OBSESSED. There are SO many good things here. I love to get for lunch: a sandwich, clam chowder (if they have it), or a chicken caesar salad. For dinner I just had the lobster bisque (yummm) the filet perígourdine (best steak on he menu), and key lime pie. One of my favorites of Chicago . read more

Got lucky last Friday when we walked up at 12:10P and asked if there was room on the patio for two - and there was! A gorgeous day in Chicago so this was the perfect place for lunch and a glass (or two) of wine. I've been here numerous times over the years and while I didn't love it at first, it has certainly grown into a favorite in Chicago. The service has always been terrific. From the nice host/hostesses who greet you to the very accommodating wait staff and attentive bus staff, they get it's a service business. Food is usually well prepared and served with attention to detail. On this particular visit, I shared a Caesar salad and omelet with my guest and to my delight, the waiter not only split the omelet for us but prepared my half with yolks and hers egg whites only - nicely done! Salads are deilcious and this is also a wonderful brunch spot on weekends. My only complaint (and it's been the same since they opened) is that the tables are on top of each other making the long trip to the restrooms an exercise in agility due to the table and chair dodging you have to do to get there! If you can, enjoy a lunch or brunch here! It's lovely! read more

Absolute best martini on the planet, hands down, nothing even close. Wow. Very chic understated place, the bartenders here are amazing, they'll chat you up and bust balls, albeit the hostesses seemed slightly pompous and arrogant, would gladly go sit at this bar again. See ya soon ;) read more

RL Restaurant - In case you were wondering, this is what the best martini on the planet looks like... - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Can get crowded at lunch, but is worth the wait! I find the ambiance to be amazing and the menu is all classic lunch staples done to perfectly. Seating is a bit tight but everything else about this place makes it so worth it! read more

I was dupper impressed ! Great food ! Wonderful design ! Felt like being at your friends home ! read more

Still haven't been back there. Still haven't worn the scarf that was given to me. I don't foresee me going back ever again. Oh I got a call from a manager 3 months later because they hadn't seen my (Caucasian) hubby. I told him service recovery in 24-48 hours you're 3 month late... his reply " I didn't have your phone number" . Mind you I've made multiple reservations under my name/phone number. So how did you get it? I got it from your husband? After I finished deconstructing his piss poor apology he offered to have me and my friends come in for an evening at one of the other Gibson group locations. read more

Nothing special to rave about. It seems like the socialites come here to mingle in their fur coats. Felt a bit out of place. Food was meh, I can find better options. read more

Let me just say that the food here, while not the very best, or necessarily the best in Chicago, is very, very good and worth the money. Also worth the money is the great clubby atmosphere in here, just like his (largest) store next door (and connected from the tie room into the bar). All of the food I've had here is great, from the Tomato Bisque, Burger, and Monaco Club to the Roasted Chicken and Dover Sole. Biggest downside here is that it is a little cramped, all over. They attempt, and seem to succeed at, fitting as many tables into the dinning room as possible, and the bar/lounge area is always a squeeze. But the service is very attentive and polite, especially to a diner who always eats alone (something man places frown upon all too readily). Good job, Gibson's (they manage the restaurant and turned it from an Italian-focused one when they opened into the current American based one today)! read more

I've only been to this place once, and I sat outside, so I can't comment on what the inside looks like. But I'll tell you that even though the menu isn't huge, the selection on there are very good. And the food that myself and the other people with me got was very well prepared. I would definitely recommend going here and sitting outside (especially while the weather is still nice here in Chicago). I got the Halibut with Baby Arugula salad, and we also ordered the RL Burger and Lobster Club, all three of which were delicious. read more

Food - Delicious Service - Excellent Ambiance - Snug but very tolerable...cozy? What is not to like here? The food was terrific; beautifully prepared and served perfectly. Great Dover Sole; Caesar salad; fries; green beans; steaks I wish it were closer to home and that I had a lot of gift cards for RL; that is about the only thing would make this better. read more

I absolutely love this place. The room is fantastic. It's great for people watching. They have amazing bloody marys. My favorite in the city. The room, once full, has this wonderful 'buzz." Fantastic food and fantastic service. Always a perfect experience. Just be sure to always make a reservation! Love RL. read more

