After my initial review, the team contacted me and offered to provide me with a complimentary afternoon tea for myself and a guest. Service was great, food was good, and all in all my initial experience was probably due to one waiter on an off day. read more

Good: perfectly roasted venison, tender scallop served with kale and sausage, cheese gnocchi with parmesan and porcini mushroom, and a generous amuse bouche porcini mushroom soup with chestnut; wonderful, unpretentious staff who makes you feel welcome; warm, crusty multigrain bread, gazillion courses for the "5 course" tasting menu, chestnut theme dessert of chestnut cake/mousse/actual chestnut with cassis sorbet and blackberries. I'd suggest one area of improvement: I almost gave them 4 stars due to the following. Especially for guests who ordered the tasting menu, I think the staff could provide a bit more details or attention when describing the dishes/ingredients for each dish. I probably would have appreciated the Spanish octopus dish more had I known it's a Spanish theme as I thought the almonds were unnecessary for the dish originally. Overall, it's solid food, beautiful high ceiling ambiance, friendly unpretentious staff that I'd recommend to others. The food showcases solid cooking and good balance of taste. It's not the shishi 50 ingredient dish stacked high to your nose kind of restaurant. read more

The elegant Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel is one of our faves for afternoon tea service. The room is massive, meaning there's space to spread out and the chairs are comfortable and you can really enjoy the experience. We sat near a window and loved watching the happenings outside as we enjoyed our tea. When we went, they were doing a traditional tea and an additional Chinese New Year tea. Luckily, one of our party wanted to try that so I got to see both, and wow! Both were exquisitely done. I love the tea sandwiches, which are traditional in flavor but have a fun presentation. You can also get more if you ask! The scones are delish, and the desserts are the best. When we were there, there was live music being played high above us on a balcony, which was a nice touch. The service is exceptional, too. read more

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I came here for the chef week lunch special $22 which was a good deal for the food and ambiance. The salad and dessert were self serve/buffet style and you get a choice of entree (diver scallop, housemade paste, or apricot glazed pork tenderloin). Salad bar - charchuterie choices include various meat and brie cheese, cooked lobster/rice noodle in a martini glass (I had 2!), pasta salad, creamless tomatoe soup, shitake, cucumbers, green salad, variety of dressing (housemade?), seasoned fried califlower. These choices may sound simple, but the flavor and presentation was fancy. Dessert - diced fresh fruit bowl, nutella macaron (OMG), pistachio macaron (meh), pistachio chocolate opera, brandied cherry creme brulee/custard, chocolate pudding/mousse, strawberry tart (GOOOOD), and 2 choices of chocolate (dark or almond). It was European style pastry and they were all goood!!! It came with 2 diver jumbo scallop and was cooked just right. The sauce, purple yam, and bacon was a good compliment to the scallop. The pasta was good, but the portion was quite small. Overall, the ambiance was really nice and relaxing. However, it did took awhile before the waitress took our order. Well she did seem busy attending to multiple table. Overall, the waitress was attentive afterward. Will definitely go back to try the afternoon tea or dessert buffet! read more

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Came here for their Valentine's Day pre-fixed menu and it was unbelievable... My mouth is watering just thinking back to this happy day :) - Braised Short Ribs w/butternut squash ravioli, organic honey, sage, red wine jus. This appetizer I could've eaten all night long. The short ribs were so soft and tender. Perfectly paired with the butternut squash which didn't over power the short ribs. Match made in heaven. - Green Field Baby Beet Salad w/grilled goat cheese sandwich, walnut The salad was complimentary from the chef and it was amazing. Not because it was free but the thinly sliced beets went so well with the goat cheese. I was really glad that we received this dish because it isn't something I would normally order but I LOVED IT! - 8 oz Filet Mignon - New Zealand Lamb Loi - Housemade Mashed Potatoes - Duck Fat Fingerling Potatoe The filet was extremely thick but cooked perfectly medium throughout. It literally melts in your mouth. By far one of the best steaks. The lamb was beautifully cooked and seasoned as well. Both of the sides I could not have been happier with. - Apple "Tarte Tatin" salted caramel ice cream, caramel tuile, sage cris Let me start of by saying I love any desserts with apple. And this dessert was incredible. It's pretty much an apple crisp but injected with luxury. read more

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Celebrated my birthday here yesterday(also treated my aunt and her son, too)! We had an excellent experience here! Both my aunt and I had brunch here at least a handful of times about 12-15 years ago, so we were not surprised that the food has remained exponentially magnificent all these years! We loved the great variety (like the inclusion of various dim sum and sushi), the super high-end options like the ribeye, roast duck, truffled eggs Benedict, crab legs), plus the various salmon options, flavorful and plentiful vegetable options, gi-normous dessert selection (that table could've had its own zip code)! Plus, Annie our server, along with the 2 hostesses, were all so wonderfully charming, professional, efficient and knowledgeable! The airy, ethereal and elegant ambience were also breathtaking to behold! Loved that there was an ice rink just outside The Lobby too! read more

