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    The Kitchen American Bistro

    3.9 (899 reviews)
    PriceyBars, American
    Updated 3 months ago

    The Kitchen American Bistro Photos

    Business Info

    THE KITCHEN AMERICAN BISTRO ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials
    Good for groups

    Recommended Reviews - The Kitchen American Bistro

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    Reviews With Photos

    Lamb kofta
    Lisa S.

    Stopped by The Kitchen American Bistro on a sunny Saturday and couldn't have picked a better spot. You can sit right next to the river and watch boats pass by while you eat. It's such a relaxing, scenic way to enjoy a meal in the city. I had the lamb kofta and garlic fries, and both were so good -- full of flavor and perfectly cooked. Even better, they offer happy hour on Saturdays, which is a rare and awesome find! Between the great food, unbeatable views, and chill vibe, it made for a perfect day in this beautiful city. Highly recommend for a laid-back but elevated riverfront dining experience.

    Crab fried rice
    Trina K.

    The views are to die for, the selection has led me to return a second time within six weeks and the service each visit is better than the last. I had the pleasure of being served by Conner during my last visit and he was very personable and extremely attentive. Add to that I stepped in without a reservation and dining alone, and the hostess, was extremely accommodating and placed me at a table with an absolutely breathtaking view. I have the carrots which were served with feta and pistachio. And I also had the crab fried rice and dessert. I'd order all three again and even had a little to take home as leftovers.

    Baby Lettuce Salad
    Sydney H.

    The food at The Kitchen was overall really good. The Park House Rolls are a MUST. Hands down some of the best rolls I've ever had. The inside of them was sooooo soft and flaky and buttery. They were like if a croissant and traditional dinner roll had a baby - perfection!!!!! The gnocchetti was amazing too. Very small, but very rich. It was also very soft and pillowy and came in a creamy pesto sauce. The salad was just okay, I wouldn't recommend. Although the food here was great, the service was absolutely horrible. We came in around 4:30/5 on a Saturday and it wasn't busy at all. There were plenty of open tables outside, but when we asked to sit out there they said there was a wait even though the restaurant was basically empty. There was 1 person in front of us at the host stand and it still took 20 minutes to be seated AND the host was rude when we asked her about sitting outside.

    Shrimp A La Plancha
    Angel A.

    Had dinner here for New Year's Eve and it was definitely a great way to close out the year. The cocktails are incredible and do a fantastic job of complimenting the delicious food. Highly recommend the Ahi Tuna Crudo and Shrimp A La Plancha.

    Menu
    Candace W.

    Walked in here for lunch and my party was seated and served promptly. You can't see the river from the indoor seating, but that's ok the inside of the restaurant is nice. Wish the river was part of the view though. I had the southern fried chicken sandwich and it was very crunchy with a good sauce and yummy fries. My sister got the black kale caesar salad, and it includes smoked trout and the whole salad tasted a little smokey. We liked that, but beware it's not everyone's taste. Overall: positive lunch experience, a little pricey because of location but the food is decent.

    Margarita & old fashioned
    Sarah M.

    This place was great! Perfectly situated on the river, close to lots of the action. We came at an "off time" on a Friday for their happy hour and small bites which is from 3-5. They only offer a few small plate food items during this time which was actually perfect for us to snack while we grabbed a few cocktails. For drinks we tried their happy hour margarita and old fashioned. Both were fresh and delicious! Then we ordered x2 espresso martinis (not on happy hour but worth ordering!) these espresso martinis were one of the best I have had! They use REAL, freshly brewed espresso!! Highly recommend. Our bartender was so pleasant and nice (I feel bad I don't remember his name). Ambiance is classy but cozy. Highly recommend! The fries came with this delicious sauce! Sliders were yummy. The lolipop wings were not my favorite, very fatty. Wouldn't order those again.

    Salad
    Matt J.

    The ambiance was great. We went with a group of 6 and felt the service was attentive. The burger was quite amazing. Food was better than expected and the location was in a good part of the city. Had reservations due to the under 4 star rating on yelp but felt it was much better than expected.

    Lunch time
    Sada N.

