As a father's day gift, my siblings and I told our father to choose a restaurant in Chicago for us to take him to. He chose the Erie Street Cafe, the bastion of middle-aged, salt-and-pepper haired men. We had a reservation on the patio, which seems to almost be a different restaurant from the building. The host seemed to sneer at us when we said we had a reservation outside. The service on the patio was slow and impersonal, and we went into the meal hoping that the quality of food reflected the inflated price tags. Since they were supposedly famous for their steaks, I went with the New York strip. Ordered medium, it came to me with one side of the T-bone bloody-rare and the other side of the T-bone dry and overly well done. Perhaps to the Erie Street Cafe medium is an average? The dishes ordered by the rest of the party were average at best, and relative to the price were very disappointing. If we hadn't been on a nice patio on the river with a decent view, I'm sure I would have been even more annoyed by the experience. In short, don't even bother. This is an old boy's club where people come to overspend because they can. read more

My wife and I went to Erie Cafe and we were not very impressed. We were seated in the front section of the restaurant, near the bar, which didn't have the same atmosphere as the main dining room. The wine list wasn't huge, but it did have several good affordable options. We placed our order all at once and then waited 45 minutes for our appetizers to arrive. The calamari is just as good as all of the reviews out there - absolutely amazing. The fried ravioli was pretty dry and not very flavorful. After the appetizers we waited another 30 minutes for our house salad, which was fair at best. My wife likes her steaks medium well - the steak was beyond charred on the outside but was still medium rare on the inside. When the waiter asked how the steak was cooked, we told him and he just said "oh, you should have had it butterflied..." Not the answer I was hoping for on a $40 steak. The potatoes were tasty and the asparagus was fine, but overall there are dozens of better places to get a much better steak for less money than here. We won't be going back again. read more

I went to Erie Cafe with a party of four on a recommendation from a friend. Everything about our experience was fantastic. Host gave us a warm welcome at the door and seated us directly. The waiter was attentive without being intrusive and the food was topnotch! The grilled calamari appetizer was superb and enhanced with a light tomato sauce. The only reason I can think for a previous reviewer to criticize the calamari is that maybe they prefer the tasteless deep-fryed variety. The ribeye steak I ordered came out a perfect medium and was a great quality cut. And the portion size was huge! An extremely great value for the price. The side dishes my group ordered were also great complements to the meal. As a previous reviewer noted, the wine list was somewhat limited on the white wines but there were a good range of reds available. Being a steakhouse, that is pretty much what I expected. When I come to Chicago, I want a great old-school steakhouse. I can get the cookie-cutter chains pretty much anywhere. Erie Cafe exceeded my expectations for a great Chicago steakhouse. read more

Amazing Service, great outdoor seating area on the Chicago River. Would go back in a heartbreak.

Not that good. Ordered the Chicken Vesuvio. I suggest the cook go back to his old job as an arsonist. So over cooked. What self respecting waiter wouldn't ask a guest who leaves 80% of their "food" on their plate when done if there was anything wrong. The sh&thead who gave my guest a hard time about ordering a vegetable after he saw the half a cow they served him as a steak dinner...that's who. Generous pour on drinks. Other than that, the regulars can keep this dump. I'll never go back. read more

Just an average meal. Good thing was that it was cool on a very hot day. Slow service, mediocre meal. Took three attempts to get water. I had the Cobb salad, and my wife had the club sandwich. At least we were able to cool down. read more

Fabulous outdoor patio w a view on the river and park. Fresh seafood and ginormous shrimp! Hubs liked the soup as its a significant factor to him. Ask for Arnold he got hubs the "crazy steak." 26oz bone in ribeye w shrooms bacon and red wine sauce...It's dreamy! I got the white fish...yummy! read more

I found Erie Cafe strictly by accident one year ago while visiting Chicago. I finally made it back to dine there and I was not disappointed. I was immediately seated, handed a menu and chose chicken parmigiana, spaghetti and a house salad, along with a glass of Estancia Cabernet. I don't get too excited when it comes to chicken parm, as I usually go for the veal parm. If there was Prime rating for chicken as there was for beef, this would get that rating. It was excellent chicken, the pasta was perfectly cooked, even the fresh ground pepper on the house salad was good! The assortment of breads were also good as well as the wait staff. I was able to walk in without a reservation on Labor Day weekend, but called first just to be sure. I was very happy! read more

Atmosphere: Steakhouse, Wood. Service: Excellent Food: Above Average Price: Reasonable Love the location and the outdoor patio looks awesome! I didn't want to go back to work after lunch today! Salad with Chicken was excellent the italian dressing was homemade and it tasted great! read more

