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    North Pond

    4.0 (747 reviews)
    Ultra High-EndNew American
    Closed 10:30 am - 1:00 pm, 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM

    North Pond Photos

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    NORTH POND ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Intimate
    Romantic
    Upscale
    Moderate noise

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    Recommended Reviews - North Pond

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lamb
    Debra F.

    This is a review of their current tasting menu. As always, the 360 views of North Pond are stunning and change year round with the seasons. For a Friday night the restaurant was busy but not overcrowded. We had wine pairings with our tasting menu. The wine choice was thoughtfully made and paired very well with the courses. 7 courses in all and you got to make a few choices within the menu. Every dish was well prepared and well proportioned. I chose the whitefish as my main and while it was delicious, both of us who had the whitefish thought it was a tad on the salty side. My husband had the lamb and said it was excellent. Service was very good with attentive staff who took the time to explain not just the dishes but the wine that went with it. The price point is pretty good - just over $200pp including wine pairings (and they were generous with their pours) . Definitely cheaper than some 1 Michelin star restaurants in Lincoln Park and in my opinion definitely better than a couple of them.

    Zoey's dumpling
    Kim L.

    Came here to celebrate a promotion and it did not disappoint. Chef Cesar even stopped by at the end of the night to check on our experience and gift a pickle jar to us. Btw he is exactly as sweet as he appeared in top chef! Really enjoyed our choices and of the mains, got to try the Chippewa trout and wagyu, which were both excellent. The Zoey's dumpling was great flavor and the melon course was playful. Enjoyed everything we had. Service was great, menu was thoughtful and the wine pairing was nice.

    Strawberry Swiss Roll
    Avery J.

    One of the best meals I've ever had--hands down! Came here for Sunday brunch and was blown away. The setting is absolutely beautiful, nestled right by the pond, and the ambiance was made even better by a playlist of 80s alternative and Top 40 hits (totally unexpected, but I loved it!). The service was flawless--friendly, attentive, and genuine. I had the pork belly special, which was perfectly cooked and full of flavor, followed by the strawberry Swiss roll for dessert. Both were beautifully presented and absolutely delicious. They also had fresh, house-made lemonade served as cocktails with a variety of options--mine was with chartreuse, and it was divine. Highly recommend this spot for a celebratory brunch or a splurge-worthy meal. Can't wait to come back!

    Annette B.

    My visit to North Pond was nothing short of magical! I love that this place is tucked away and has a nice prairie style FLW vibe on the inside. While waiting, I had a delightful conversation with the bartender and really enjoyed my drinks! I had a gorgeous concord grape/rosemary lemonade and an amazing mocktail with a pineapple foam. The food here was FANTASTIC. It's a tasting menu that is carefully and seasonally curated, in addition to being stunningly plated and presented. Every dish was thoroughly explained. As part of the tasting menu, some items are chosen for you ahead of time but you do get choices for your entree and dessert. There are also some tasty surprises along the way! I truly can't recommend this place enough--it's easily among my absolute favorite restaurants in the city!

    Katie D.

    North Pond has been on my list for a while and seeing Cesar on Top Chef made me get off my butt & make a reservation. We went in April - which is that weird time between seasons. The restaurant is in a lovely setting & I feel like if we were there in any other season the views fantastic. I just looked through my photos and to be honest I can not remember what exactly we ate - but I can tell you that I remember being surprised by textures & flavors. Everything was beautifully plated. I liked it enough to want to come back for another season - which is a big deal for me.

    Quail
    Natalie L.

    We loved this meal. The real stars were the most unique dishes: the chilled melon, cucumber, coconut soup with crab, fennel, and some sort of spice. The other faves: the mushroom, scallop, and buckwheat crepe, the yak tortellini, and the pear with 5 spice dessert. The staff were knowledgeable and on-point. The building was also super cool. Will go again!

    Herb L.