    This place was a HIT! The Kitchen American Bistro was such an astounding VIBE! Views of the riverfront, beautiful skyscrapers, while the tourists sightseeing the beautiful historical buildings and their architecture on boat tours. People just plainly out and about enjoying their gorgeous Friday afternoon. Typically, just an another beautiful day in downtown Chicago! Reservations are highly encouraged but not required. Although, for the patio seating with the great view, I will most definitely make reservations for a secured seat. Parking was also valet which I love the convenience. A little spoiled in that terrible manner. Lol!! I was immediately acknowledged by the staff with her gracious hospitality didn't catch her name. I checked in and was given my complimentary water as I walked to my reserved patio seating. I ordered the lobster roll, and their homemade focaccia along with my tasty Raspberry Beret margarita. Everything was delicious. Menu was simple for lunch and my order had a zero wait time! Couldn't been more happier! Portions and prices were decent for lunch. I just really enjoyed myself. The weather was great, in the presence of good company, great drinks, delicious food with a phenomenal view, YOU just can't beat that! Check em out!!

    Happy Hour salad. Huge.
    Jeff K.

    We went here twice on recent trip as we were staying up the street. First time for happy hour at bar. Cold beers and ordered salad w strawberries & assorted goodies and an order of their drenched chicken wings. Salad was dressed w amazing lemon zest vinaigrette and a happy hour portion was enough for 2 to share. Wings are in a chili type sauce and equally amazing. We went back 2 days later and sat outside overlooking the river. Split the salad and a small gnocchi dish. Bartenders were awesome and gave us their dive bar food and drink reqs.

    Crab Fried Rice (gf)
    Bonny L.

    I went here for some lunch with my sister the other day and we got the crab rice and the burger with fries. Food was pretty good. The rice has a big portion so we had some leftover. Server was also very friendly and nice. Inside is very unique looking and modern too. I definitely recommend if you go to Chicago, seems like a great place to grab drinks as well!

    Wine room
    Anthony R.

    In town for some doctor visits and Thanksgiving and looking for a fun new place to try and a Kimbal Musk restaurant was the definite move. The restaurant website lets you choose a day and time. It even asks of any special occasions and/or dietary restrictions. I marked down my restrictions and that it was my birthday and they were well versed. I really appreciated that they actually read what I submitted ahead of time. You walk in to the restaurant and it is so spacious and open. We had a high top by a window looking out over the river. Awesome view! The menu was so descriptive with the main ingredients and the dietary restrictions. We got a couple appetizers and WOW! I'm glad we got the Crispy Cauliflower. Excellent flavor. Definite crispness. The broccolini had a fun garlic flavor to it, a pleasant surprise! Then our entrees came and wow!! My mom really likes crab and the fried rice had a wonderful flavor blend with crab. She enjoyed it just as much on day two! And my roasted chicken came. At first glance, could be seen as underwhelming. I take a bite and wow; I am someone who has ketchup or Barbeque sauce with chicken. It didn't need it. It was great on It's own. Again, on day two, did not lose any tenderness or flavor. The fries were the same. A high quality potato, no extras necessary. The non alcoholic drink I had was good. A bit heavy on the non alcoholic spirits for my liking. I will definitely be back!! Bringing family, friends and the like. Kimbal and his team are amazing.

    The view from the patio
    Garnier A.

    Carrots entry is just amazing. Very good service, wonderful view of you get the patio.

    Mocktails
    Rahima J.

    The inside is really cute and they were able to accommodate a larger party for brunch. It's also on the river, which is really nice! But the food itself was very bland with very few options, especially for meat substitutes - which there were none. The food and drinks are both a bit pricey for the food quality.

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    Page 1 of 23

    The Kitchen American Bistro Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - The Kitchen American Bistro

    Would the patio accommodate party of 6?

    Is there a patio?

    Hi there! We do have a patio located on the Riverwalk. It is primarily two person table tops with one 4 person table at the end. The patio is first comer first serve, however you can let us know if you would like outside seating on the patio and we… Read more

    Do they have Brunch menu or is this place good for brunch? Also, how is the noise level here and is it lively or cozy?

    Yes, there is a brunch menu. It is noisy even when its not full. If noisy means lively to you then yes. There are no quiet spots.

    View All 5 Questions

    Trivoli Tavern - Corn bread

    Trivoli Tavern

    4.5(975 reviews)
    1.0 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    Finally made it Trivoli Tavern to catch up with a friend. Luckily we snagged a reservation for an…read moreearly Friday dinner because it was fairly packed. Everything we ate was great and would could out with impeccable timing. The butter with the rolls was not as truffle-y than what I read about. The spicy tuna roll was in point and the drinks strong but hitting the spot. We tried the pork chop and while great we would opt for something more savory next time. The vodka rigatoni was great but again I have other items on the menu to try. We closed out with sticky date cake which was a bit sweet. I took a few bites and ended up sharing the rest. The service was amazing and the restaurant itself gave off old school meets modern vibes.