My numerous visits to the The Lobby for afternoon tea and it was never a disappointment. Good service and excellent tea choices. They change their offerings every now and then and you will be amazed of the quality and varieties. Best afternoon tea in the city. Just make a reservation and go on a weekday to avoid the crowd on weekends. Good job to the chefs and staff who made every afternoon tea experience at The Lobby a delight. read more

The Lobby - Delightful sweets - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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One of my girlfriends and I decided to treat ourselves to afternoon tea here in lieu of Christmas gifts this past December. I was told over the phone the price per person was $65. We went on January 2, so the increased holiday pricing was over, but we still paid $70 per person for afternoon tea (without champagne). The $5 difference wasn't a huge deal, but I had high expectations since this was The Peninsula. I've had afternoon tea at several places before and felt the prices were justified. However, aside from the impeccable service, I absolutely did not feel that the food, both savory and sweet, were worth $70 per person. The mini quiche was so small that it barely had any flavor whatsoever, the fruit cake was really dry, and the sandwiches were very lackluster. The one stand-out were the scones with clotted cream and jam. I don't want to discount the whole experience as the service was top notch, but I wouldn't recommend this place for tea. $70 per person was ridiculous, which ended up being almost $100 after tax and tip. Save your money and the experience and go to The Allis at Soho House for half the cost (and much cuter china). read more

If you ever have a chance to stay at The Peninsula Chicago, The Lobby restaurant has some great fine dining options. This carbonara was one of the more affordable options on the menu and it did not disappoint. Plenty of flavor and rich, creaminess. I wouldn't expect anything less than perfection from The Peninsula. read more

The Lobby - Carbonara Bucatini // tarragon cream, shallot, fennel, bacon, egg yolk, carbonara crema, pancetta crisp - American Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Executive lunch menu: accurately priced at 32$. The appetizers and desserts buffet is limited but largely enough to satisfy all appetites and curiousity. Various salades, charcuteries and cheeses. All is fresh, tasty, simple but original. The desserts are well done, especially the "verrines", very delicate. Our entree was a chicken breast perfectly cooked. Juicy and flavourful. It comes with some crispy Brussels sprouts, sweet and melting onions balanced with bacon. This is very good, but not really coherent. Service is discreet and the place is splendid. The tables are large, the glass-walls bring a great luminosity and the decoration is refined. Excellent overall. read more

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Over priced meals. The taste is not so good. The seating area is lovely. Service is super very slow. I don't recommend it for a breakfast or brunch. There is no choice below 10 dollars. My husband shakshoka was out of can for 23 dollars!!!! read more

Came here for afternoon tea on a Saturday afternoon around 4pm and there was no wait (and I did not have a reservation). The service was wonderful and the lobby was gorgeous, but the afternoon tea was just "mehh". Maybe it's unfair to compare it to afternoon tea in the UK (from last summer vacation), but the pastries and sandwiches just aren't that good. None of the sandwiches really stood out, and the bread was a little hard on the edges. The scone was good, but the others-chocolate bar, lemon custard, and macarons were pretty average too (and slightly too sweet). But then again, I have yet to have good afternoon tea in Chicago, so I would say it's still worth a try--come for the ambiance and ~vibes~ read more

I haven't been there but I called about Sunday brunch and was told it costs $95 per adult. I'm sure it's wonderful but wow!

Afternoon tea at the Peninsula? I can't think of a more indulgent, fabulous way to spend a Sunday. I usually don't even spend this much on dinner, but from the surroundings to the service to the premium tea and pretty food, high tea is definitely worth three of those crisp twenty dollar bills. And that does include tax, gratuity and a glass of champagne... did I just write tea AND champagne? Mais, bien sûr! The room itself is open, full of natural beaming light and is full-on gorgeous. Not a detail is overlooked! Our table was formally set with the finest of tea china... fancy, indeed! But what's on the table is what ultimately seduced me: a collection of exquisite scones, Parisian macaroons, tarts, dainty sandwiches, and accoutrements including jellies and my favorite, the creamy lemon curd. I would've slathered this on everything, if only it was ladylike to do so! Of course, the Peninsula's tea collection is deep and impressive. I sipped on the ginger herbal and for once, I think I preferred this over champagne. I highly recommend it! The best part of the experience is lingering over this elegant spread for a good couple of hours. Really, this is lady bonding at its best. So, make a reservation with your best girls, grab your pearls, don your finest frocks and get ready to be dazzled! I can't wait until my sister moves here so we can do this together! read more