The restaurant was OK. I enjoyed it because it was in a neighborhood I wanted to visit. I really enjoyed the Salmon. My husband the filet. I really enjoyed the people I was with. But mostly the decor and the service didn't live up to expectations. It's not a cafe, it's too big to be cosy. We went the Sunday after XMass so maybe the usuall staff was on vacation and it was nearly empty so it was missing the background exitement of having people in the restaurant. And because it was labeled cafe I was expecting cosy at any price. I might be tempted to try it again but the price was high enough I wouldn't want to take a risk. But I liked the food, the location, and the company read more

Excellent spot for amazing food and excellent service! Don't pass up on the prime rib, lamb chops, ribeye, or the Chilean sea bass. Every dish was cooked and seasoned perfectly. Please give this restaurant a try if you haven't already! read more

After a day of walking around, we ended up at Erie Cafe for dinner. My Dad always recommends this place, so we finally tried it. The steaks were unbelievable, the sides were fantastic (hello, grilled mushrooms all for myself) and the service was fantastic. When a friend of ours asked for ketchup for his steak (yes, we know it's a sin, but he's British and we couldn't stop him) the server gave him the oddest expression, explained that the chef would kill him, but did provide the ketchup. We were embarrassed, but we got what we asked for. I had the Bibb lettuce salad. A bit of sticker shock at $10.95 all it is is bibb lettuce and one slice of tomato. Disappointing in that respect. They also drown their house salads in dressing. Oy! The chicken and peppers also made an appearance at our table and smelled fantastic. It was great. Everything is a la carte, so be prepared. Nothing comes with sides, you'll have to order that as extra. The mushrooms were fantastic, so were the mashed potatoes. The peas and onions did not pass my lips. read more

I had the 'Special of the Day' here. Decent. Nothing to rave about. It was pasta with Italian sausage on top doused with tomato sauce. The special included our choice of soup. :T I couldn't quite place my finger on what Erie Cafe specializes in. Italian? Not quite. Traditional American or Classical French? Not quite. The food isn't the most reasonably priced either. It's too high for casual dining - you'll spend at least $20-25 per person. The SERVICE is what gives this place all the stars (lost by the taste or quality of food). Excellent service. Would I return here? It's not the type of place that first comes to mind when friends ask, "Where should we eat out tonight?" read more

A Chicago gem. A bit old fashioned...but just the right amount. No umbrella or bright colored drinks here either. Not too loud or pushy, so great for business dinner to help close the big deal. read more

Erie Cafe - To knock the cold off. - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I went here for my Birthday dinner this past weekend. I was debating on whether or not I wanted to go because I saw the prices were a little high but figured hey, it must be quality. When I first walked into the restaurant the atmosphere was full of life, it is a bit overwhelming personally. We sat towards the front which wasn't the greatest (highly recommend a booth in the back.) The bread was really hard that they brought out, I figured it was some special italian bread, was not a fan. Felt like I was going to break my teeth. The baked ravioli appetizer was good. My guests and myself all ordered the filet mignon special with three large shrimp and a mushroom cap. I have to say it was delicious. We also had a few martini's and walked around the place. It is definitely a place for an older crowd, but regardless the food was good. What I didn't like was the prices...don't get me wrong the food was good but I can say you can probably get the same dinner from Wildfire for a much cheaper cost. Overall I'd say I would have to try it again to have a full review on whether or not I'd come back. read more

This is a classy Italian restaurant resting in the west part of River North. It has a very neighborhood feel and the service is great! Not necessarily kid-friendly, as it's more of an elegant dining place, but they were great when I brought my nephew with me (he was 3). The food tasted pretty good, portions were very large and service was great. Plus they have a patio across the way which is lovely to sit at. It overlooks the Chicago river. Food was a bit heavy for me, but overall, a very nice establishment. read more

Classic steakhouse...perhaps the way steakhouses used to be before Morton's and Ruth's Chris took over the country. The service is friendly and pure Chicago. The steaks are absolutely HUGE! We could barely finish our steaks. I ate inside the restaurant and noticed that the outdoor patio is right on the river. Pretty funny to watch the servers scurrying out the front door to serve the patio, as it is practically across the street. I would not recommend this as a date place, but a good solid restaurant to go to for a good meal. No scenesters, just good steak. read more

Erie combines both great food and special atmosphere that make dining a pure delight. On a recent evening we dined with friends Greg and Mary on the outdoor patio (facing the Chicago River). The weather was perfect and so, too was the food and drink. Mary and I had the Veal Cutlet Parmigiana, Greg had the Spaghetti and (wife) Leslie had the Calves Liver. All were fabulous. Even though the Veal Parmigiana was some of the best I've had in recent memory, I had 'Calves Liver envy'. This hard -to- get -right dish came presented with two slabs of bacon on top of it. The meat was tender and tasty! read more