    My fiance and I were celebrating our 6th anniversary and North Pond made us feel special on our special day Firstly we were greeted by a friendly folks at the Host station, they were more than happy to have us (and everyone else) there and their hospitality followed suit Waitress was top notch too as she explained the whole process of the evening (5 course meal with the first 3 courses the same and choices for the entree and dessert portions). She even brought us over some glasses of rosé to celebrate our evening. Our menus were customized to us as at the top it said HAPPY 6th ANNIVERSARY Courtney & Herb, which was a nice touch that we weren't expecting. I have to admit, when I initially looked at the pictures on their website and saw the portion sizes I balked because as a big guy (270 lbs) I thought no was was this gonna fill me up but I was happily wrong First course were the samosas and they were delightful Second Course were the scallop tamales and for two things I never thought would go together in a dish work as pleasantly as these did, color me impressed Third course were the pork belly and pear pairing and this might have been my favorite of the evening as the meat was tender and flavorful and the pears balanced the dish out with its subtle sweetness I picked the Wagyu for my entree and while it was cooked correctly (medium rare) I found it to be slightly tougher than I usually enjoy And finally for my dessert I had the Pepita Pumpkin, which hit the spot especially with the little bits of dulce de calabaza And throughout the evening the chef would send dishes for us to celebrate our evening so it actually was like an 8 course meal when you include the cheese plate we ordered As for the atmosphere, we went on a cold Friday in December and it still had spectacular views inside and out. It's right in the middle of Lincoln Park so you have to park on either Cannon or Stockton and walk over (parking was scarce but we found a spot eventually). Beautiful view of the Skyline with a pond in the foreground. I'd bet that during the summertime and in the day it's that much better but we enjoyed it too. Some will balk at the price but for all that we got and how special the whole staff made us feel the entire evening, it was well worth it and we will be returning

    Gorgeous decor
    Karmina C.

    We recently celebrated my birthday here, and it was the perfect dinner experience to cap off a perfect (albeit very snowy) day! Each course was delicious and presented so creatively. The service was absolutely top notch. I also really appreciated the special little birthday things throughout. We also really loved the gorgeous arts & crafts decor. We are looking forward to coming back!

    Crab corn
    Leanne G.

    We came here on a Friday night after a busy week attending a conference. The restaurant is in a beautiful location near a pond and in a beautiful historic building, which makes for a special atmosphere. The cocktails are delicious, and they have a nice collection of mocktails. The menu is a 4-course tasting menu. We were impressed with the variety of options for each course, and everyone in our party found something amazing in each section. The dishes were good but we found that there was a lot going on with each plate. Multiple strong flavors were paired together, which was overwhelming at times. The dinner took over 2 hours. We weren't put out by the extended time but it felt like we were waiting a long time between courses.

    Dessert
    Mark O.

    One of my favorites in Chicago. I've been for dinner and brunch, and both are phenomenal. I think this restaurant has by far the best service I have ever experienced in Chicago, and the food is consistently very very good. It is somewhat expensive, but sitting outside for brunch here with a view is incredible.

    Morel mushroom soup
    Geoff S.

    First off, the location. Definitely one of the more unique spots in Chicago. Right next to the pond in Lincoln Park with the skyline in the background makes for a breathtaking backdrop. The wood details and art deco/FLW-inspired flourishes throughout the indoor space are lovely. The tasting menu has 3 starter courses, then you pick your entree and dessert. Everything was presented beautifully and thoughtfully. And the food was delicious. If I had to pick a standout, it was the wagyu steak with massaman curry, but every course was fantastic. Our servers were attentive and so warm and friendly from start to finish. Everything made for a memorable evening -- they really made us feel special.

    Beautiful city scape
    Gurinder S.

    Enjoyed a great evening at this gem of a place in Chicago. Fantastic location. Great service. Multiple course dinner was very good. Will definitely come back.