You know, there just isn't a lot of room for Fancy in this world anymore. Doesn't it seem that way? Gone are the days of wearing a tux to the opera, gone are the days of actually "dressing for dinner". Heck, you are lucky if you attend a wedding where someone doesn't show up in khaki's or a jean skirt anymore. Which is why... with a delightfully long, content sigh... afternoon tea is still Fancy. (That's Fancy with a capital "F" for all you people who insist on wearing sweatpants on an airplane.) The Lobby at the Peninsula is decidedly Fancy. You have two story ceilings, complete with gilded domes, a sharp-looking waitstaff, a gorgeous set of china to dine from, and classical music played live from a balcony overlooking the dining room. Not to mention the tea itself! TELL ME if this isn't super-duper! Black Currant Scones Parisian Macarons Hazelnut Almond Financiers Cannelé Bordelais Pistachio Raspberry Tarts Golden Chocolate Tarts Smoked Salmon, Cucumber & Caviar on Pain de Mie Lobster Egg Salad on Dark Rye Roasted Turkey, Cranberry-Citrus Chutney & Brie on Multi-Grain "Gougères"-Comté Cheese Puffs Hello! Half this stuff is in French! Fantaisie, ooh-la-la and all that yo! Myself, I had the Peninsula Chai, which was delicious and required no superfluous crap like milk or sugar to enhance it. Extend pinky...now! Things were a bit on the pricey side, but heck, Fancy don't come free or cheap, so suck it up. Just go, and make the memory your happy place to go to next time you are in a high end restaurant and the guy at the next table is wearing flip flops and belching. read more

They say confession is good for the soul. I can find the joy of eating food at Arby's just as much as I can at The Signature Room. Both places do what they do very well and while I would never compare the two outside of Yelp, it does bring to the table an interesting point about what you claim to do and what you actually do. Arby's never makes a claim to offer the finest cuts of meat or boast about outstanding service or white table cloths. In the same vain, The Signature Room can boast about those things, but wouldn't lay claim to offering fast service at a great price, something Arby's can turn into a feather and stick in their cap. As a person who dines out across the board, from Arby's to The Signature Room and beyond, I understand the concept of being true to who you are and offering your customers the best food and service for the type of venue you run. So what in the world is wrong with the hoity toity Peninsula Hotel? This is a 5 star hotel, doesn't that automatically say to you they earned those stars based on service and detail? FAIL! I called the hotel 6 weeks before a special occasion to secure a table at one of their famous brunches. The woman on the other end of the phone asked me if I was securing the table for a special occasion. I told her that I was typically reluctant to mention birthdays or anniversaries because it never meant anything in the end. She assured me that in fact The Peninsula not only went above and beyond to ensure their guests had the best experiences possible, but went even further to bring a special experience to anyone celebrating. I confessed that it was a special occasion and she assured me up and down that I wouldn't regret having divulged as much. Six weeks later, my date and I walked to the hotel and entered the lobby-cum-restaurant for a sunny Sunday brunch. First of all, there was no maitre d' or host to be found and when a group of employees finally showed up it was impossible to get anyone's attention. They all seemed busy with something else and couldn't be bothered with checking us in at that moment ... this, despite the fact that there were other people seated and eating. It wasn't like we were early or anything. When I finally got the attention of the host to check in, I gave him my name and he searched for the reservation. There was no reservation. My name, number, my special occasion were nowhere to be found in their system. Fortunately he could still seat us, but it soon became apparent that they were going to be full in no time and that the perimeter table (read "no man's land") was indeed the worst table in the room and that we were being punished for apparently not making a reservation. We decided to have a glass of Champagne with brunch, but after I swilled mine, it became clear we should just have one of the servicepersons bring us the entire bottle. That request took forever. Maybe someone can explain to me how hard it is to bring a bottle of Champagne to two people perfectly willing to pay the $10 for each of the two glasses and for a whole new bottle. The waitperson could hardly believe anyone would be willing to do that which I found shocking! If I want to buy 3 bottles of Champagne you have no cause to question me. The food, in general, was typically brunch-like, nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary though I will say that the chef's at the stations were very friendly and professional and willing to do their part to ensure you didn't leave with a bad taste in your mouth. But I still think the hotel brunch at the now-defunct Dining Room at The Ritz was light-years ahead of anything The Peninsula was offering. The bottom line is that the service at a hotel known for service was appalling, even worse than the experience on the actual day was the promises made by the telephone representative who didn't even secure the reservation causing me embarrassment, suspicion and a bad table with even worse service. I can forgive mediocre food if the service is stellar, at the same time, even the most glorious meal can be marred by bad service. I'm officially taking away 4 of The Peninsula's 5 stars. read more

Tea at the Lobby is quite the experience. From the light-soaked room and the comfy chairs at the tables that are far enough away from the other tables so as to create your own little world of tea time to the beautifully presented finger food, the ambiance is simply lovely. Classy. Elegant. At my table were some very lovely ladies, all decked out in their Sunday's finest, and on our best behavior. Our very long table was adorned with three-tiered trays displaying the most lovely little finger food. From beautiful little sandwiches with turkey, brie and cranberries to the macaron-like coconut cookies, each morsel was beautiful and quite tasty. The tea was lovely and served in beautiful ceramic tea pots with matching tea cups. Pinkies up, ladies. No slouching in here. My choice was ginger, an herbal tea, that was so delightful, I didn't require any sort of sweetener. Marvelous. Oh, and did I mention that you can opt for a glass of champagne with your tea? Well, everyone knows that the most refined ladies serve tea with champagne (at least in my world) so we all imbibed on a bit of the bubbly as well. Very pricey, at least for this lady. I spent $60 for the lot which included the bubbles. Lovely for a special occasion or celebration, tea at the Lobby will not disappoint the refined ladies in your life. Or the not-so-refined ladies that can clean up nicely (like moi!) read more

