Server Tomas and wait staff were exceptional...5 Food mediocre. Atmosphere terrible. Wine List sub par. Continuous phone talking and yelling at an adjacent table. General Manager handled the distraction and impact on our dining experience with a dismissive laugh and "they are checking out soon." The Palm was once iconic. Tonight in Chicago it was more like Titanic. read more

This has to be one of the worst experiences I have ever had at a restaurant bar. It is currently 3/26/26 at 3:16 PM, and I am sitting here writing this in real time because I am genuinely in disbelief at how I am being treated. Both my bartender and the manager on duty have been extremely dismissive from the moment I sat down. I want to be very careful with my words, because I do not make accusations lightly, but the way I am being treated feels off. It is uncomfortable, and it is hard not to question why. I walked in dressed very casually, nothing flashy, just relaxed and comfortable, and ever since I sat at the bar I have felt completely overlooked. It should not matter what someone is wearing when they walk into an establishment like this, especially a hotel, but the difference in how I am being treated now compared to previous visits is hard to ignore. I am still sitting here waiting to be acknowledged properly. I did manage to order one drink, but that interaction alone felt dismissive. Since then, I have been trying to make eye contact with the bartender, Jessica, so I could place another order or simply get basic service, and she continues to walk right past me as if I am not even there. There are only about five people sitting at the bar, so it is not as though the staff is overwhelmed or unable to keep up. At this point, it feels intentional, and that is what makes the experience so frustrating. The drink I received was also not good, which only adds to the overall disappointment. However, my main concern is not even the quality of the drink or the food, it is the lack of basic customer service and common courtesy. I have never in my life felt the need to sit in a restaurant and write a review while still there, but I have also never felt this ignored or out of place in an environment that is supposed to be welcoming. I even asked for the bartender's name, which is Jessica, and the dismissive behavior continued without any change. She can clearly see me sitting here, and at this point she can see me writing this review, yet there has still been no effort to acknowledge me or correct the situation. That alone speaks volumes. I also interacted with the manager on duty, Travis, and unfortunately that experience was just as disappointing. There was no sense of urgency, no accountability, and no attempt to turn the situation around. When issues like this arise, especially in a hospitality setting, you expect management to step in and make things right, but that did not happen here. What makes this even more frustrating is that I have been here before, and my previous experience was amazing. The service was attentive, the food was great, and I left feeling like a valued customer. That is the reason I came back. This time, however, it feels like a completely different place. I ordered meatballs and honestly debated getting up and leaving before they arrived, but I had already placed the order so I stayed. When they finally came out, they were not good at all, which only added to the disappointment. The only positive part of this entire experience was the individual who brought the food out. They were kind, polite, and the only person who showed any level of basic customer service. It is incredibly disappointing to have this kind of experience at a hotel, where a certain level of service is expected. The inconsistency is what stands out the most. When I have come in dressed up in the past, I was treated like a valued guest, almost like royalty. Today, dressed casually, I am being treated like I do not matter. Regardless of how I am dressed, I am still a paying customer, and my presence should be acknowledged and respected. At this point, I feel uncomfortable, unwelcome, and honestly frustrated. No one should have to question whether they are being ignored because of how they look or how they are dressed. Good customer service should be consistent across the board. Overall, this has been one of the most disappointing and frustrating dining experiences I have ever had. Based on today's experience alone, I would not recommend this place to anyone. read more

We visited last night for a retirement dinner for a dear colleague and health care leader. We had a set menu with a reserved private space. The restaurant was a short walk from our hotel. The service was stellar. We started with Shrimp in Basil Cream and Cherry Tomato & Mozzarella Skewers. I had the Lobster Bisque for my first course. The Tuscan Salmon was my entree and it was cooked well-done to perfection--just how I like it. Our dessert with tiramisu. I highly recommend this location for a group dinner with family/colleagues. It's also great for a romantic or business dinner. I'd recommend rideshare or valet parking which they offer. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Salmon - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Friendly and efficient service. The meatball was delicious and a good size portion. There is an extensive wine list and the cocktails menu was good. It's a convenient spot for grabbing a drink before a boat cruise. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Meatball - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Wonderful spot within the Swissotel to grab lunch or dinner. Luis, our server was wonderful. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. It's a steakhouse and feels elegant but there's a nice variety on the menu. Both salads we got for lunch were delicious! The Gigi salad and the steak salad! Yum! read more