Nice place and good food. Big portions and nice ambience. Very cozy bar and you can walk right into Polo to shop after. Mom's love this place. read more

One of my staples in the Chi. Hands down. The service, (sometimes, unfortunately, only once they get to know you) is over the top. The decor is fabulous, especially in the winter, Very cozy and comfortable. You have a waiter, sommelier, manager, etc. all waiting on you, Like the idea because at most restaurants you feel guilty flagging someone down who's not your server. Here, anyone and everyone will help you. Starters: Crab Louis is delicious. Get easy dressing if the 1000 Island is over the top. Smoked Salmon is awesome, and the calamari/ shrimp is good, but not as exciting as "oh wow with my calamari I get shrimp too!" Shrimp cocktail is good, but $4.50 a piece? Shrimp is shrimp. But a BIG note...their tartare is NOT your usual tartare. It's ground, not carpaccio style, which makes some people mad. It's how I used to sneak chunks of meat when my mom made meatballs or hamburgers, except 1000x fresher. Comes with capers, eggs, the works. Don't understand the uproar about the untraditional tartare.... The Dover Sole and Steak Diane are phenomenal!!!!! As a non meat eater, I had to succumb last summer and get the Diane. (I heard Ralph raises his own cows humanely, but think I'm off on this one) It's prepared tableside , and as a life long Morton's supporter, better than any steak I have had. I DID draw the line at veal sauce. They'll compensate with chicken stock. (Or so they say). The salmon is also awesome and many friends swear by the burger....Basically you cannot go wrong. The people watching is top notch for boring old Chicago too. Super wealthy with loads of plastic surgery, many, many tourists, then people like us who love food. It IS a predominantly older crowd, and we are NOT old. Just appreciate good service and food. BUT, if they don't fix the bathroom situation ASAP I'm gonna lose it!!!!! It's horrid. read more

This upscale dining spot was something my coworker was dying to try. Needless to say, it was great service (as expected in a high class restaurant). I ordred the pork chops and at the rec of the server, got it medium. I'd usually get the pork cooked more, but actually it was extremely melt-friendly and wasn't chewey or pink. The side of mushrooms & asparagus was cooked just right. The bread they serve at the beginning was exceptional (for complimentary bread). The coolest part of this restaurant to me though was the decor. Absolutely phenomenal decorations all around. And the bathroom?....All I'm gonna say is you got to go down there and check it out. I was stuck in the elevator for a few seconds before I realized what was happening...lol I will probably upload a few pictures later of this joint. If you got the money, or its a company expense, try this spot out. Take your girl.... read more

You have to have the seafood papadell! I recommend sitting and eating in the bar. The service was over the top. My father has been there 4 times over the last 6 years and the bartender remembered him or at least pretended too. Great decor too!! read more

Great seafood and steak. Not the best I've ever had, but there is a great atmosphere at RL. They just need to widen their steak selection to be on par with other steakhouses of the same caliber. The bananas foster looked great, but will definitely order if I'm ever at RL again. Thumbs up! read more

RL Restaurant - 8oz filet cooked to medium perfection and paired with a rich and flavorful red wine reduced veal sauce. - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Cannot say enough good words about this place!!! The bar/lounge is warm & inviting with a roaring fireplace and seating with views of Michigan Avenue and in the winter, horse carriages passing by. The restaurant is cozy yet spacious enough with traditional Ralph Lauren elegance and ease. I never want to order the same thing twice (as I do in many restaurants) as they have a beautifully varied menu with too many options for just one visit. Highly recommend the Manhattan's, Crab Louie, Lobster roll.....you cannot go wrong here!! Enjoy! Cheers! read more

