My first review, of 9 years ago, was back when Brass Tack was Margeaux Brasserie. This is an updated review for its current incarnation. It is a must visit - if only all hotel restaurants were this good. We had a late dinner reservation on a Saturday night, and the restaurant was almost emptied out. So that made for a lovely, semi-private dining experience. Selecting a wine was dicey, as earlier that week flooding had damaged the cellar (!), but our server, Alex, was very helpful and worked with us to find something to my liking. We landed on a 2015 Cornas which was showing beautifully and matched perfectly with our meal. Alex did a fantastic job taking care of us during the wine reconnaissance and throughout the meal. Speaking of which, we started with the deviled eggs, which were amazing. An elegant balance of cream and salt from the caviar. For my entree, i had the venison. It was a seared filet on I believe a sweet potato puree, and it was rich and tender. Order it rare, if its on the menu. Kelly had the filet, also rare, and found it to be superior to most Chicago steak house filets. Our side was the divinely creamy Aligot mashed potatoes. Don't skip on these! For dessert, there was a decadent, gout-tempting chocolate mousse preparation. Served tableside, its all you think you can eat. I had a heaping serving, ate some, took the rest home. Kelly had the (also) Decadent Chocolate Cake, which too was superb. Cocktails were excellent, as is the bourbon selection. Service was impeccable. Our dinner was long and leisurely, and we look forward to returning. read more

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Kari's Rating 7.5/10 Came in with a friend around 11:30, it was absolutely desolate except for this client conference call that wrapped up around us. When you first walk in, you have to take the elevator up to the third floor, where a hostess was waiting at a golden black themed restaurant. This place is extremely ornate and luxurious as you walk in and greeted by a full air bar where all the liquor is positioned up in a translucent brass cabinet. Walking a little bit further into the restaurant, you see all of the chairs decorated with a gold studded Maroon leather. The tall ceilings give way to a illuminated faux skylight. The seating designs are minimal designed. We thought we were walking into a brunch menu but they had transitioned to lunch and re-ordered the lobster roll as well as the asparagus tip and almond pasta and the sweet potato fries. read more

Very warm ambiance tucked away in the Waldorf! Setting was amazing with a beautiful dining room and bar area. Staff was very attentive and knowledgable about the menu. The food was perfect for brunch, highly recommend! Pro Tip: try the brunch smoothie before settling into a cocktail read more

The ambiance was great for a little date night. The staff was super friendly and very accommodating. The drinks were well made. Caviar was not directly on the menu, but the staff still arranged it, which was a really nice touch. read more

Brass Tack - Caviar - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

didn't eat here- only ordered their coffees! each day the coffees were made differently which was interesting but no complaints. would be nice to have some consistency. staff is friendly and welcoming. read more

Brass Tack is tucked inside the Waldorf; I came here with my family for brunch on a Sunday afternoon. If I'm being candid we needed a spot to duck into to escape the rain, and everyone was hungry lol. That said, my visit here was nothing short of stellar, and I shall return once my back account recovers. Upon entry we were seated with no delay by a window (without reservation.) The place is low lit and there were musicians playing so it has a speakeasy vibe which was interesting. My daughter had blueberry pancakes (which were insanely good) and I went with their smash burger (which was pretty good; not the best I've had but filling for sure.) What took the cake for me were the drinks; I tried the Exchange and La Villita and they were worth every penny... Particularly the La Villita (if you're a fan of a little spice.) But here's the thing: the cocktails were ~$25 a piece, so tread lightly. Service was on point, and even tho the bill was more than I wanted to spend...i gladly dropped the coin. Highly recommend! read more

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My goal is to try 50 new Chicago restaurants in 2025! Restaurant: 9/50 Month tried: January Favorite dish: Trout with asparagus Came here during restaurant week 2025 because we were staying at the attached hotel for a little staycation. It was a decent hotel restaurant but nothing memorable. Nothing on RW was on their regular menu so it's hard to compare, and they were out of several drinks we tried to order. Swanky spot though and dishes are presented well. It was overpriced. Wouldn't steer people away but wouldn't rush back! read more

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Stopped in while staying at the hotel, and as always, the food and drinks were outstanding! The Bloody Marys are a must-try, and both the caviar and the turkey sandwich were absolutely delicious. read more