The Palm - Chicago - Gigi Salad - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Unforgettable Dinner at The Palm - Chicago The Palm absolutely deserves all five stars! My dinner was outstanding from start to finish. The Beeman Ranch Wagyu filet was the best steak I've ever had -- perfectly cooked, tender, and full of rich flavor. My bartender, Mike, was exceptional -- knowledgeable, kind, and incredibly attentive. Every recommendation he made, from the wine to the sides, was spot on. The only thing that didn't quite hit for me was the carrot cake (which he didn't recommend), but everything else was flawless. Also I loved the lobster bisque but...... they brought the bowl to me with just the lobster in the middle which was nice to see how much lobster I was getting. Then they poured the bisque from a pitcher over it.... The only problem? It was just lukewarm at best. The bisque needs to be hot. If you're looking for incredible food, top-tier service, and a welcoming atmosphere, The Palm is an absolute must. I'll definitely be back! Also Mike needs a raise he's fantastic! read more

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I checked into the Swissotel and walked downstairs to eat the bar. Bar staff was great. Ordered a Caesar salad, Veal chop broiled medium and augratin potatoes. The salad was fine but it was huge pieces of romaine that required time to cut it to eat. The veal chop ($69) was a joke. Look at the photo. It was raw around the bone and so salty. Seemed it was only seasoned on one side. The potato dish was a liquid soup with little bits of potato. The wine was great. $147 for one. Doubtful I will make a return trip. The Palm used to be high quality. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Veal chop -how it was served to me - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The Palm has always been one of my fave places & still is till this day. As they say; "What began as a restaurant became a second home to a vibrant cast of artists and writers, tycoons and civic leaders, screen stars and working families." I used to Live in NYC. I was always a regular at The Palm NYC. I also loved the location in the Hampton's. When I moved to Dallas, I was also a regular at that location, till they shut it down. Still heartbroken over that. It was my favorite place. Anyhoo, we usually stay at the Swissotel just so we can go to "The Palm" in the lobby. They serve brekkie here & they have the most incredible eggs benny at this location. We have it every time we visit. Eggs Benny with salmon & spinach. Creamy rich hollandaise sauce on top perfectly poached eggs with smoked salmon & flash fried spinach. Comes with the most amazing home fries. Superb. The perfect way to start your day in the windy city. So many things to do, so much beauty, boundless inspiration and creativity awaits the journey of the free artistic soul. "I DREAM MY PAINTING, AND THEN I PAINT MY DREAM." But first, "The Palm salmon & spinach Eggs benny." Highest Recommendations. read more

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Expensive. The calamari was good and a lege portion. The osso buco was decent but not exceptional and could have had less salt and more wine flavor. I wouldn't come here again it was just convenient as I was staying at the hotel and didn't want to fight the weather and walk to michigan avenue. The service was ok but they kept trying to take my food before I was finished. The cocktail and wine list is very overpriced. The ambience was ok and relatively quiet as there were few customers. read more

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The Palm is the Hotel Restaurant for the Swissotel Hotel on Wacker Drive near the Chicago Lakefront Trail. It is a steak house and they charge steak house prices - although there are other items on the menu besides meat. I never eat at hotel restaurants - Unless I am doing business, AND there is no time to walk to a place with more reasonably priced food, AND I need peace and quiet for a serious conversation. That's a lot of ANDs. But if all the and's apply, I just reconcile myself to spending a lot of money for lunch. The Palm provides perfectly reasonable value. I paid a gold bar, but I got a lunch more or less worth the gold bar. The room was quiet. The room was beautiful. We could say what had to be said My guest got a respectable meal. I had a steak salad - which is not a bad choice in an establishment that specializes in steak. Creamed spinach - that classic steakhouse side dish - was perfectly lovely as well. My conversation mate had some sort of sandwich. The conversation was pleasurable, intellectually demanding and consequential. So my dining partner may not have tasted a morsel of his or her food. But it was a fine lunch and the Palm produced excellent value. * * * If I was coming back to Chicago, would I make the Palm a destination? No. There is amazing food in Chicago at destination locations at much much lower levels of cost. But if you are doing business at the Swissotel, and wandering around being a Yelper is not what you have time for, The Palm is a reasonable upscale choice. read more

Excellent client dinner at the Palm. Service was top notch, appetizers and dinner were excellent. Nice place to bring a group! After some great apps I had the bolognese' read more

The Palm - Chicago - Bolognese - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Very dissapointed with this food. I ordered the restaurant week special and my boyfriend ordered the same 6oz entree as me both medium and mine came out blue. I asked to cook more and it came back rare still. Portions were good and service was fine but very upset about my steak as I didn't want to eat it after this or ask for them to have to cook it AGAIN. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

I grabbed a carrot cake to go for my birthday and it wasn't the best way to end the day. This has got to be the worst carrot cake I've ever had. read more