Phew. Ok. Where to start? First off, holy fucking white people. I felt like I was at a Ronald Reagan Memorial convention hosted by AARP. I've never seen so many pairs of khaki pants in my life. LL Bean should have sent a photographer. Anyway. The experience was not good. Maybe it's because I went for Restaurant Week and they don't care about the poors, but everything was pretty disappointing. Apple and endive salad? So-so. Short rib was pretty damn dry. Then, we had the pleasure of waiting 30+ minutes between our entree and desert. No exaggeration. Every time our waiter came to the table he gave the impression that desert was on its way. After 10 minutes the plates were cleared. 10 minutes later the silverware was set out. 10 minutes later our desert arrived. Guys I don't even like desert that much. 2 stars for the nice space and the fact that being white, I fit right in. read more

We took breakfast here not too long ago with a fellow Yelper and her beau. It was divine. The Peninsula is a delightful locale on its own, but our experience at The Lobby was pure gastronomical lust. Though the egg white frittata was perfect with its inclusion of asparagus, spinach, leeks, Portobello mushrooms and tomatoes, my accommodated request to add aged white cheddar kicked it up a notch to Sin City. My spouse had the almond ricotta hot cakes with a Grand Marnier sauce, and had to continually swat us away from his platter. Ridiculously beautiful Kellan allowed us to sample her stuffed French Toast, which was lovely but a bit too sweet for my taste. Attentive service was complemented by breathtaking surroundings, including our occasional pause to take in the Michigan Avenue view. By the time we were done with all this and mimosas, the rest of the day was icing. There's no way to go wrong here. We'll certainly return. read more

We had our Thanksgiving buffet meal at The Lobby and it was quite the treat. Exquisite ambience, decor, service and experience. The food options were endless. Essentially whatever you wanted for a Thanksgiving meal, it was there, made from scratch, and of high quality ingredients and meats. From top to bottom everything was wonderful, enough said. read more

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I came here for Sunday brunch the last time I was in Chicago, as a last hurrah before heading home later that day. Wow, was this fancy! Thankfully, I was prepared from having experienced the Pen's chocolate bar in The Lobby last year (see other review). I was lukewarm on the chocolate bar, but I really liked Sunday brunch, which had a lot of the better chocolate treats, along with a much wider overall selection of food, including tasty eggs benedict, sushi (yum!), oysters, fruit, and a delectable selection of cheeses. And of course, great coffee and the usual selection of beverages at a brunch. Eating brunch at The Lobby felt like a really classy experience, with the piano playing in the background, beautiful decor, and nice views of the streets of Chicago. We were well taken care of by the staff, even though this was a buffet. The Lobby is a good alternative to fancy chain like the Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons for brunch. read more

Totally worth the cost. Went today for afternoon tea. It is $65 for the tea, desserts, sandwiches or $78 if you want to add a glass of Moet (don't mind if I do)! There was another sparkling option, cant recall what brand or price point, but it was above the $78 tag. There are plenty of options for tea- some loose and some bags. I chose the black vanilla bean which was nice with a little cream. It was also constantly refilled by our server. To eat, we skipped the seafood due to an allergy st the table. Still, we received cucumber sandwiches, chicken salad sandwiches, macaroons, chocolate brownie type desserts, pistachio raspberry cakes, two types of scones with accompaniments, cookies, and little jam tarts. TONS of food, which they were nice enough to pack up when we didn't finish it all. It was my moms birthday, so they also brought out a chocolate cake with berries which was delicious and appreciated. Did I mention the live music? Such a nice touch. Great location for a ladies day out, date, or celebration. read more

Took my mom here for the afternoon tea on Sunday for her birthday. She was visiting from Ohio and I wanted to take her somewhere she couldn't go back home. The Lobby at the Peninsula was it! We originally had plans to go on Saturday, which I maybe would have preferred because the dining area was pretty empty on Sunday. Still, since the Sunday tea is later (4:00-6:00pm), we did get to see the view in the day and all lit up at night (and they bring out candles for the tables when it gets darker). We both got the traditional tea for $36. My biggest and practically only complaint (and the reason why I knocked off a star) is that they only offer TWO green tea selections (gunpowder and sencha) in their proprietary tea listing. The tea selection leaves quite a bit to be desired in my opinion. Both the teas we ordered were good, but with tea becoming the sensation it is, I can't believe I'm the only one who would like a larger pool to choose from. Other than that, it was astounding. They brought out the selection of savories (curry chicken wrap, grilled veggie sandwich, smoked salmon sandwich, potato quiche) with the sweets (plate full of tiny, perfect deserts from mini key lime pie to cheesecake brownie) in a pretty tower of plates. You also get a basket of cookies and scones with the lemon curd, devonshire cream (swoon!) and a homemade jelly (good, but I couldn't lay off the lemon curd and cream). They also brought out a sour cherry souffle which was the best I've ever had. My mom got a special dessert to celebrate her birthday which I thought was a nice touch. The service was incredible. I never felt rushed or over attended-to. I hate when servers hover. One employee saw my mom picking the cilantro out of her chicken curry wrap (she detests the stuff, but I love it) and immediately brought her another quiche to replace it along with two extra cucumber sandwiches. (I was so happy about this because what's high tea without cucumber sandwiches, right?) All in all, it was a great time and I recommend it for any girly special occasion or celebration. read more