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OK, ok, ok.... this is a completely honest review. This joint is getting five stars because of the Bottomless Veuve Clicquot pour and those devilish devil eggs. But don't let that mislead you, the food here is very good and the service was on point! I have had three visits this summer to Brass Tack: two separate occasions for their Bottomless Veuve Clicquot pour and recently for dinner with The Doctor and The Queen. The Bottomless Veuve Clicquot pour event was so adorable that I did it twice: with The Fam and a coworker and with my BFF #2. If they are hosting this next summer, I highly recommend attending. The event is setup in the courtyard of the Waldorf Astoria Hotel. The courtyard was set up with cute tables and great yellow and white umbrellas. The event was 75 min in length. But in that time, the servers keep those bottles popping and pouring. As well as the bubbles, we were presented with a small Charcuterie Board with some lovely seasonal farm butter, mustard, cornichons, Mediterranean olives, local breads and cured meats. There was live music for both visits, a guitarist, who was playing some great tunes. Both visits were just amazing and so much fun. Our third visit was for dinner and that was truly wonderful through and through, from our initial greeting by the hostess that seated us, to our server Alex and the young lady who was our busser and the food. The interior of the restaurant is a warm and inviting, with lots of wood. The bar looked very inviting, and I will be back to visit again. The dining room was nicely laid out and the chairs were comfy. We started dinner with the Deviled Eggs (baeri kaviari caviar, pickled mustard seed, crispy capers) and the Charcuterie Board (seasonal farm butter, mustard, cornichons, Mediterranean olives, prosciutto speck, capicola picate, dufour duck and fig pate, forever cheese drunken goat, seasonal fruit jam, honeycomb, marcona almonds and local breads). Both were really great but good lordy, those deviled eggs were the devil! The blending of the caviar, mustard seeds and capers was truly wonderful. There are three to a serving at $25 a pop. But I am here to tell you, I am strongly considering treating myself to a dozen of those and a bottle of Veuve when my birthday rolls around. The charcuterie board had a lovely selection of meats, cheese and other yummy things. I really recommend the dufour duck and fig pate, forever cheese drunken goat and cypress grove Humboldt fog cheese. For dinner, The Queen and I got the 6-Spices Butter Maine Lobster Risotto (parmesan, asparagus, preserved lemon). This was a flavorful dish, and it was loaded with a good amount of lobster meat, not just pieces for flavor. I would do this again in a heartbeat. Because of the starters and the fact we wanted dessert, we did not finish our dish and had it to go. It was just as good the next day. The Doctor got the Herb-Crusted Chilean Sea Bass with a potato pavé on top of a roasted red pepper coulis. Not sure what the green topping was on the fish, but it was good. I am not a fish person, so the little I had was ok. But The Doctor loved the dish very much and said it was well prepared. Now what I did like was that potato pavé. I am a lover of potatoes and had not heard of this style before, but I am a fan. The concept is that it is thinly sliced, layered potatoes baked in cream, pressed, and fried until golden and it was great! If I could get that as a side, I would. For dessert I got the blueberry layer cake, and The Queen got the Pallet (chocolate passionfruit Pallet, strawberries and salted soy caramel). Both were very good. The cake was moist, and the gelato was a nice touch with it. The blueberry flavor was not overwhelming, and I loved that. The Queen's dessert was actually nice as well. Can't say I have ever considered chocolate and passionfruit, but it worked well. As an extra treat, we were presented with a lovely display of chocolate goodies. Our busser was really nice and efficient, so I tipped her $20, which is standard for us. I guess that made an impression because we were presented with this in appreciation, and it was appreciated. Out server Alex was also pleasant and chatty in good way, and on top of making sure we were taken care of. The overall experience was a very good one and we will be back again for dinner, maybe even brunch. Hope they will not get rid of those deviled eggs because I will be sad. read more

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I highly recommend Brass Tack, the food, atmosphere and staff were great. I can't remember the guy at the bars name. He helped us out on Monday afternoon. He was super tall and friendly and our server Jason Monday morning was great as well. I had the breakfast sandwich with potatoes bread and my hubby had some type of classic breakfast. Both were so good, we had the same thing the next day! read more