I was especially delighted that for a work trip we got to splurge a little bit and come here. Although I know this place is fairly new, it just seems like somewhere people have been coming for fancy occasions for decades. The walls have tons of paintings and both the service and patrons seem very upper crust. This might be kind of a touristy place to go? But it has all of the makings of an amazing restaurant. Not sure if I would be able to afford this place on my own, but I am still dreaming about the seafood pappardelle. I am fixated on it for three reasons: 1. Maine lobster 2. Scallops 3. Truffles Oh! And they gave me a ton of cheese :) Considering what this dish contains, it was actually fairly affordable for the HUGE portion that I got. There is probably a full small lobster and 2-4 big scallops in that. Somehow, the smell of truffle just gets me and after I laid eyes on it at another table, I had to have it. My only gripe is taking an elevator to the bathroom...but I guess at least it is handicap accessible. Also, it was weirdly louder in the dining room than in the bar--wish it was a nicer night to sit outside! read more

This place is pretty neat. Kudos to the interior decorator - was it Ralph Lauren perhaps? It's very clubby, dark and masculine, with leather banquettes, lots of dark wood, coffered ceilings, vases, nick-nacks, and vintage-looking framed pictures everywhere. White tablecloths, nice silverware, well dressed staff. There's an elevator to the bathroom too! Food-wise, it's all very timeless, just like the man himself. There's a strong selection of seafood and steaks, prepared simply and plated on plain white plates in a clean, masculine sort of way. Not dainty or precious. No flowers or micro-greens. The bread here is amazing - specifically, the parmesan and sesame lavosh. It's really good. Can't stop eating it - we got another basket and took it home. Our food was good but not outstanding. The lobster bisque is a very popular choice here and it's a good rendition but it's rich, V E R Y R I C H; think of it like Purple Label soup. The Kale Caesar is a bit of a misnomer because it's only about 1/2 kale, and 1/2 Romaine, but I guess that the Romans did Hail Caesar after all. I had the veal chop which is served either Milanese style (pounded, breaded, fried, and with a salad) or simply grilled with an herb crust. I opted for the latter and found it to be properly tender and creamy but lacking in seasoning. My wife had the Dover sole - it was prepared nicely, filleted at table side and served with butter sauce. The entrees are all a la carte - so we ordered some side dishes which were all delicious. The mac & cheese was especially yummy as were the sautéed mushrooms and poached asparagus. Where RL lost points was in the service. Our servers were pleasant but we did not get cocktail menu until after I ordered a cocktail! A bit inattentive too, though our water remained pretty full and our plates got cleared promptly. read more

Love the atmosphere of the traditional steakhouse Decour. Service was excellent. The file mignon was cooked to perfection along with the asparagus. Don't miss the desert, really enjoyed the bread pudding. We will definitely come back again read more

RL Restaurant - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

They had the best calf's liver I have ever had. Just for that I will be going back. We also had beef carpaccio, steamed mussels, sea scallops, and Brussels sprouts. My least favorite was the beef carpaccio, which was very bland. The Brussels sprouts were cooked the way we liked. The rest of the food was good, nothing outstanding. Excellent service. read more

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Food is good, nothing to pay higher prices for. If you have children, beware...the host has given us attitude at least 4 Times when we went there with our baby, and made it clear it was an inconvenience to leave her sleeping in her small fold up stroller that can sneak under a table. Also made a reservation for 3 people one time, including my husband myself and our daughter, and a "high chair" is not considered a seat and it was a big deal. I thought I was being polite by including her as a seat at the table but apparently that gets you an eye roll and delayed seating time. read more

They know how to cook a steak to the exact specifications that give my palate goosebumps. The oysters are really fantastic, as is the escargot. traditional American dishes in a "clubby atmosphere" with "impressive artwork" and "horse-and-saddle" decor; expect Ralph Lauren prices and service, absolutely worth the money. It's not often I can take a date to dine among a who's who of Chicago (the jewelry is all real), the occasional celebrity, all in front of the fireplace. A seat, by the way, that is offered to a select few. I was tickled to be one of those, one of the best nights of my life. read more

Over priced tourist trap. Crowded and cramped. I basically ate with our neighbors. Salads (we got the Caesar and the Spinach) were way over-dressed and had too many conflicting flavors. The Spinach salad had a too tart and heavy dressing with blue cheese, cooked mushrooms, and bacon. The Dover sole was rubbery and very expensive. The "pig in a blanket" was lukewarm, not a good temperature for puff pastry. The roasted cauliflower was the sole highlight of the meal. Deserts was fine, a ho hum $10 ice cream sundae. The sorbet was really heavy. You pay for the cache here not good food. read more