Afternoon Tea at the Peninsula = ultra classy yet overrated. With live string quartet music in the background and the fancy hats for display, the atmosphere is formal and austere. I was happy we had a table near the floor-to-ceiling windows to let in a lot of light and help us feel not so stuffy. My group of six ordered the champagne with our tea service and thoroughly enjoyed the plethora of tea choices. (Each one of us got a different pot.) The server was extremely helpful in suggesting flavors that catered to our taste buds. However, the food was honestly disappointing. The sweet treats were beautiful, but out of all of them, the one with the most depth in flavor was the chocolate/peanut butter cake with gold flake. It was rich, decadent, but not too sweet. The others (tarts, marzipan, etc.) were not terrible but also did not really stand out too much to me. In fact, they all felt a bit flat or expected. What was worse were the tea sandwiches. There were four or five varieties, all decked out in heavy mayo - chicken salad in mayo, smoked salmon with mayo, tuna with mayo, etc. They were small in size but not at all dainty in flavor. And, again, all pretty bland. It was definitely worth the experience of trying out the place, but I would probably only return for a special occasion. read more

I know that I have the reputation of being a beer garden lovin' strong 'Sconnie gal, but sometimes I like to class it up and get all fancy. A group of my lady friends and I go to tea once a month at various places around town. This month we took it to the next level and went to The Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel. Divine! You wouldn't think that little finger sandwiches would fill you up, but they do. The lobster egg salad sandwich was my favorite. It was accompanied by a turkey sandwich and a salmon dill sandwich. Yummers! There were also assorted sweets and pastries along with scones and little mini brioche breads. Of course I slathered everything with lemon curd and jam, which tasted like it was freshly made. Tea? Oh yeah, we drank that too. I chose the Marrakesh Mint tea, which came in a giant Wedgwood china teapot. You also have the option of adding a glass of Brut or Rose champagne, which I did (natch!) This tea is kind of high end, so it's an indulgence and not something that I would do every day. Also, there was a weird mix up with the bill. Our server decided to average the cost out per person, which meant that the three girls who didn't have champagne had to pay a portion of the tab for the two girls who did. Weird. We rectified that immediately. read more

Got $65 (not including tax and gratuity) burning a hole in your pocket? Then hit the Sunday brunch at the Peninsula. The Peninsula is the ultimate in brunch opulence. Want lobster? Yes! An omelet with sushi? Got it. A plate with brioche French toast on one side, and prime rib on the other? Done. Truffled herb-roasted chicken and petit fours for dessert? No problem. Seriously, though, this is a hell of a brunch. The variety and quality of the food is mindblowing. It is perfect for impressing the in-laws when they're visiting from Cleveland, or if you don't have in-laws, it will work just as well as your mom or that Gold Coast debutante that you're trying to win over. The Lobby restaurant is approachably elegant, with soaring ceilings and spectacular views of the Magnificant Mile. The service, as is typical of the Peninsula, is flawless. read more

I didn't eat here, but I did enjoy a coffee while waiting for my family to pick me up after dinner at Avenues. Even though the Saturday evening Chocolate Bar was going on I was treated like a valued guest and the coffee was provided free of charge as I sat and sipped while listening to live jazz. Service like that is the sort of reason places like the Peninsula are so highly regarded and all things being equal even though I tend to stay at lesser hotels, they are the things that seperate a "good" hotel from a "great" hotel. For what its worth, the chocolates actually looked excellent and the setting was lovely. More on Avenues, a reason in and of itself to visit the Peninsula, to come. read more

In chicago for business the next two weeks and was excited to go to the Peninsula from all the reviews and from referrals of friends in town. Went for brunch this past weekend 9/30 and was expecting to be wowed. Unfortnately, the experience was not. Service as we came in was so slow. They workers seemed more concerned about some internal issue rather than actually greeting us. They all were talking amongst themselves and just talked loudly on their own. After I finally flagged someone down, the slow and unusually not nice service continued the whole meal. The service experience carried over to our thoughts on the meal and spoiled it for us. I wish we had a better experience with service to really enjoy the meal. We are suppose to come back this coming weekend with other colleagues in the area but I think I may ask them for other place. read more

Sunday brunch - definitely not worth the $$$. Expected so much more given the price tag. I think the only thing that didn't disappoint was the dessert table. Great selection of various dessert, although, probably one of the worst tiramisu out there. First off, I think only coffee and OJ are included in brunch. Any other beverage is extra and it is NOT cheap. Double digits for a flute or mimosa? No, thank you. There are a lot of different food stations around, but the selection overall is not very impressive. Seafood selection, outside of sushi/sashimi section is limited to oysters and steamed shrimp with very infrequently added crab. You have to run when fresh plate of shrimp is brought in, to find any crab at all. If you're into seafood, I recommend spending money on brunch at Shaw's. Honestly, there was nothing very memorable about this brunch, unless you like desserts. Definitely not coming back. read more