Erie Cafe is one of the better restaurants in Chicago. Their food's very good. Their meats and pasta dishes are delicious. Some of their other things are tasty as well. read more

In short: The patio overlooking the river is fantastic. The location is great. The Chicken Vesuvio was definitely good. Longer version: Having stumbled across the restaurant and knowing nothing about it ahead of time, we were a bit surprised that it was an upscale restaurant, given the casual-sounding "cafe" in the name. We hadn't intended to eat a large meal, so we split the Chicken Vesuvio. I'm not sure if they gave more food because there were two of us, but one dish split in two ended up being two full plates of food. We loved the patio and sitting outside by the river watching ducks, kayaks, speedboats, and tour boats go by was a treat. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon and I can't think of many better ways to spend it. read more

Erie Cafe - Sign outside of cafe - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We celebrated my husband's birthday here two weeks ago and it was a great experience. They allowed me to drop off a birthday cake before our reservation happened and brought it out as a surprise after our meal. They were very accommodating and kind when I requested this. Thanks to Ray for taking my call and working with me on that. The dining experience wasn't rushed and extremely enjoyable. All the food we ordered was delicious. We had several appetizers and three of us had steaks and one had the lamb chops. We all took home leftovers! The wine selection was fabulous! The prices are steep, but this was a special occasion. Definitely put this on your list of must-try Chicago steak houses. Next time I want to try a fish entree or italian dish. The ambiance and decor are very "Chicago meets steak house." The location is great, at a very quiet and private part of the city right on the river. I bet it sitting outside in the summer is awesome. Thanks for a great birthday experience Erie Street Cafe. read more

Had a solid lunch here with friends. Good service...gave us plenty of time to chat before we ordered, old school wait staff with the white jackets - not trying to charm anyone, just doing their job and staying out of the way. Restaurants could benefit from more of that stay out of the guest's way mentality. Went with the salmon which arrived with some rice and veggies, all tasted very good. Salad before lunch was crisp and fresh, and the bread basket had a nice selection of carbs. Atmosphere is ultra conservative, lots of dark wood, old pics, sharp knives - good stuff. Enjoyable lunch. read more

I still think this is one Chicago's best steak houses BUT for me, not THE best anymore Something is not right. Prices are up and quality is sliding... Please go back to doing what you guys used to do -- which was perfect. read more

This was my second visit to Erie Cafe, the first time was for a fundraiser so we were in the party room. We sat on the terrace, overlooking the river, really nice view! The waiter was extremely knowledgeable and quite friendly. We stopped by for drinks - which I thoroughly enjoyed. Great wine selections and bottles weren't too over priced. So why 3 stars? Basically, I started to feel like I was in an outdoor zoo. First sighting - a baby bunny hopped over to our table. Cute huh? It was until someone's dog joined us for drinks. The dog constantly circled us at our table - until he spotted the bunny. That's when things became too much to handle. The dog chased the bunny - for 15-20 mins straight, while the entire wait staff ignored the fact that animals are present. Not my thing! I ended up having the mixed green salad and the lava cake. Dessert was phenomenal! I'll visit again for a full meal. Hopefully the zoo will be under control. read more

Very good Italian style steakhouse- great chops- very simply prepared house salad, however might suggest dressing on the side as it was a touch much. I started with the Italian sausage and peppers which were great. then moved to the pork chops which may I add, were HUGE! enough for several days of food. Mashed potatoes are the way to go- taste just like home! Good place- fun in the summer by the lake read more

Great lunch spot tucked away in River North- also good for dinner. Very classic service and a very enjoyable atmosphere. The food is definitely good. Take your significant other for lunch and a bottle of wine on a day off. read more

As the chain steakhouses deteriorate this is a Chicago gem. The wet aged steaks are phenomenal! Their bone-in Ribeye the Best. But all their steaks are aged on premises and after going here 3 times they are consistent, The menu is typical of an Italian style steakhouse. I've had great salads and the sides are family style do you can get different items and share. They have a good wine list and although the service has been a touch on the slow side it fit our needs as we talked over business. It appears the serve outside by the river in the summer. It's been cold for each of my visits but I'm looking forward to that this summer. read more

This place has great reviews so I'm willing to go back and try it again...but my first time wasn't very great. We had a lunch reservation for work and when we arrived they had forgotten about it - no big deal but not a great start. We sat down and ordered appetizers, calamari and sausage. We wanted to order main courses shortly after but the waiter was nowhere to be found. The appetizers didn't come out for about 25 minutes, and we had to ask the server to send our waiter over so we could order our lunches. The appetizers were great, but one of the sausage plates was replaced with a ravioli plate somehow...because it took so long to come out in the first place we just kept it and it tasted great, but still messed up the order. After ordering we waited for about 45 minutes...we saw the waiter coming back with what we thought was our food, but it was just starter salads for everyone (that nobody realized we were getting). About 30 minutes after that the meals came. We had to hurry since we had already been at lunch for close to 2 hours, so we didn't get to truly enjoy it. I had the ziti and it was pretty tasty but nothing special. After eating it took about 20 more minutes to get the bill and pay. All in all, the food was good but everything else was sub par. It was just crazy to me that everything took so long when we were some of the only customers in there...who knows how long it would've taken if it was busy. Maybe they are more of a dinner place, so I will come back to try that. read more

