. The food was good, not OMG (I know, is there an echo here?), the portions are biblical (and this is a NEGATIVE to me, but welcome to America), BUT the chef very kindly prepared a single order entree chicken potpie and made it in 2 small dishes. Potpie was OK. They have some good gin for martinis (Hendricks and North Shore). The waitstaff and floor mgr were very friendly and accommodating and let us drink/dine at our lengthy pace. It's a good option when it's 3 degrees outside and you're very, very hungry at Milennium Park.
(3)murray r.
Love this place, take many clients, staff is great, food better..
(4)Nancy M.
I like the food here. As others have stated, the Saturday night prime rib is a good deal. But, it was a bit salty. I usually sit at the bar and grab a bite before ballet or opera. Wines by the glass are a good bet.
(4)Sam W.
After hearing Food Network Star Robert Irvine had dined here recently, I had to make a reservation and try it for myself. I made a 5:30pm "reso" on a Thursday and it was packed the second we got there. Granted, there was a large party occupying the entire upstairs room, but this place was still hopping all night long. My mom and I started off with the Blackened Ahi Tuna appetizer, and it was average at best. It had some type of green sauce that made it taste better, but the tuna itself was simply average and not spicy at all. For our entrees, I ordered the Marinated BBQ Chicken Sandwich, which came smothered in cherry-cola BBQ sauce that was honestly the greatest BBQ sauce I'd ever tasted. The chicken was thin and grilled to perfection. I had a giant baked potato with it, and I promise you, it was the size of a football, but I somehow finished the whole thing. My mom ordered the Filet with Lobster crust, and the bite that I got of it was super moist. For dessert, we shared the Fried Banana Split, which is basically two medium banana's coated in frosted flakes and deep fried. Then place them on top of two huge scoops of vanilla ice cream and drizzle it with chocolate and caramel sauce, along with a cherry and some whipped cream, and you have the ultimate dessert! This was fantastic and the sweet crusted banana paired with the ice cream was the perfect match. The service here was even better than the food. Nilo, are server, was so incredibly fast with our drinks, food, and was always willing to get whatever we needed. When I told him how much I enjoyed the BBQ sauce on my sandwich, he ran back to the kitchen and brought out a huge bowl of it for me to layer on. He also was relaxed, calm, and funny at the same time, never phased by the incredibly packed bar and ongoing demand of his tables. We rewarded him for all his hard work. Overall, Tavern at the Park is a must see place with amazing service and extremely flavorful food. Second Visit: This place was way less appealing the second time around. I went in there with two of my friends at around 4:00pm, with the entire restaurant empty. Our waiter was either high or really dumb because he seemed to have trouble talking. When he did, he spoke so softly we couldn't understand him. And remember, we couldn't hear him despite no one in the restaurant. Anyway, we ordered the calamari as an appetizer and it actually was pretty good, and the spicy dipping sauce was a good compliment. I ordered the Cherry Cola BBQ Chicken Sandwich again and this time it was so average I felt like they stole my $14. There was like a hint of BBQ sauce, and I would've asked for more, but knew our dumb waiter was unable to do much. My friends ordered the Whole Wheat Pasta and the Lobster Crusted Filet and both ate most of their food. We all shared the Strawberry Shortcake for dessert, and again this was a disappointment with the lack of strawberries and the over dose of tasteless pound cake and unbelievably heavy cream that had the effect of your gut expanding on the spot! Try this place once, come when its busy so you can be seen, but don't expect much else.
(3)Bobby S.
This place is awesome. It's a block away from my work, so I go there for lunch a lot. The food is really good and at an average price for the location. The Management is really nice and always come by and make sure everything is fine.
(5)K M.
Headline, great location, service, and atmosphere, downside being the food and the cost. It's clear that what you are paying for is the location. This is not to say the food isn't good. It's just fine, simple even. It's not great tasting. We went here this weekend and were immediately seated for our reservation. It was filled and the overall feel is a great place to take out of towners, family, groups, but maybe not a quiet date unless you go upstairs. The bar downstairs is large and I'd go back and entertain a drink or four there (on someone's else dime). We sat upstairs and we're treated to some tasty bread which was refilled when empty. We ordered course by course, which wasn't our goal, but I guess it was our waiters. I had many many raspberry mojitos and ended up rather drunk, but still recall the meal with indifference to disappointment. We had the crab dip appetizer, which was hot, crabby, and the best part of our meal. Then I had the Asian Shrimp Salad, which was huge, filled with chopped lettuce, and had weak dressing flavor and starchy cold hard shrimp. He had the grilled cheese sandwich and fries. Our meal with one appetizer, an entree salad and sandwich/fries, 5 drinks came to $130. Ouch.
(3)Oona B.
it's a nice place for lunch/after work in the loop area.
(3)Amanda L.
We stopped here for after work appetizers and cocktails. The chicken fondue, crab au gratin and grilled artichoke were all delicious. They have a great wine selection and the space has a warm lodge like feel to it. Everyone that worked there was friendly and warm and the server didn't skip a beat. This is a great place I plan to frequent a lot.
(5)Mary C.
I have been here several times for casual drinks & apps at the bar, dinner in the dining room, and I even spent part of NYE here too. I have always been impressed by the service and atmosphere. It's elegant and comfortable. The grilled vegetable salad is a favorite (always enough to either share or take home), and the soup selections are always great. I'm a soup whore, so that is important to me.... random factoid: the French judge a chef on how they make eggs and soup. Mmmmm soup. I digress. The prices are a little steep, but so is everything in that area, unless you want to go to Bennigans. I do not recommend the soup there. Also, I hear Tavern might be adding an outdoor patio upstairs, which would make for killer views of Millennium Park.
(5)Tim M.
The Tavern is a long over due addition to the dining scene in this part of the city particularly for business lunches. The atmosphere is warm, inviting and a bit "clubby" depending where you sit. I find the place very relaxing and if you get a seat with a view outside it's fun to watch the traffic on Randolph St. Service is attentive though not polished but this is a tavern and it is more than acceptable. Portions are more than generous and I have not been disappointed yet. Of course some things are better than others. They always push the Tavern Teasers but these 3 small sandwiches are not that great. The full size version of each of these is much better for a meal though these are fine for a snack. The chicken soup is outstanding, the tomato a bit too rich. The seafood has always been very good, I was surprised to see skate on the specials one day and I was very pleased with it. Highly recommended especially for business events.
(4)