    Cornbread, Horchata Chai Ice Cream, Berry Ganache

    We were visiting from LA for the weekend and had one free night, we were excited to visit North Pond as it had always been on our radar when we lived in Chicago. The location in the park is unique and fantastic. The vibe inside is great. I wasn't ready for it, but I immediately got Wisconsin Dinner Club feeling in the best possible way. The staff were incredible. They were warm, friendly, professional, knowledgeable, accommodating... it genuinely felt like they were part of our evening and wanted it to be the best it could be. We were surprised that it was fairly empty inside. It was a Sunday. And maybe they're only taking so many reservations in order to maintain the quality experience? And if so, I certainly applaud that. Oh and the wine pairing was 10/10. Hitting on every one. Don't skip it. The menu is inventive and creative. They obviously swap out dishes regularly -- I imagine seasonally if not more frequently. I won't say they were all home runs, but overall excellent. The amuse was a play on green eggs and ham, a small pot of peas, custard and ham and it was a fun and playful opener that just tasted great. Next was the tomato panna cotta and crab, which was probably my favorite bite. It was expertly balanced with sweetness, acidity, brine and texture. The quesadilla came next and felt very much like a Chef Cesar signature dish. It was warm, rich and had depth. I enjoyed it, but couldn't help feeling like something was missing. There were a lot of small elements and nuanced flavors that I could see, but not really taste. Because in the end it was primarily the cheese and a (fantastic) tortilla that you were tasting... good, but maybe not the best vehicle for all the other subtle flavors as they got lost. The scallop dish... look, this might be on me: I'm just not having the savory banana thing. I love new and inventive flavors. I'm a very adventurous eater. And I've now seen savory banana in roughly 3-4 different dishes and frankly none have worked for me. My wife loved the dish. I think it was her favorite. For the entree, I had the lamb. It was delicious. The popcorn grits are so good. They also don't take over the dish. The lamb was perfectly cooked. There were little elements of texture and flavor everywhere to make each bite a new adventure. It was just great. (Wife had the Waygu and loooved it. I had a taste. It was excellent. Very rich.) I had the cornbread dessert. I loved this too. The horchata ice cream and berry ganache and cornbread were just a great balanced not too sweet dessert. (Wife had the opera cake. She loved it. I tried it, and can concur, it was great.) Overall North Pond is a high recommend. Great experience. Excellent food.

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    10 months ago

    Great experience! Beautiful room, delicious food, friendly service. We did the wine pairing for dinner, and I'd recommend that.

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    Absolutely amazing staff and service. I highly recommend. The wine pairing is better than other experiences I've had.

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    Ask the Community - North Pond

    Do they have a children's menu?

    They do but it's $29 for dinner.

    Is there a dress code? jeans and nice sweatshirt okay?

    As stated on their website, "Requested Attire is Business Casual." Jeans and a sweatshirt… Read more

    It looks like the seasonal tasting is the only option on the menu online- how does it work? Can we order a meal that isn't a part of that offering?

    No. Prefixed menu the way a chef designed it. I always try to go with the flow since Master Chefs at this level really are creative artists of taste, design and pairing. So it's really best to be all-in for the full Chef's experience.

    Are they taking reservations?

    Yes

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    You might also consider

    John’s Food and Wine

    John’s Food and Wine

    4.1
    (85 reviews)
    0.9 mi

    One of THE most amazing dinners I've ever had! Our daughter…read morehad been here & really wanted us to go on a recent visit. Got our reservation, studied the menu. You have to order with the hostess at the door, unusual, but don't panic--it works well. And you can always add dishes or drinks from your table. We ordered a number of dishes to share, one better than the next. It was a great experience. We'd love to go back.

    TLDR Vibe: let's cosplay rich in Lincoln park but also try some good quality food while we do it…read more With the recent James beard awards I wanted to start making my way down chicago's Michelin list. John's is Michelin recommended so I said- sign me up. All I knew going in was the accolade and that the chef preferred to do hyper local- which im all about. The vibes are perfect IMO. Cozy, clean, organic shapes with that bar (see the featured photos). It also has a relaxed enough vibe that despite the prestige it is truly a more formal/casual vibe- being there on a sunday I saw a handful of small groups come in no res just looking for wine. The food itself was pretty good. I thought the pork collar was cooked well and they did what I was hoping a hyper local produce focused place would which is not over cook the vegetables and let them shine. One note: assume way more complexity than the menu displays. The pork itself for example is listed as just the pork veggies and with its sauce so my expectations were hesitant - but what made the dish great was the tang that comes from the seasoning/marinade. What really stood out to me though was the staff- it could be that I was there in a dead hour but everyone put me at ease as a single server at a table (v bar) and my server even gave me a taste of their amazing bandaged cheddar - which as a huge foodie really made my experience great. Because theres no way im easily grabbing that cheese. SO as well to their wine director Felix especially. He and I connected over the ceramics they feature (Monsoon Pottery- check her out) and when I spilled some sauce on my white shirt he was quick to get me some soda water and I heard him asking around for some shout. So- formal/casual place but I felt treasured. Which tbh is really what makes good restaurants different to me when youre hitting this price point in chicago. Plenty of POS fine trendy places down town.