The table was covered with desserts. Adorable tiny desserts. Adorable tiny chocolate desserts. I was in heaven. I was at the chocolate bar at the Peninsula. I can only give 4 stars because I'm a dark chocolate kind of girl, and the dark chocolate options were actually quite limited. But there was a delicious white chocolate mousse cup with raspberries. And a teeny tiny chocolate creme brulee. And juicy, perfectly ripe chocolate-covered strawberries. Chocolate-drizzled soft pretzels provided a little break in the chocolate intensity. There were cream puffs and lollipops and little bitty chocolate cakes. As I said - heaven. My chocolate martini was as decadent as the desserts, and the wait staff was really nice and attentive - it's the kind of place where they fold your napkin for you when you go to the bathroom to purge so you can make another buffet run. In other words, an awesome birthday retreat from the ordinary. read more

I went to the Lobby at the Peninsula to celebrate my birthday and I was not disappointed. We just wanted to have lunch since we were with a baby and it's hard to find a nice place to have dinner where a baby would be welcome. The Lobby was bright and airy , had plenty of room to park a baby stroller next to the table and was not nearly as snooty as I would have expected. Most of the people at our table ordered high tea but a few ordered from the regular lunch menu, which is a nice option for those who crave something more traditional like a huge, juicy burger. (I had a bite of that huge, juicy burger and it was tasty) The high tea was excellent although the service was a little confusing as at least four different people took care of our table at some point. Also, at times it was hard to flag someone down to order something but the food and overall experience far outweighs any inconvenience caused by that. With high tea, you of course get to choose your tea from an extensive list. Then you are served a tiered platter of bite-sized sweet and savory things or to put it elegantly, "snackies." I believe the variety is always similar so here is what I can recall that was on our plates: bottom plate- beef wraps with vegetables, quiches, salmon and cream cheese sandwiches with caviar; middle plate - chocolate cheesecake, apricot crumble, chocolate covered cake w/raspberry, mango cream tart; top platter - macaroon, assorted scones. There are a handful of things I can't remember but let me assure you everything was DELICIOUS. Those mango cream tarts still call out to me in my dreams. The best part is that you can request to have more of anything on your platter, so it is really an all-you-can-eat affair lest you're afraid that dainty sandwiches and desserts aren't going to fill you up. Let's just say I waddled out of there clutching my distended stomach. To sum up this monster of a review , I loved the high tea at The Lobby. I'd recommend it for anyone celebrating a special occasion or to anyone who has $28 burning a hole in their pocket. I recommend reservations, especially because they ask you if you're celebrating something special and if you are they'll surprise you with something special at the end. I guess this is also a decent place to spot whatever celebrity may be in town, my mom saw the brother from "Everybody Loves Raymond" in the elevator if that's any incentive. read more

I went here with three friends for dinner on a Friday evening. The restaurant is located in the lobby at the Peninsula (thus the name). They are similarly creative with the name of the hotel bar: The Bar. The space is elegant; you definitely feel like you're in a nice restaurant. If you're looking for wine by the bottle, their wine list is a book, with a table of contents and everything. There are many, many choices from all over the world. I was the only one having wine, so I went with something from their much smaller by-the-glass selection. Everyone in my group liked their food. The highlight of the meal for me was the truffled mac & cheese, which I ordered an appetizer-sized portion of to start. It was freaking delicious. Like lick-your-bowl-clean good. But it was a nice restaurant, so I didn't actually lick my bowl clean. I do have SOME class! Others started with a soup or salad, and reported they were good as well. I had the pork chop for dinner. The presentation was nice. The chop was a good, hearty cut but was a little plain. I asked for it medium-well but it seemed like it came out well-done to me; it was just a touch dry. It was still good, but fell short of being 5-star worthy. My companions reported their entrees were good as well. We were too full for dessert. The service was good. We weren't kept waiting and water glasses were refilled regularly. I think this place is kind of hidden away up in the Peninsula lobby. I'm not sure how many people know it exists. If you're looking for a good meal downtown on a weekend night and didn't make reservations somewhere, check out The Lobby. read more

We had tea time in the afternoon for our baby shower and it was wonderful. Everyone gets their own beautiful pot of tea of choice (they use Mighty Leaf) and an assortment of sandwiches, sweets and scones with dips (yum) & cookies. They refil upon request and the atmosphere is very pleasant. This is a wondeful place for a special event with an intimate crowd. They have either long or round tables. Definitely something to try at least once. read more