Came here for Valentine's Day and they were VERY accommodating to us running late. We gave them a call and they made sure we still got to enjoy our holiday. The service was fast and friendly, and the food was amazing. The restaurant was very neat, clean, and well put together. It wasn't as stuffed as a lot of restaurants are on Valentine's Day. Definitely recommend! Also the Wagyu lasagna was 10/10! read more

The Palm - Chicago - Wagyu Lasagna - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Mila is a terrible server. A bad server, can ruin a sub par meal. The food is so expensive. We waited 55 minutes for our food, and we were her only table at 8pm on a Monday night. No drinks offered, no dessert. She wasn't even kind. She didn't even clear my plate. Plenty of staff, terrible service. read more

This is my favorite steak joint in Chicago. I've been going to The Palm since the early 90s and they never disappoint. Great atmosphere great weight staff and great ambience. read more

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The food is great here. I loved the Wagyu bolognese the most. Great flavor. The Caesar salad was different. Cool presentation, but you gotta cut up the lettuce. I think I got the sea bass one night. I'm not 100% sure which fish I got, but I think it was the sea bass. That was delish and so delicate. For dessert, I ordered the donuts one night and the crème brûlée another night. I prefer the crème brûlée. Loved it with the mint, whipped cream, and berries. The donuts with the chocolate, caramel, and raspberry sauces/drizzles were okay to me. I liked the sauces more than the donuts themselves. The donuts were coated with sugar, but the actual donut was slightly flavorless. STILL, I enjoyed them with the sauces or however way they are properly referred to. The customer service was pleasant. The vibe was relaxed and moderately loud due to the conference attendees, but I didn't mind it at all. I went here three nights in a row for dinner. I'd go back again. Just know though, they are a bit pricey. read more

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I do not know where to start to let everyone know what an exceptional place The Palm Chicago is. This is our third year to do a buyout for our annual meeting reception. The attention to detail, the professionalism, kindness, and especially how wonderful the food and ambience is makes this place amazing. From the kitchen staff to the wait staff, bartenders and management, there are only positive reviews. It just keeps getting better every year. Travis, the general manager, and Emily, the events coordinator are top-notch. Thank you all!! read more

The Palm - Chicago - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The palm is fabulous! The staff never fails to treat me and my family with the most amazing service. They remember us each time we are in. The burger is fabulous!!! A must! Travis is also amazing! read more

The food was shockingly bad. Something was wrong with every course. Front of house was great. Seemed accustomed to hearing complaints about the food. read more

Easy reservations, promptly seated and orders taken with attention to detail. However, the quality of dishes didn't always seem to match their price points, and the decor was fairly boring. We expected more excitement and value for the location. Unfortunately, this is not a destination in itself but if you're stuck at the hotel, you might enjoy it once or even twice. read more

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For years this has been a reliable place for great food and service. Our group of 3 were nicely welcomed and were seated at a spacious booth. We started with a nice Justin Sauvignon Blanc. I love the lobster bisque with the great presentation of a nice pouring around the lobster meat. I had a perfectly cooked seared sea bass, others had the famous Gigi salad and chicken Parmesan which barely fit on the plate. Desserts are always fun here and we shared the Zeppole's, little doughnuts with 3 dips of caramel, chocolate, and jam. Tomas was the perfect server! read more

Recently, I spent 4 nights at The St Regis and The Palm was one of the closest restaurants. I thought I would give it a try at least once. I went all 3/4 evenings for dinner. I had the Gigi salad, the white clam dish and a steak. All three dishes plus the recommended wine pairings were top of the line. I dont know when I will ever find a steak so well prepared again. The Gigi salad is simply imaginative and delicious. The maitre de and my waiter were very attentive. The restaurant was calming and well appointed. read more

Exceptional food, customer service and professionalism. Could not ask for friendlier people who went above and beyond to help with anything we needed. We will definitely be back. If you're looking for a beautiful atmosphere with wonderful food and custumer service, definitely go to The Palm Chicago. Thank you!! read more

Service was great, ambiance is pretty nice for a hotel restaurant, but the food was a bit underwhelming. I did clean all my plates, but the food was not as great as I was hoping. The wagyu flat iron was ok, but for $79 I've definitely had better. The side of mushroom were my favorite for the meal, they were delicious and highly recommend. My wife went with the sea bass which was actually really good. Topped dinner off with some cheesecake, but probably could have done without it. The peachy cocktail was delicious *chefs kiss* All in all, we ended up here because we are staying in the hotel and were too hungover to go anywhere else. Not bad at all, but it's pretty expensive. read more

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I was at the Palm recently with a group, and the service was great and as well as the food.