One of my favorite restaurants in the city. The service is excellent. They make your drinks the way you want them. When you go by yourself and work or read a book, they take care of you and make sure you have everything. Outdoor seating rocks, you have a pleasant sidewalk brunch, lunch or dinner. Their food is phenomenal. I always order their calamari and shrimp appetizer, very light and yummy. Their orange crepe cooked by your tableside is phenomenal, could probably just eat that for dinner and skip everything else! Their crabcakes are phenomenal too, very yummy and light, comes with different dressings. Their RL burger is really good too. Everything that I have ever had here has been amazing. Definitely a must-try! read more

After hearing a speech, from Dan Savage, at an AIDS Chicago foundation, we were more than happy to pop into RL Grill for a snack, which turned into dinner and drinks. Christopher was GREAT! We started with soup. I had the soup special with pesto and crisp veggies and my dinner companion had the lobster bisque. Both had excellent texture and flavor. We then, had the baked, triple cream, cheese with warm pears and maple syrup...DEVINE! As for my entree, there really isn't a vegetarian choice on the menu, however, Chris had explained that the chef is quite accommodating and would do a dish to my specification. The result was outstanding. Pappardelle noodle with spinach, asparagus and a wonderful truffle sauce...my mouth is still watering over the memory of that dish. As for my date, he had a burger. He ordered it well done and consumed the entire sandwich, barely coming up for air (guess he liked it). We, unfortunately, did not have room for dessert, but I like to look anyway. The rhubarb and strawberry caught my eye, but listed was lard! No thanks, I'm a vegetarian! Sounds great, though, it was time to saddle up and head off into the sunset. Great service! Great food! read more

Don't let the one very rude very snobby waiter ruin your time. Enjoy youre delicious luxurious meal at RL restaurant . Come with family and feast in all the great food luxuries of life. The bread basket itself is unique and posh. Just how Ralph Lauren would want it I presume. And Don't even think twice about getting the calamari it's buttery bread crumby goodness is a must and it comes with a white sauce which you don't see served with calamari in many restaurants other than the cheesecake factory but it's Devine. read more

RL Restaurant - Calamari-$12.75 - New American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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This place was so yummy! We had the oysters and mussels as appetizers and they were all very good! Husband got the scallops and he enjoyed them very much! I don't like scallops so they were not good to me. I had the duck and was in loved with the dish. I liked how the made the salad that goes with it! It complements it very well. We also had 2 drinks rose and Moscow mule. The Moscow mule was good! The decor was kinda cool. We are in the bar area in front of the books and it was like we were eating at RL's home in his library! read more

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Upon arriving for my lunch reservation, I overheard a manger speak with a hostess, "we are so understaffed in the dining room and kitchen we'll be lucky to get through this day." I told this to my relatives when they arrived a few minutes later. Their reply was that they weren't in a rush, patience will make the day. It didn't. We expected the managers to be assisting in the kitchen or dining room. We observed no effort. The first distressful note we noticed was water and bread coming almost ten minutes after we are seated. Had to ask for butter not once or twice, but three times. Special burger ordered medium rare came out solid well-done. Fries were warm, not hot and tasted not freshly made. Like they had been sitting. Halibut was good; however, the sauce didn't make it special. Especially at the cost/portion ratio $'s from the menu. Coffee tasted burnt as in it sitting in the pot too long. One of the out-of-town visiting relatives said the waiter wasn't happy because we didn't order alcohol. I was told that the Gibson partners managed RL. If this is true, these guys should pay closer attention to the people who represent that name. read more

LUV this place!!! From the decor, to the food, to the ambiance to the staff............I just LOVE!!!! Lunch-Best burger in the city! Dinner-Sea bass is amazing! Top 5 places to eat in Chicago! read more