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The food was absolutely amazing. We had the lobster roll and it was just to die for. Very buttery and very flavorful. Also had the French onion soup and it was just super flavorful. Service was fantastic. Ambiance will fantastic. read more

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Stopped into the Brass Tack inside Waldorf on a whim while meandering through the Gold Coast shops and it ended up being the perfect pause in the middle of the city. It's exactly what you'd expect cozy, dark ambience with deep walnut tones and that polished, upscale energy without feeling stiff. The bar scene is where we decided to settle in, and honestly, that felt like the right move. Since we enjoy a bartender conversation. We ordered the smokies flavorful and satisfying along with oysters, and paired it all with a glass of Cloudy Bay white wine. Simple, elevated bites done well. It wasn't overcomplicated, just quality and ambiance working together. Overall, a lovely niche spot when you need to escape the shopping buzz for a moment. We'll definitely be back next time for dinner, and maybe even to grab a room and make a night of it. read more

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Great drinks and delicious food in a cozy setting with excellent and friendly service. Loved the new Beignet Basket for desert!

Small little dinner find after visiting the Hancock. The smash burger wasn't on the menu in the restaurant but was on the wall in the entrance - ask for it anyways. It was delicious. Drink was yummy too. read more

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Located inside the Waldorf Astoria Chicago, Brass Tack offers excellent service in a classy restaurant environment. I only visited for breakfast since I was staying at the property, but the service and experience were all very top notch. We went with the Waldorf Astoria breakfast, which comes with eggs cooked to order, toast, crispy potatoes, a sausage side, and juice. Since I like to eat lighter for breakfast, it was no problem substituting a fruit plate in place of a side. We also had coffee and a cappuccino. The drinks were of decent quality, but nothing particularly impressive over going to a coffee shop. Breakfast was done really well with no weak points. Service was excellent, checking in just the right amount, and proactively offering coffee refills. While I'm not much of a breakfast person and the meals weren't exactly cheap, the food hit all the right notes and we enjoyed our experience at Brass Tack. read more

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This sophisticated bistro located in the Waldorf Astoria is a cozy spot that is what you look for in a city. I ordered the artisanal cheese charcuterie and it was so satisfying. Presentation with dried apricots and French bread presented on wooden tray. Simply beautiful. My server, Alex, was terrific and recommended a perfect wine pairing. read more

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Elite experience from the food to the service to the ambience. Thoroughly pleased with this experience. My only note for improvement would be to add a bit more sauce to the burger but other than that this place delivers on all fronts. Waiter even sung happy birthday to my date as a special request. read more

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Had an amazing experience at BT. Wife and I came to BT for dinner while staying at the Waldorf. The staff as always was on point. Alex took amazing care of us. Made great recommendations and ensured our dinner went without any disappointments. The house sommelier, Taylor, was super personable and answered all of my wine related questions. I would strongly recommend asking Taylor for a recommendation when pairing wine with your meal. The restaurant had no problem accommodating our request for a quiet table where my wife and I could sit next to each other vs across from one another. I ordered the NY strip this time. The steak came out done to the correct temperature and was seasoned just the way I like it. The steak was accompanied with a cherry tomato's on the vine, lightly grilled. Tomatoes added a great balance to the meal. The steaks was so filling that we ended up skipping out on the desert but the desert menu offers a great selection of sweets. Overall, fantastic dinner experience. Looking forward to visiting Brass Tack again. read more

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Service was excellent. Very nice and classy atmosphere and the traditional breakfast was very good with the blueberry jam. The breakfast sandwich was good also, but very heavy. Would definitely recommend. read more

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Amazing & fresh food . Great service & attention to details . Very relaxing ambiance also.

CAMILA - REFUND MY $184.45 you wrongly had the Waldorf Astoria retro bill my credit card claiming I had a meal on 7/9, the day I checked out of the Waldorf at noon. You have ignored my 3 attempts to reach you (2 calls and an email I was given because you "are very busy.") The Waldorf emailed an invoice for my stay on 7/9 Wed. morning minutes after I checked out electronically. Fortunately, 7/11 Friday a.m. I reviewed recent credit card charges and saw the addt'l, incorrect, charge also posted on 7/9. To this day, Waldorf has not emailed me a copy of the additional charge. I had to go to my Hilton account were I found the erroneous charge in the stay's Folio. A call and email on Friday. A call to you at 11 am today. I have had to waste my time to write as I have been ignored re: your restaurant's error. I am posting this at 8:45 pm read more