Still a great steak house but I am starting to realize this is a VERY pricey steak house. The prime rib was not as good as I recalled and the sides were individual size but priced to share. Still good but only for very very special occasions. read more

The food is great!! A little Pricey and a great view if you are by the water. You would think if you were spending so much money the waiters would be a little nicer, and smile a little bit!! read more

Erie Cafe - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I really like this place, but I think it is a place where locals go, as opposed to tourists. It is a bit off the beaten path, in a secluded part of the River North area. It it an old school Chicago Italian/steak restaurant. They have steaks, pasta dishes and great Chicken Vesuvius (my favorite), and many of the waiters have been there for years. This is one of my very favorite Chicago restaurants. read more

I don't write many reviews, but I had to after this meal. In a city with great steakhouses, not sure how this place remains open. And it was packed too. Both steaks we ordered were flavorless and charred. Onion rings and chips were cold and soggy. Their idea of a salad was a small plate of Iceberg and a tomato. As a bonus, the waiter pretty much threw the plates of food at us. On a positive note, the wine was good, because they didn't make it. One of the worst restaurants in the city. Possibly the worst. read more

We ordered the filet, salmon, pasta in vodka sauce and the shrimp, everything was excellent. Can't wait to dine in here.

Best place in Chicago? No. Old school? Oh yeah. Off the beaten path? Yep. Nice ambience. Food good enough. You're in Chicago so you're paying full price. I like it even if you don't. read more

I just had lunch at Erie Cafe with a friend. I had the linguini with Calamari. It is very good. They prepare the calamari the same as they do when it's on it's own in an appetizer. The house salad is a basic old school iceberg lettuce salad, but I really like the house dressing with garlic. They make it in-house. They also dry age their steaks on premises. Bonus: FREE VALET for those who have to drive over. read more

I've been here for lunch and dinner, been here with a groups of 10, 6 and 2. This place is average at best, the old school feel, and ambiance makes this place. The food you get here, you can get anywhere, and most times cheaper, and sometimes tastier. It feels somewhat out of the gene and georgetti school of restaurants. Very unique place, old school feel, average food, and expensive price. read more

Fancy; Could have been an elegant night; if it weren't for the overwhelming crowds using the bathrooms because of the fest. That not being their fault, the place was still great and they did their best to keep the non patrons out. I was told all about the Prime Rib... They start cooking it early in the day, so by the time we arrived and ordered it there was only three left, and were only available at med. rare or cooked longer; Being a rare kinda guy I was a little disappointed, but it was still amazing. Little to no fat, thick and juicy and most certainly an attention grabber. For 50$ a plate, not many people will order it, and that's apparent as most were in awe of the size of meat sitting my plate. The attention I was getting was a bit overwhelming so I shoveled it down as fast as I could to get it out of my face. Not to worry; I got the taste and it was amazing. If you have money to burn, I'd recommend this place to you. If not, You could find a decent restaurant in the area that is more budget conscious... but the experience was amazing. Also; on regular occasions they ask you dress appropriate. They allow shorts, but would rather you not show up in a tank top. read more

Wow!! The Tuscan kale salad here is incredible!!! Fresh garlic, lemon, a dash of olive oil and red pepper flakes complete the kick!! Not only is it good for you...it's fun to have it served alfresco on their spacious terrace overlooking the river, Erie park and views of the Chicago skyline! #delicioso read more

Erie Cafe - Tuscan kale salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very good food in the traditional Italian steakhouse mode, with blunt/chummy veteran waiters and a beautiful high-ceiling dining rom with plentiful natural light in evening hours. A bit pricey, but these days the label "steakhouse" seems to require a markup. read more

The Italian Steakhouse that never fails you! We've been coming here for a decade for special occasions and business dinners. Free Valet starts your visit. You're always greeted upon arrival and seated quickly if you made reservations, which is recommended. It's a classic old school dining room with white table cloths and male waiters. They have an excellent wine selection and make great cocktails. We love the grilled calamari and baked clams to start. Caesar salad is excellent too. As good as the steaks are, the chicken, veal and fish dishes are top notch and portions are large. I e never had any of the pasta dishes but they look good. While we usually try to skip dessert, the lava cake is the wife's favorite and I support her by ordering the cheesecake. Extra fruit please read more