Jacky and I hit The Lobby last night after some evening shopping, and for the first time - decided to do dinner here...interestingly, I see that nobody has mentioned the amazing dinner menu!? We come here every Christmas for Tea, and that is a five star experience, no question. No further details needed...it's Chicago's 'tea in the big city at a fancy hotel' experience (better than The Drake...sorry, native Chicagoans). SO -- dinner last night -- Jacky got our rezz because of the Chocolate Bar, and we did dinner beforehand: WHAT A MENU!!! Phenomenal selection... First, there were some great froofy drinks to go along with the normal hotel fare: strawberry, champagne and campari cordials, etc. etc. -- Asian influence throughout: try 'The Tryst' - you won't be sorry! Then -- we got some 'savouries,' and all of them looked good: cheese plate, homemade tortilla chips, sushi/sashimi, duck rolls, etc. We got the sushi and sashimi, and it was unbelievable fresh and beautiful: ebi, unagi, hamachi, california roll, salmon, spicy tuna roll, octopus salad -- very satisfied. For entrees, Jacky was torn between the Szechwan Prawns (their signature dish), or a special diver scallop and fava bean cassoulet that sounded incredible. She opted for the Prawns and was in heaven -- she loved it. For me -- who eats everything -- I was torn...Osso Bucco, Steaks, the scallops, Vietnamese Market noodles with Kobe beef, chicken and shrimp -- augh! But Iris, our server who is here from Hong Kong for a one year internship guided me well...to the Kobe Burger served with aged stilton with sweet potato fries and a white truffle aioli....best. burger. ever. I'm not kidding -- Moody's, Monk's, In 'N Out, forget it...competition over. This burger was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Now -- HUGE disclaimer...huge. It was $28. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know...grotesque. That's too much for anything that has 'burger' in the title. But folks: it was worth every penny. I can't rave about this enough. Then, we moved to the chocolate bar. meh. The theme for May (different chocolate theme each month) was "flowers." yech! So everything had some flower element associated with it...as in, half of the pieces on the decadent table tasted like dish soap. Verbena, violets, lavender, capsicum, petunias, blah blah...decorations? Yes. In my mousse, apple strudel, creme brulee or tart? No. So thumbs down for May's floral rendition of choco-fest from me. But overall, a five star experience. It ain't a cheap date, but it was well worth the extravagant setting, the gorgeous jazz (don't forget the live jazz...they were tremendous...), the amazing dinner and ambience. read more

My boyfriend and I love chocolate. When I heard about the chocolate bar at the Lobby I know this was where i was taking him for his birthday dinner. Our mouths watered for a week in anticipation of all the chocolate options and we were absolutely not disappointed with the spread. There was everything from traditional to completely unexpected and it was all delicious, creative, and almost worth the price you pay per person. Almost. It's very hard to eat $35 worth of chocolate in one sitting but we sure as hell did our best. The rest of the experience was a disappointment. The service was ok but not phenomenal. Frankly the person that took my reservation over the phone two weeks prior to dinner was more friendly than our server. Speaking of reservations, I mentioned to them at the time that it was a birthday celebration. I didn't expect them to do anything extravagant, but they did absolutely nothing for us. No special greeting, no happy birthday from the server, no complimentary dessert. Several months ago during my birthday celebration all of the above happened at a different restaurant and I guess I expected a place as reputable as the Peninsula to do at least the same. But... nope. Not a word. Dinner was just ok. The salmon was slightly dry and overcooked but my fillet was wonderful although it was basically the only thing on the plate with some sauce and a few slices of tomato. Presentation was completely lacking. Of course the Peninsula is a beautiful hotel with a fantastic feeling of luxury. The chocolate bar was amazing and the live jazz performance was a great and I enjoyed one of the best cappuccinos I've ever had in my life. But overall I just wasn't that impressed. read more

Picture this: You have been dating the man of your dreams for a full year. Life is blitz so you move in together. Where should you go out for a beautiful and romantic afternoon tea time on your anniversary? I know! I know! Take your loved one to the Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel. I went there and it was very romantic, very delicious and all together a tea time to remember. When you enter the building, you need to make your way to the lobby and look right. There, you will see the seating area for the Lobby restaurant. When you are seated you may hear the sound of beautiful violin music play overhead by the live preformer on the overhead stage. We ordered the wonderful afternoon tea and ~i guess~ appetizer selection. I believe it was $38 per person, but well worth it. You get three tiers of bite sized sweets, scones and sandwiches along with a very large single person pot of tea. You choose what type of tea you desire. The pot had around five full cups of tea. So if you like tea or if you have a special someone in your life, then go to the Lobby in the Peninsula to have a spot of tea and Have Fun!!! read more

I have had high tea here many times. And tea/food wise, I think they offer the best high tea experience in all of Chicago! I would have given the Peninsula 5 stars.. but everytime I go the waitstaff seems to disappear at some point and I have always had to flag them down and ask for the check, or something else. I understand the desire to not hound your guests- but don't neglect them either! The only times this hasn't happened was during the holiday season when the lobby is packed. read more

