Always a great experience. Good and drinks are great and the staff is the best. Inside, outside, bar area... wherever. You'll be happy you came by. read more

Love Erie!! The staff are amazing, accommodating, and so friendly. Huge plus that the patio is dog friendly.. read more

Erie Cafe - Chicken salad sandwich... yum! It was huge, I could only eat half. - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This place was an unexpected delight. Everything we ordered was fantastic. We got the baked clams, calamari, swordfish, veal Marsala, spaghetti meatballs and ravioli. The service was also fantastic. Will definitely be coming back. read more

Erie Cafe - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Disclaimer: I came for a work team dinner and did not pay, so just keep that in mind. My 10 person team had a dinner here to enjoy some winding down after a really rough year end. We had resos at 5 pm and started at the bar with some cocktails while chatting. We had a semi private space right off the entrance which was a great space for the 10 of us on a slow night. It was a bit odd that we had the whole room, but they chose to set up the table in the most inconvenient way possible. We were in a long table where one half was against the wall in a corner. It was just weird and seemed like the waiters had to work a lot harder. This is definitely an old school type of steakhouse- you won't find cocktail lists rather a bartender who says "here are all the bottles, I'll make what you want". The service is gruff yet efficient overall. We had a bunch of appetizers that we passed around, and the shrimp cocktail and fried ravioli stood out to me. Those were excellent. I did not try the rest of the apps just because of personal taste, but the rest of my table was very impressed. For my entree, I had a petite filet that was cooked perfectly medium rare. I fought the bussers who tried to take away the bleu cheese from the appetizers and added them to my steak. I'm not a real big fan of the potato chips as a side for a steak...they are their "signature" side but I am not a fan. They are chips. Nothing very special about them. Fortunately, we also ordered some great veggies- broccoli and asparagus. We also had some excellent dessert. Overall I really liked this restaurant. If you have no budget and want a perfectly cooked steak with servers who aren't going to pander to you, this is the place to go. We had fine service, which makes me wonder what the service is like when you AREN'T spending $200 per person. read more

Erie Cafe - Desserts - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

This is now my favorite restaurant in Chicago! Jose was our waiter and he was one of the nicest people I have met. He took the time to talk to us and he recommended the spaghetti and meatballs.. he was spot on! Food: FANTASTIC!! The pasta was cooked perfectly, the meatballs are massive and tender with so much flavor. The chicken parmesan was also out of this world. Our dishes came with salads. Highly recommend the house dressing.. I want a bottle of that dressing for home. Staff: I felt like I was being treated like royalty because of how wonderful the staff was. We had reservations and were seated but we were given different options for where we would like to sit. The service was so fast. I was never waiting. The manager came over and gave me a rose for Valentine's Day You can tell that people become regulars here because of the staff in addition to the amazing food. Atmosphere: it was perfect with a bar, booths, or tables. I loved the historic pictures on the walls, many signed with autographs. It was quiet enough for conversation but had a good energy. We will be returning and would love to try the patio in the summer! Thank you Jose for an incredible Valentine's Day dinner! read more

Erie Cafe - Spaghetti with Meat Balls Pasta - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Great service! Honestly, the service here is 5 stars and so is the ambiance. The place has an old school, upscale feel to it that keeps is cozy and quaint. The star of the meal was the grilled calamari. I would go back just for that! We also had the sausage with peppers which was really good. We ordered the cheese ravioli and it was good, but not great. The one plate we could've done without was the prime rib. It was just bland! read more

A very nice to grab drinks and a bite to eat especially after work. Great place for people watching. During my last visit, made a stop by here and walked up to a beautiful patio overlooking the river. We got there early and there was plenty of seating. It was a beautiful summer day, not too hot and not too cool. The staff was great, very prompt. Drinks were great. As for the food, we ordered the "garbage" salad, linguini and clams, as well as the pork chop. The food was good but being that it is Chicago, there are definitely better eating establishments. The linguini and clams were good, full of minced clams and few fresh clams. Not bad. The pork chop was cooked properly and tender. The "garbage" salad was really good. Very tasty dressing. You can eat inside the restaurant if you choose but I rather eat outside. The restaurant is a little dated but clean. The bar was well stocked and service was excellent inside too. Overall a recommend. read more

Erie Cafe - Garbage Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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6/10 I used to love this place. Not anymore. Fine dining prices for at best mediocre food and service. No alcohol, appetizers or dessert, just a steak & entree plus two sides came out to $200 before tip. Great memories, but won't be returning. Sad. read more

Wanted to try this place for a while. It's around d the corner from our daughters. Made reservations easily. We ate inside. Waiter was a seasoned veteran. Great service. We split a salad and each ordered an entree which both dishes were enough for the both of us served on literal platters. Huge portions. We had a few drinks as well. Very good. We will be going back. Found a great place. read more