Aside from the food being decent, based solely on the convenience for lunch, I've independently determined this bar cannot produce a quality old fashioned. It NEVER tastes Iike one, and it's ALWAYS missing the subtlety of [your pick] bourbon. All the add-ins and excess stirring masks the taste and waters it down. All for $3 more than most other places. Moreover, there's no follow-up on the quality of the drink, whether you need anything else or anything. Too busy with friendly banter with teammates to truly pay attention, and this is with 5 people sitting around the bar. Recommend for a nicer lunch, but that's about it. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Are you kidding me folks???? This place is da bomb. Food, fresh, fabulous and served by pleasant people. Great surroundings and decor. Fantastic steak, great chimmichurri, I mean what are you looking for people?? read more

The Palm - Chicago - Crazy fresh and tasty crab Cocktail - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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The Palm is a true classic. Located in or connected to The Swissotel Hotel, it is convenient for visitors staying at the hotel and locals alike. The Lakeshore East neighborhood has really filled in, with a ton of residential high-rise buildings and several hotels. The shape of the var and dining room is unique. It feels like there are a lot of angles, which give a unique and interesting vibe. Floor to ceiling windows allow a ton of natural light in and makes it easy to watch the city nightlife too. A lot of wood beams keep the coziness apparent. I love the staff here. They really make a great place even better. Curt the Manager is incredible. He is so personable and kind. The bartenders are always efficient and friendly. For lunch, I always want to have Darlene take care of me. She is funny and personable. I love all of the food I have tried over the decades. My favorite is the GiGi salad. It is big and filling, yet light and fresh. I could eat it every day! Street parking is still pretty plentiful so there is no reason not to visit! read more

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Such a great happy hour!! We live next door and stop in here quite a bit for HH. Great drinks. Great prices. Great service. Great vibe. This is not your traditional hotel lobby bar scene. Way better than that!! Make sure to get the manhattan - so good. Cheers. read more

I had not been to The Palm in years and it still offers a very nice old-school experience. The steaks are very, very good. I would not say that they are the best in Chicago, but they are not far behind. They also offer some good options for folks who are not into steaks, such as Italian entrees, fish, and lobster. In some ways, they are a jack of all trades, but not a master of all. The $30 crab cake was good, but not quite up to Maryland standards. Side dishes were all excellent. But we were a little disappointed by the limited dessert menu which only featured two items. Drinks were top notch and we found a great bottle of wine at a fair price. The interior is pleasant but it felt a little corporate and tired. Service was very friendly and attentive. I would give the food 4 1/2 stars and the overall value 3 1/2 stars. Despite the sticker shock, we had a lovely time. read more

A crab salad and calamari added up quickly! We were so hungry and needed a quick bite so this was our only option given our time frame. Calamari was fresh and crispy and bonus - they have thinly sliced lemons, deep fried in the mix. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Calamari - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Friendly staff, wonderful service and the food was excellent. We were greeted by everyone from the servers and bartenders to the manager. Everyone was making sure our experience was as fine as possible. Definitely a place to return to for a wonderful evening read more

We expected a great meal but sadly, the food was average. The lobster was over done and our steaks were lukewarm. There was a long delay in getting our drinks. Our waiter was very pleasant, but the overall service wasn't great. We would not go back. read more

We are locals who eat here regularly. The food quality is outstanding. The drinks are "good pours" served by real pros at the bar and the atmosphere is low key and welcoming. We really enjoy our weekly visits! read more

The food is decent and a bit pricey. They do have good lunch specials though. The environment is classy and nice and it's conveniently located in the lobby of the Swissotel. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Salmon risotto - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

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Very very very good experience. The ambiance and service AND food was phenomenal. I had sea bass stuffed with a crab stuffing. It was the smallest portion of food....but it was tasty. I also had shrimp risotto which was good as well. The drinks were strong and mighty!!!! Great experience and I HIGHLY recommend. read more

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Slow service so be aware. Don't come here if you're in a rush. The drinks were nice. I got a maple bourbon sour. And the food was okay. Not the best. The location is convenient read more

I would run. Save your money. St Regis has better food with better prices next door. Weird smell and rude manager.

Love the lobster~ It is so yummy and fresh especially the green part (tomalley). They also helped get the meat out of the claws. Haven't had such yummy lobster for a long time . The black truffle risotto is too salty. They are nice enough to remove it from the check since it is a new dish Spinach is delicious. Service is no double very good. The restaurant decorations are on the traditional side. I highly recommend the lobster for a special occasion. read more

The Palm - Chicago - Lobster; - Steakhouses Near Me - Chicago, Illinois