Hubby and I went last night for our 6th wedding anniversary...granted, it was a Monday night, so we pretty much had the (huge ) place to ourselves, but I have to say that the service (as well as the food) went above and beyond... We were greeted warmly and seated immediately, by the window. Our waitress, Amber, gave some recommendations for appetizers as well as wine (my husband had octupus, which he loved, and I had the chilled asparagus soup, which was served beautifully, and tasted just as perfect). We ordered the whole roasted chicken for two, based on previous Yelp recommendations...and it was as incredible as everyone said it would be...we usually never get chicken at restaurants, because we always figure that it'll be boring and the usual...this was totally not. Tender, perfectly seasoned chicken with the most delicious baby potatoes on the side.. My husband told them that it was our anniversary, so they brought us two glasses of an amazing champagne, complimentary...as well as a beautiful (and seriously delicious) chocolate/hazelnut dessert, with "Happy Anniversary" written on a piece of white chocolate...so sweet...we ordered coffee and they brought out truffles to go with it. When we said that we were totally full and asked to take the truffles home to our daughter, they not only packaged them up, but also brought 2 small packaged carrot cakes to take home AND a box of chocolates as gifts. WAY Above and Beyond...oh, and the bill was way less than we expected for such a nice place... We were really impressed and truly had an amazing dinner with perfect romantic ambiance (I forgot to mention that there was really (not elevator, but popular) nice music playing, and impeccable service. Huge props to Amber and the rest of the staff last night. We will definitely be back! read more

Imagine Willy Wonka shacking up in a French colonial plantation and you get the gist of the weekend choco-rama at the Peninsula. Nevertheless, service lacks and can be spacey, which could be excusable at any place but here. During visits at peak times the lack of staff slowed service which noticeably hindered my alcohol imbibing. Once the service was so horrid that I left the smallest tip ever ($6 tip on a $114 tab). However like a tweaking meth junkie, I just can't say no to the Peninsula's intoxicating, gilded opulence and chocolate decadence. +6 for the chocolate, ambiance, entertainment and enough space so that you won't be bothered by poseurs; -2 for the unpredictable service and liberal guilt for spending so much money on nothing but alcohol and chocolate; -2 for failing to meet the higher standard to which the Peninsula should be held. Visit the original or Bangkok Peninsula and you'll understand. Can't wait til the Shangri-La and the Mandarin Oriental open. read more

The Lobby at The Peninsula, and Chef Lee Wolen in particular, have made it clear to me that customer satisfaction is of paramount importance to their success. In fact, as beautiful as its cuisine is-- and to be clear, The Lobby serves some of the most expertly prepared food I've ever enjoyed-- hospitality at The Lobby occupies a realm of excellence that few restaurants achieve. After a previous dining experience to celebrate a friend's birthday, we were invited back to celebrate my big day, as well. Birthdays are one of the few luxuries most of us get to enjoy, and I'm very appreciate of establishments that understand the privilege of celebrating special occasions with their patrons. Personally speaking, I just enjoyed one of my most memorable birthday dinners, and I have Chef Wolen and his staff to thank for such an exceptional experience. Upon arriving, we were seated immediately, and received visits from several staff members who took a genuine interest in insuring our comfort and satisfaction. I've dined at restaurants where this behavior can quickly become unwelcome, but the staff of The Lobby are polite without being overbearing, and in my experience, only serve to augment the dining experience. If the food weren't so damn good, one could easily write an entire review based on the service alone. But the food really is that good. I've been very fortunate to eat well, and eat well globally; The Lobby's cuisine is among the best à la carte I've eaten. Chef Wolen doesn't rest on the reputation he's established; I can only eat in the here and now, and what I have during each visit to The Lobby is outstanding beyond compare. Foods are expertly prepared, plated like works of art, and taste every bit as good as one could hope. I continue to find myself stunned by the quality and consistency of Chef Wolen's dishes. Even when I enjoy a great meal, it's rare that every plate is a winner. Dinner at The Lobby is frequently such a meal, however, and it certainly was this evening. We began with an amuse of corn soup and lobster (a sizable chunk, too), and were then treated to a work-in-progress artichoke + fennel salad that satisfied on many levels (salt, sweet, fragrant, blah blah blah). For appetizers, we enjoyed plates of octopus + chorizo, foie gras + blueberry, and ricotta gnochi. Each dish was excellent individually, complemented one another, and left us hungering for seconds. Realistically though, we had so much damn food tonight that we were not left wanting for anything more. Following appetizers, we were offered a gorgeous plate of skate cheek and tomato consomme. Fish cheek is a delicacy (and yields a small serving in comparison to the fish as a whole), so I was touched that the kitchen would send our table such an outstanding dish. We were then served our mains: lamb loin for my friend, tagliolini + truffle for me. I needn't write that each dish was excellent, but each was. The lamb was cooked to perfection and served with medallions of sausage; my pasta was topped with ample truffle and a cream sauce that bathed my tongue in a joy. We finished our evening with two desserts: a passion fruit soufflé, and a chocolate cremeux that was somewhere between a pudding and a fudge-- and supremely decadent. We all have a choice when it comes to where we dine, and where we celebrate life's special occasions. Chef Wolen and his staff have demonstrated, beyond a doubt, that The Lobby is a worthy host for any special celebration, and a must for dining at its very best. read more