    Photos
    John’s Food and Wine
    Pulled pork sandwich
    Pulled pork sandwich
    White sesame ice cream w peach koji and white chocolate

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    White sesame ice cream w peach koji and white chocolate
    Parson's Chicken & Fish - Lincoln Park

    Parson's Chicken & Fish - Lincoln Park

    3.5
    (361 reviews)
    0.6 mi
    $$

    Awesome vibe with really nice menu. Fish is so good and the tartar is as good as it gets…read more Love the staff - always conversant and upbeat.

    Was originally planning on having Thai food, but decided to change gears and stop by Parsons…read morebecause the atmosphere and outdoor seating looked amazing. Upon arriving, we were greeted by a friendly staff member who seated us outside as requested. To start, we ordered two piña coladas, which were perfect for the hot day. For food, we ordered the Parsons Big Dipper Platter, the three-piece fish fry, and Cindy's coleslaw. Let's start with the best part of the meal -- Cindy's coleslaw. It was creamy, flavorful, and exactly how coleslaw should be. The three-piece fish fry was tasty as well, although the batter was a bit too thick for my liking. The biggest disappointment was the Parsons Big Dipper Platter. According to the menu, it included hush puppies, chicken nuggets, and fried shrimp. Unfortunately, when the platter arrived, there was no shrimp included. We brought it to the waiter's attention, and only then were we informed they had run out of shrimp. It would have been nice to know that before ordering. It's surprising for such a busy restaurant to run out of an item that's featured on the menu. As for the service, unfortunately it was poor and inattentive. We constantly had to flag our waiter down anytime we needed something. Overall, the atmosphere was great, but the service and food inconsistencies made the experience disappointing. Not sure if we'll be returning.

    Photos
    Parson's Chicken & Fish - Lincoln Park
    Parson's Chicken & Fish - Lincoln Park
    Parson's Chicken & Fish - Lincoln Park

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    Gemini

    Gemini

    4.0
    (766 reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    As a Gemini celebrating my birthday season with other Geminis, it only felt right to celebrate at…read moreGemini! When we arrived, I was a bit concerned because we hadn't received our menus. And that's because the menus were being printed with a personalized birthday message! Our server was attentive, knowledgeable, and struck the perfect balance of checking in without being overbearing. The mussels (provençal-style) were delicious and enough to share among three people. The truffle-parmesan fries: We couldn't tell if they were too salty or just salty enough, but somehow we couldn't stop eating them! I ordered the baby wedge salad with chicken, and while the chicken looked small at first, it ended up being a large enough portion to last the salad. We were also surprised with complimentary desserts: the Chocolate Chunk Cookie Skillet and Buck Russell's Cake. Though I'm not a sweet person, my dining companions thoroughly enjoyed them.

    It's Summer Time Chi season in Lincoln Park. Extensive patio at Gemini is super inviting. Jacob our…read moreserver was exceptional in his engagement & making reco's on drinks and food. Even though half my party was late, I never felt rushed. The FKG mocktail was sweet and flavorful. The Spritzer was a good alcoholic next drink. Truffle Parm fries were a table fav. Burrata was smaller than I expected for $18. Enjoyed my beet salad with salmon. Will def be back and highly recommend!

    Photos
    Nice view inside restaurant
    Nice view inside restaurant
    Burrata crostini
    Burrata crostini
    Brussel sprouts

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    Brussel sprouts

    North Pond - newamerican - Updated July 2026

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