Old style restaurant. Waiters in white, polite, respectfully explains menu, specials. Lovely restaurant, outdoor seating was available. Prices were average, menu, diverse with traditional American cuisine. Nice experience read more

Service and food were solid, and the views are amazing if you sit outside. I've heard that Erie Cafe is affiliated with Gene & Georgetti, and so it's no surprise that their menus are similar. Their steaks and Italian dishes are solid and the drinks are strong... basically a Gene & Georgetti with a view. read more

Service was unacceptable. Staff was not welcoming. Most of them didn't smile. I observed they didn't treat all customers the same. They did not provide an experience that made me feel valued. It was 3:15 when they are not busy. I walk in and greeted with "are you looking for someone" instead of "hello, how are you, how can I be of assistance?" I said "I have a reservation for an outdoor table." Instead of being escorted, he points me to their patio area across the street. I should have left, but I was forgiving & hungry. Once again, when I reach the patio, I'm not escorted to my table with menus & but pointed to available tables. I seat myself. However, during my meal, I observed others being escorted to their table, their chair pulled out & napkin placed in their lap. I did not get those courtesies. I let it go choosing to stay optimistic. I ordered the Tuscan Kale salad, which had too much dressing & cheese, and the salmon, which was good. The bread was not warm but was ok. The patio area is lovely with a combo of tables in the shade & sun to accommodate different preferences. The restaurant is on the canal allowing for being entertained by the party boats gliding by. My server was nice and checked on me periodically, but unfortunately, he didn't make up for my overall poor experience and the just ok food. I do not recommend this place. read more

TERRIFIC Chicken Saltimbocca and grilled calamari alike You owe it to yourself, too, to get an order of In particular you have to try the sausage and peppers with Potatoes Erie. Expect warm, friendly service Hubby loved his generous portion of carbonara. We'll be back. read more

If I could give negative stars I would. My friend and I went there last week Friday. While we were sitting at the restaurant they allowed this man to walk in give him a menu and let him walk into a the dining room unescorted to a table. . He walked up to our table and laid a menu over my friend's phone, mumbled something then scooped up the menu and my friends phone and walk right out. We told the manager and our waiter and they did absolutely nothing. Why would they allow anyone to come in take a menu and walk into the dining room. A smart upscale restaurant would escort the person to a table. Obviously this is a classless restaurant. What if he had a gone and just started shooting up the place. No safety protocol, they just let any loser in. Unheard of. Please do not dine here. Who knows what can happen next time. Do not give them business please help me to make a statement and show this is unacceptable and unsafe. read more

Over priced mediocre food at best. However, out door seating in summer somewhat makes up for it.

Nice place. Really nice decor. Food was pretty average for Chicago...nothing really stood out. Had the Chicken Vesuvio...there was plenty but it was just meh. Servers were nice and attentive. Kind of a bummer they don't have Coke Zero. Overall pretty good...just a couple of preference things that I would change but I would visit again. read more

Erie Cafe is a bit off the beaten path and seems to cater more to Chicago locals rather than your typical tourist heavy River North clientele. We stopped by here on a Friday night for dinner and were surprised with how much charm this spot has. Think old school Chicago steakhouse meets hearty Italian. While we were initially seated along the wall where the heat vents were blasting (literally would be uncomfortable to enjoy a meal as you felt like you were baking in an oven), we had the host move us to a central table where it was much more comfortable. Will say this spot was pretty busy as it was Friday night prime time, but no issues with service promptness. Eventually decided on the seafood linguine (frutti di mare). Although it was close to $30 for the plate, I will say it was definitely large enough to share between two and has generous portion of fresh fish, clams, mussels, and squid. Hearty and delicious all around. I also recall starting with a salad which was great with the fresh cracked pepper. Anyways, definitely a great spot for groups or even for a date night. They do take reservations so be sure to put on in ahead of time. Oh yeah... bring that appetite too. 'Til next time, cheers! 333/365 read more

Erie Cafe - Seafood linguine - not sure why it looks kinda skimpy but believe this was more than good for two meals - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

We loved this place the first time we came (got shrimp cocktail that time and drinks)! I hope it was just a bad night for the kitchen tonight. We were extremely disappointed in the grilled calamari given they cost $24 alone. All we could taste was burnt char so we closed our tab after an app and drink. We had to ask a couple times before our check was brought and they weren't that busy. Still such a cool location on the river and quick service/easy to grab a table with no reservation. Will give it another shot but won't be getting the calamari read more

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Amazing food, ambience and atmosphere. This place has it all. Excellent chef creates amazingly tasteful dishes, including seafood, steaks, and pasta. I had the salmon and it was absolutely perfect. Great mixed drinks and the perfect location. You can take a nice walk over to the park next door and there's plenty of free parking in the area. It's a real gem just west of downtown. I can't wait to go back. And I forgot to mention that the service was great as well. read more