Food: very classic taste with small amount Service: good, nice staff, such a diligent and thrifty team, offer only one set of syrup and sauces if you order similar dishes... Price: 2 for $160 Ambiance: great place to go if you prefer somewhere with very classic vibe. read more

Brass Tack - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brass Tack offers a decent brunch experience, but when it's housed within the Waldorf Astoria, expectations naturally rise -- and unfortunately, the food doesn't quite match the level of its luxurious setting. While the ambiance is elegant and service was attentive and polished, the brunch menu felt fairly standard and lacked the wow factor you'd anticipate from a restaurant under such a prestigious name. I haven't tried dinner here yet, so perhaps that's where the kitchen truly shines. But for brunch, it felt more like a good hotel restaurant rather than a standout culinary destination. Still, the professional and friendly service made the visit pleasant, and the setting is undeniably beautiful. read more

The Waldorf Astoria suggests a certain level of food and service. I went to Brass Tack on a Monday night to celebrate a friend's birthday. The drinks were good and the charcuterie board was ok. The entrees: some of the girls got the "off the menu smash burger". Again, they rated it as ok. I was looking forward to the lobster risotto. This is where my sad face starts because I love risotto. I've never had such bland risotto. I added salt and pepper to try to give it some flavor; it was watery. It didn't seem like Arborio rice at all and not a hint of butter, garlic, chicken stock, nothing. The lobster was just ok. Such a disappointment. I will not return. read more

The drinks were flat, but the food was GREAT!!! We ordered Shirley Temples, they were awful and they charged us $8 each!! $16 for sprite and grenadine is wild. Service was not very good, our waiter disappeared for the majority of the time we were there, in fact we're still waiting for are check as we speak. The vibe was great and the music was good too. But overall, it was a mid experience. read more

We had a relaxing breakfast at Brass Tack on a Saturday morning. I was surprised to see the restaurant full. It took us a while to get seated. Our waiter was courteous and answered all of our questions patiently. We ordered the smoked salmon toast, maple strawberry french toast, and a kids grilled cheese. Everything was delicious and the flavors were unique for the toast and french toast. The kids grilled cheese was perfect for my picky eater. We were staying at the Waldorf and I'm not sure if I would go out of my way for breakfast here but would come again to try dinner. The space is beautiful and the service does not feel rushed. My kids also had some ice cream because why not and it was the perfect end. read more

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This spot, Brass Tack, is in the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. It's traditional American cuisine. Led by Executive Chef Nicholas Marino. From the moment you step inside, Brass Tack is a stylish ambiance accented in black and gold. The menu, has an array of dishes that celebrate the richness of American cuisine such as upscale sandwiches and salads for lunch. I had an arugula and farro salad with shrimp. Brass Tack is accompanied by an impressive bar program that caters to every palate. The passionate bar team meticulously crafts an extensive selection of craft cocktails, wine, and beer. The old fashioned was excellent. The restaurant's impeccable service and inviting atmosphere make it a go-to in the heart of Chicago's Gold Coast. read more

Ambiance was kinda lame. But the food and service made up for it. The mushroom ravioli was so creamy and amazing. The steak was good as well. The dessert could use some work. Wasn't anything special. read more

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The patty was well cooked and seasoned. The flavor is perfect; there's no need for condiments. read more

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Husband and I came here strictly for dessert. Ambiance was beautiful and our host was super sweet. We ordered two coffees (tasted perfect), along with this blueberry cake (forgot the exact name). The cake had an unpleasant flavor and aftertaste. Unfortunately, we couldn't finish it. The service was fast, our server looked like he was in a rush a bit when he spoke to us. That being said, not sure if we'd be back. read more

A hidden gem! We went here for restaurant week lunch and had an amazing time! We just sat at the bar and really Enjoyed the ambiance and talking to the bartender. Everything was so delicious and the portions were really solid! We ended up getting our main course in a to go box after that amazing burrata with pistachio pesto. Loved our experience here. If you're in the mood for a up-scale lunch in streeterville this is the spot. read more