    Had such a great night out with my daughter at Trivoli Tavern. From start to finish, everything was…read moreoutstanding. We started with the artichoke gratin and the salmon Caesar salad, and both were absolutely unreal. The flavors and quality were next level. My ribeye was cooked perfectly -- an incredible char on the outside, medium rare inside exactly as ordered, and seasoned unbelievably well. The mushroom casserole may have honestly been the best mushrooms I've ever had. My daughter's vodka rigatoni was top notch and packed with flavor. We finished with the sticky cake for dessert, which was the perfect ending to an amazing meal. On top of all that, our server Jenna was a total pro -- attentive, knowledgeable, friendly, and made the whole experience even better. One of the best dinners we've had in a long time. Can't wait to come back.

    Photos
    Trivoli Tavern - Gelato & sticky date cake

    Gelato & sticky date cake

    Trivoli Tavern - Butterfinger pie

    Butterfinger pie

    Trivoli Tavern - Chicken pot pie

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    Chicken pot pie

    Bar Siena - mini tavern burgers. april 2026.

    Bar Siena

    4.2(2.4k reviews)
    0.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$

    Last night, after a genuinely frustrating experience elsewhere, I walked into Bar Siena not…read moreexpecting much (if anything), just hoping for a reset. When I asked about the wait time, the host joked that it was two hours. Under normal circumstances, I would have laughed and played along. Given what had just happened minutes earlier, it did not quite land... but to their credit, the moment I explained the situation, everything shifted. They sat me promptly and turned what could have been a lingering bad night into a completely different experience. Julio, my server, set the tone immediately. Julio was professional, attentive, and generous. He brought out meatballs on the house, which were excellent. I ordered calamari, rigatoni alla vodka with shrimp, and what I believe was a chocolate torte for dessert (also on the house, which I was not expecting). Everything was spot on. The rigatoni in particular stood out. It was made in house and had the kind of texture and quality you notice right away. The Manager (Lance) also stopped by, having been present when I explained what had happened earlier. That kind of awareness and follow-through matters more than people realize. It what separates a place that serves food from a place that understands hospitality. By the time I was finishing dessert, I found myself watching pizzas go out to nearby tables and immediately reconsidering my menu choices for the evening. That's usually a good sign. The host who initially joked about the wait time also came by at the end of my meal. She was polite, thoughtful, and clearly intentional about making sure the experience landed well. I appreciated this gesture. When the bill came, I asked what the total would have been without the discounts and complimentary items. Once I had that number, I tipped Julio the difference. It felt like the only appropriate way to reflect the level of service and generosity I received. I'll be back (for the pizza). Overall: Food (yes) Service (yes) Ambiance (yes)

    (Kari's Rating 8/10)…read more TLDR: -Attentive Staff -Smaller portion sizes -Dark atmosphere Came here on a weekday with a friend and had a reservation for Monday at 7:30pm. We had to wait a little bit for a table so we sat at the bar because my friend and I aren't drinkers. We just had glasses of water while we waited for our table. Once we got seated, our server took our order relatively quickly and we ordered the House made for Kasha with a goat cheese and honey topping, the grilled octopus appetizer, and because we were enjoying our conversation so much we ended up just skipping Wright to dessert and ordering the gooey butter cake. For a light meal, this was relatively satisfactory. Our server said they come to the octopus because we waited so long, so it was nice that the staff was acknowledging that we waited a little bit for our table and we're willing to compensate us. As someone who lives in the river north area, I have actually been here, probably a dozen times, and it's always a good little spot but a little bit pricey for what you're getting. I would still probably come back with some friends, but I wouldn't go on my way to come here if I was bringing people off from out of town.

    Photos
    Bar Siena - Industrial bar

    Industrial bar

    Bar Siena - Parmesan Potato Skins appetizer

    Parmesan Potato Skins appetizer

    Bar Siena - This  N 24 was so delicious! I love mezcal so much  and it was the perfect birthday drink

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    This N 24 was so delicious! I love mezcal so much and it was the perfect birthday drink