Great consistent food. Ambiance is old school. Sometimes spot local politicians. Outdoor is the best in summer. I recommend the seafood dishes eg clams. read more

Pretty nice place to have lunch, especially when the weather is nice and you can sit outside. Staff is pretty responsive and the food is decent. Have come here a few times already. read more

My husband and I attended an event/dinner here this past weekend. The food was fine and service was great! The appetizers were self serve - calamari and Italian sausage with peppers and onions. Yum! We all had a very basic salad that was mostly lettuce and dressing. I think I had one tomato....there was also a bread basket. Hubby and I shared entrees - the steak and the ravioli. The steak was huge! Definitely more than enough to share. And it actually came our medium rare. The ravioli was filled with cheese and topped with a vodka sauce. While the pasta itself was solidly mediocre, the sauce was quite creamy and flavorful. Our table of six also received a couple sides to pass - roasted broccoli and thick cut potato chips. The broccoli was perfect, the the chips were wildly under seasoned. For dessert, our party had a cake and the restaurant provided chocolate dipped strawberries. Again, the service was absolutely wonderful. And I really enjoyed the lodge decor. read more

Food and service are always superb at Erie Cafe. Started with cocktails at their riverside perch above the Chicago river and proceeded with a delicious dinner inside. Always crowded, and reservations needed. read more

LOVED the ambience and lesser extent the portion size. Please SIT outside near the river on a breezy summer evening. Felt like I was in a Woody Allen movie. The server was also quite honest about telling me I should NOT have the minestrone soup. I appreciate honest recommendations. You'll also get a salad and fried potatoes with your meals. 2.5-3 stars because this place was overpriced and some of the staff were not aware of a baby sitting at our table. The food was TOO expensive for the cuisine that was served (more of this below). If I had to pick, I'd say you're paying for quantity over quality. Though, for the price, I STILL think you are overpaying. You'll get a salad and fried potatoes with your meals though. Our server also did not know the content of many of the menu items. He told us Fricassee was just a fancy name. Maybe I didn't catch the joke, but I think Fricassee is a method of cooking in white sauce? One of the servers also continued to put HOT plates in front of an infant at our table who would then inadvertently grab the plates and sauces. The parents dining with us were not happy. I thought the grilled calamari was quite interesting. Tender with a fishy aftertaste. The ravioli with blue cheese was also interesting but not my favorite. I felt like the food was piled onto the plates with little attention to presentation. The best plate that I had at the restaurant was the Linguini Frutti de Mare, but I am not certain that I will be returning. Our food included: 1. Linguini Frutti de Mare 2. Chicken Parmigiana 3. Chicken Fricassee 4. Linguini with White Clam Sauce 5. Fried Ravioli with Blue Cheese 6. Grilled Calamari read more

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We had a dinner for my son's engagement with 18 people Everyone was great they never said no they were so kind Great place great food and great servers thank you read more

Should have trust all bad reviews on yelp. Their service was awful. I went for dinner on a weekday and sat outside. All waiters were not friendly at all and rough, and they seemed so much nicer to customers "who you know each others already. " The food was decent, I liked the grilled squid. The pasta was too soft and not my favorite. 2 starts because of the food but if you want Italian food, just go Victory Italian they serve so much better food with better price, and they welcome you. read more

Solid patio with massive portions. Service was extremely quick for both drinks and food. Will definitely be back

The service in food is amazing and if you were a cheese lover, I recommend coming here They even serve me fettuccine and it's not even on the menu. read more

Erie Cafe - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

It was my first time dining at this spot and it was fantastic. The grilled calimari and baked clams were full of fresh and full of flavor. The lamb chops were so juicy and tender and the linguini Del Mar came with a delicious variety of seafood. The prime rib is also top notch and cooked perfectly. Can't wait to dine out on the outdoor patio once it warms up! read more

Erie Cafe - Baked Clams - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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I. LOVE. THIS. PLACE!! Friends of mine who are regulars invited me to join them, and I'm soooo glad they did because I will be visiting on a regular basis! This place is the best kept secret! Highlights: outside patio overlooking the river (the restaurant has an agreement w the park system, not many parks allow you to eat, drink, bring your pet, and maybe even enjoy a cigar). The staff was impeccable, so attentive and knowledgable! Appetizers were heavenly, and I'm looking forward to trying more of the menu next time. The drinks were awesome tho... I love old school places with tradition! See you next time! read more

Erie Cafe - Wonderful outdoor patio! - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This is one of the worst dining experiences I have had in Chicago. Service was terrible, beyond bad. Waiter could not be found. Food was Terrible!Served us cottage fries that were hard as rocks. Entrees we're mediocre at best. Lamb chops were all fat!! Go somewhere else where they appreciate your business and food is good. Management was more concerned with their regulars than anyone else. It was just AWFUL. read more