Brass Tack - Burrata - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I had breakfast at Brass Tack this past Friday morning - my scrambled eggs were completely undercooked, they were half cooked and had raw egg juice melting all over the plate. Dangerous for food poisoning and disgusting cooking from a five star hotel. read more

We were staying at the Waldorf for one night and had dinner here and then breakfast the next morning. First I'll say that both the service and ambiance were phenomenal. it exudes classiness. The interior of this place feels like something out of a movie, except that instead of being set up trying to copy from film, it's more like films use a restaurant like this as inspiration. The French Onion soup I cannot recommend enough. The soup and onions were rich and caramelized, and the bread and broiled cheese on top tasted amazing. My wife had scallops which were seasoned and seared to perfection. I had a truffle pizza which was rich and earthy and delicious. Style and elegance. read more

Went for restaurant week lunch and everything was delicious! Staff was wonderful. The chocolate cake was my favorite.

A great hidden gem! The brass tack is a great hotel restaurant located on the third floor of the Waldorf Astoria Chicago. It provides plenty of space and seating options as well as a great ambience not only was the food delicious with great portions. The drinks were good as well. I will definitely come back. read more

Brass Tack - Caesar Salad add chicken - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I was craving steak frites and decided to come try brass tack. Came here on a Monday evening around 7 pm to sit at the bar and the place was almost empty. The restaurant was kinda bright and the overall vibe was not as I expected. The service was average and the food wasn't anything I'd come back for. I ordered a glass of the house Pinot Grigio for $19 and "steak frites" medium rare for $45. Although the entree took some time, I was quickly served my wine. When I received the "steak frites" I didn't really receive steak frites. What was suppose to be French fries was some potato brick/filet sort of thing that didn't taste like anything. To more of my disappointment, the steak was fatty and super chewy. The star of the show was the béarnaise sauce. It had great flavor! Overall, not sure if I would come back here and order the same entree. You can get steak frites at any other place around here with better quality and for half of the price. Furthermore, I assume the vibes are better when it's not Monday night. read more

Brass Tack - Bar - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Brass Tack is a smart beautifully appointed bar and bistro within the Waldorf Astoria. The cocktails were generous in size and strength and the appetizer; which we shared; a perfectly balanced chacutrie board of mixed cured meats and cheeses, wast outstanding! Kudos for the kitchen providing a nice array of gluten free bread and cracker offerings for myself and my dietary needs due to Celiac. Everyone's entres were equally appetizing. We ordered off the bastile day menu and enjoyed the brick chicken which was of beautiful quality chicken and well seasoned. The portion of roasted potatoes was mountainous and well a bit underwhelming in its seasoning - perhaps the portion was to compensate for the lack of vegatable not provided with entre. Our server was delightful and helpful . We had a corner table which in hindsight had wished tbe lighting might have been more subdued. I should of asked, as other spots in restaraunt seemed a bit dark. It was a Monday night so it was not busy at all yet the one other party and the loud music made for very loud noise level. These kinks can be worked out I hope and i do hope to return again to what is abeautiful spot and smart menu! read more

A grammatically correct version of your review would be: It's a nice place for a weekend brunch, but the service is a little slow, yet excellent. The food tasted mediocre but was presentable. Trying it once is good enough if you are around the Gold Coast or staying at the hotel. read more

Brass Tack - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Ambiance: Whiskey bar (quite a nice selection actually), for brunch with a very upscale pub feel. For the Waldorf Astoria, a very appropriate atmosphere. Greeted by by friendly staff and led to a booth. Service: Top notch. Travis did an amazing job, keeping just the right attentiveness, friendly conversation, and service, without being too overbearing, or too absent. Very professional in appearance and very friendly also. Food: Had the classic Eggs Benedict, one of my go-tos when traveling, with a side of bacon. And coffee. The coffee was very good, and Travis ensured the cup was kept as full as I needed. The eggs Benedict was also good, as was the bacon. Definitely a great spot for brunch in the Gold Coast area around the Waldorf. read more

Brass Tack - Side of bacon. One slice already gone, sorry not sorry. Crispy but not overly done for my taste, and very thick cut and flavorful. - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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We had reservations at Bernards, the more upscale bar at the Waldorf. They were closed when when we got there at 6:30. They sent us to another Waldorf bar with TV sets and we were all dressed up. The bar was just casual but the manager Luis, was very good to us. He was excellent. read more