    HIDE+SEEK

    HIDE+SEEK

    4.0(382 reviews)
    0.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side

    The Fam and I are always looking for new places to indulge one of our favorite food groups, which…read moreis brunch with bottomless mimosas. After doing a search on Yelp, I decided we should check out HIDE+SEEK. Ding ding ding! We have a winner folks. We decided to go with the Brunch Party. First let me start off saying that Brunch Party is one plate, one side, and endless mimosas. The entire table participation is required and there is a strict 1.5 hour time limit. That said, Angelique (was our server) was on point during that time period. Our glasses never got pass the half-way mark and a good time was had by all! HIDE+SEEK has a pretty chilled vibe and the décor was cool, a very nice bar area, booths on the east side of the restaurant and tables in the front. I think there was a back area, but can't for sure as I didn't explore as we were seated immediately in our booth. Angelique was very cool. She welcomed us and asked if it was our first time there (it was) and began to explain the menu, focusing on Brunch Party and that everyone at the table had to participate, which we did. For my entrée I got the Short Rib Hash (Sunny side up egg, piquillo pepper, red wine jus, rosemary mornay) and my side was Eggs Your Way (over easy). I got an order of the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes (honey-whipped ricotta, blueberry compote, maple syrup) for the table. Both dishes were very nice. I am a sucker for anything with short rib meat in it and this hit well with me. The pancakes were good, nice and fluffy, and the compote was very good. They weren't as lemony as I have had at other restaurants. The flavor was there, but in a subtle way, almost like an afterthought, but still nice. The pancakes themselves were nice and fluffy, just they way I like them. The Doctor got the cheeseburger and fries, which looked nice. He cleaned his plate so I have to assume it was good. The Queen got the Steak and Eggs. I had a bite of the steak and it was tender and had a nice flavor to it. Overall we had a great time and while it was only an hour and a half, it seemed longer. I will totally come back here again for brunch, but want to check out their happy hour and dinner as well. The menus looks interesting.

    I would come back here, but it isn't high on my list. The food was overall good, and the menu is…read morevery creative and diverse! Even so, it wasn't enough to necessitate the price tag, which all of my friends and I were surprised by when we paid at the end. The cocktails were outstanding - we all enjoyed our choices. For some of us, they were enjoyable enough where we got the same one more than once 0:) Our server was not very friendly - she does not need to act like our BFF or anything like that, but she was cold and seemed annoyed by our questions and such. She also had no idea about the wine, so my friend just rolled the dice on what she wanted without knowing much about it. She wound up liking it - but more clarity would've been helpful (or even seeking out someone else working there for more info!). Minor environment note: The largest artwork there is a triptych of photographs - three famous women: Princess Diana, Sharon Tate (I think?), and Marilyn Monroe. There is a horizontal band going across where their eyes all line up, and the band replaces their eyes with cartoon eyes, likely of Disney princesses. It is supposed to be quirky but I found it creepy, especially since it featured three famous women who met untimely ends.

    Photos
    HIDE+SEEK
    HIDE+SEEK
    HIDE+SEEK - The Dutchess

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    The Dutchess

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - The Oakville Cinnamon Roll Exceptional!

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar

    4.1(260 reviews)
    0.9 miWest Loop, Near West Side
    $$$

    I have never written a Yelp review before today, but I had to leave my first one because of how…read morepleasant my experience was here. I came here over the weekend with my family to celebrate my graduation, and the server named Cat was AMAZING! She made me feel so special at my graduation brunch through her hospitality, witty remarks, easy-going humor, and attentiveness to her clients. If I were her manager, I would give Cat a raise because of how much she elevated the experience and excels at what she does. Additionally, the food was fantastic! The pull-apart bread was so delicious and something I would 100% come back for, as well as the short rib hash, which was flavorful and tender. The ambiance was perfect for a sunny day with a mild temperature, making it the perfect brunch spot. Once again, I cannot emphasize enough how much Cat made our time at Oakville so special. Thank you, Cat, for being so wonderful at your job and going above and beyond to make my special day even more special. 10/10 would definitely come back!!!

    I actually come to Oakville pretty often and every time it's amazing!…read more For this visit, we just did a few apps: fries, tostadas, and spinach dip. All were good but i will say that the dip was missing a little extra flavor (we added the lemon to elevate which helped). The truffle fries dipping sauce is next level & in my opinion a must try for all. The staff is always super welcoming and kind! Plus now that the patio there's not a bad choice for seating inside or out. Additionally, I attached a photo of the tuna poke bowl from a lunch visit. Easily my favorite lunch menu item they offer.

    Photos
    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - The entrance. She's GORGEOUS.

    The entrance. She's GORGEOUS.

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - Dry Aged Steakburger

    Dry Aged Steakburger

    The Oakville Grill & Cellar - Crowded table arrangement

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    Crowded table arrangement

    The Kitchen American Bistro - bars - Updated June 2026

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