Dinner is just as fine as lunch. The bar area has some lovely fireside tables, first come first serve. The service and food are outstanding, a very overlooked restaurant. The smoked salmon appetizer is fantastic, the wine list excellent with a good range (price and selection). We both choose salads but were sorely tempted by all the mains. Despite a relatively small overall table order, the service was first rate. really a great experience. read more

A great place to meet friends for amazing food and superb service! Very Chic! read more

I wasn't sure I would like this place due to the tight quarters, but it was absolutely 100% wonderful. The service was perfect, and the food was a sheer delight. I highly recommend the arugula starter salad and the halibut as an entree - it was a light choice that was satisfying without leaving me feeling too full to go out afterwards. My husband had the lamb chops and those were tasty, too. Expensive, but worth it! Oh, they have free wifi, too, if you care. Make sure you head to the restroom - it has a private elevator! Cool. read more

Try the Heirloom Tomato salad...awesome! One of my 'Happy Places' in Chicago. From the moment you enter the restaurant, you feel like your dinner is a special event. The decor, the service, the countless paintings and photos on the wall make the experience inviting. The restaurant was busy on this particular Saturday night but the noise level was not so loud as to prevent regular conversation. As mentioned above, the Heirloom Tomato salad was divine, served with burrata and truffle oil drizzle. As may be expected from Ralph Lauren, dinner choices are decidedly American. From fish entrees to beef to chicken and pork, something for all tastes. I had seafood pappardelle, which is appropriate for carb overload (actually-try a half portion of this entree, it is plenty for just about anyone). RL can be enjoyed both as a special moment kind of experience but also as a place where the food and surroundings feel comfortable and accessible. If you are lucky enough to have Scott as the Captain of your table, you will have an especially great time. He is the Bananas Foster master! read more

Lots of reasons why it's hard to get in here - awesome location, patio, full bar, no TV, and a great take on classic American dishes. It's like a really good country club menu from the 50's, but without all that small-minded intrigue and golf. You can start with a good lobster bisque and the salads hit the spot, too. But the rest of the menu reaches back through time and pulls out the best and least healthy dishes: steak diane, dover sole, liver and onions. Where else can you find those? For dessert baked alaska, crepes suzette or bananas foster? Wow, put away the calorie counter and find out why these dishes deserve to be rescued from obscurity and our health conscious life styles. read more

Without a doubt my favorite cocktail bar. The SAZARAC!!!! Hands down the best made drink in the country. Ambience and service are impeccable! I've been here a few dozen times and it's always the same. That means management recognizes talent and treats them well. I always order snacks / apps here and they never underperform. It serves as my pre dinner jaunt when in Chicago. FYI - order the calamari. It's always great. read more

Love this place... food and cocktails are always good. I was surprised this time to see orange juice on the bill for a diabetic member of our party who was in need of some juice. Rather gaudy if you ask me. read more

All time favorite in Chicago. A true old world, classic American brasserie experience. From the classic RL burger to the best-ever Dover sole, RL is perfection. The staff is professional and the decor and comfortable luxury of the restaurant makes it a must-try. Even the bread is beautifully curated. Nothing is left to chance, and there's even a charming private elevator down to the bathroom read more

Just had the worst experience I've ever had at RL. We frequent often and always have great food and a great experience. This afternoon I asked for an espresso with baileys and received just an espresso. I then mentioned to the waitress that they forget to put baileys in my espresso. When I got my bill it was $20. $15 for a glass of baileys. On the menu baileys is $11.25. A manager then approached me and said that is the price for it neat. That is fine but I didn't ask for it neat. She didn't make it right for her guest. I left half the glass of baileys on the table that I didn't want and ended up paying $20 for an espresso. RL gets a big fat F for this one and loses my business. Hope the $4 extra you charged me was worth it! read more

Had a very poor experience when I came to eat dinner at the bar. I ordered Calf's Liver and the order didn't come. I waited for about 45 min before a server noticed my main course hadn't arrived. I left without eating the main course, hungry and disappointed. At least the Caesar's salad and the glass of Cabernet were good. Given the excellent gourmet choices in Chicago, I shan't ever have any second thoughts about writings off this restaurant from my list. read more