First off, it has great outdoor seating. Very pleasant and good for those, like us, who are eating outside still due to covid. Service was very good, food was very good. The garbage salad is great, very interesting and lots of fun ingedients. We are trying to imitate it at home, but don't have the dressing down yet. the veal Milanese (or chicken Milanese, if you prefer) was excellent. now, the veal chop made flattened was fantastic. Potatoes Erie are a must, but the chips coming with the Veal chop were really good too (they call them something else, not chips, but they come with the meal). We way over ordered by the soup that comes with the main dishes was really good too. Definitely get the grilled calamari, it different than the typical fried calamari rings you get, and i would say better too. Pastas were excellent also. Did i say we overordered? the portions are large so there was plenty to take home. would strongly recommend this place. A plus, at dinner at least, parking is very easy, close by on street, free parking (or maybe its pay parking but we were there sunday night so we didn't pay. definitely family restaurant (if you kid has sophisticated tastes), they served the little kids at nearly tables what looked like good kid food and they kids seemed to be enjoying it. full bar, didn't order from wine list so no comments on that. every dish going by us (i looked at them all) looked really good, so i don't think you can go bad with anything here Sorry Paul M, we were there on Sunday 6./19, father's day, and had a totally different experience, very attentive waiters, great service, maybe a little slow but we didn't mind, was fun sitting outside. Yes, its not inexpensive, but i also thought the quality and quantity of food justified the price and the service also justified the price. My wife only ordered a baked potato, she didn't like the soup i ordered, she would have preferred i ordered the other soup, the waiter overheard that and brought her the soup she wanted, even though it didn't come with her "meal" and didn't charge for it. Sign of an attentive, courteous waiter trying to keep the customer satisfied. I wandered inside to see what was there, and this seemed like great party/event space. I can see having group dinners, either business or social, there with plenty of room in the back room to stretch out and fairly private too (other than the bathrooms being at the entrance to the back room). i guess the only negative is that you may overeat and be stuffed afterwards. we had no room for dessert read more

Great old school vibe, generous portions, and outstanding, attentive service. We love coming to this spot.

Love Erie St! Never had a bad meal. Mussels & baked clams are some of best I've had in city. Chicken parm is amazing! Sitting on the patio is amazing but so is the bar inside. Drinks are good as well. read more

Got the secluded table in the far back right of the outdoor patio. Overlooking the beautiful and never polluted north branch of the Chicago River. My date somehow ended up eating 3 salads. But filled up too much on thicccccccccccc cut bacon and bread to finish. We asked for some to go boxes. A gentlemen came over. He boxed up the salad slowly. Making eye contact. It was a moment. I invited him to join us when he gets off work. He declined. 5 stars read more

Ordered a to go a 90$ cut. My dogs loved it. Literally no seasoning. I understand kitchen mistakes happen. My review is a warning for dining-in patrons. Apparently, anyone from the street can ask to use their bathrooms, as they grab menu and walk unaccompanied through the restaurant. This non-patron played the part of an employee, laid the menu on the table, and then said a few words, grabbed the menu and left. I am sure you know where this is going... a phone with attached wallet was stolen. Not noticing until the end of the meal, management alerted. Instead of calling police or offering any sort of, oh, I don't know... maybe a free dessert (We don't eat desserts, it is just the thought that counts...). They handed us the bill and mumbled "sorry". After leaving 20% tip and bringing the to-go unseasoned steak home, the anger of the situation set in. The owner was contacted the next day. On the phone, he proudly exclaimed "I AM NOT IN THE BUSINESS OF REFUNDING MEALS OR PAYING FOR STOLEN PHONES". I am a business owner, and if anyone ever felt even slightly slighted, I would do everything in my power to make that situation correct. Why the restaurant did not offer to call the police, offer to comp the check (The $500 spent is nothing compared to the fraud alerts endured, replacing a new iPhone that was $1800, and dealing with getting new ID's) or even a gift card to make good on a horrible experience, I have no idea. If you want to order an un-seasoned steak, and take your safety into this guy's uncaring hands, Erie Cafe is the place for you. I am still waiting on the owner to try to make this right. He actually complained to a friend that stopped in the following night that these reviews are "ruining his business". If only... read more

Will not be back to this place . I valet my car and when leaving the attendant gave me my keys and told me go get your car its right there around the around corner. read more

Food - love the Italian dishes! Excellent service and energetic ambiance. We can't wait to go back!

Best dang prime rib in all of Chicago, Outdoor seating in the summertime is incredible. The wait staff is very attentive, the prices are moderate and the food is excellent read more

Best Italian, hands down, in the city But my favorite thing about Erie Cafe in the fall is the outdoor patio overlooking the Chicago river connecting Cabrini to the Loop. & the Red & White wines Thank you!! read more