I came here for a site inspection for work, and stayed at their restaurant for lunch and it was a great experience! Anna gave us a wonderful tour of the event space and then we had lunch, also with great service. We both had salads for lunch and they were full of flavor and presentable. (Great with allergies) lastly, the views were beautiful of Lake Michigan! read more

Theater on the Lake - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Smaller serving sizes than some of the other brunch spots, but the quality of the food is excellent, and the view is spectacular! They have parking for $15.00, and bike racks as well. I highly recommend taking an after brunch stroll down by the lake. A great spot to take your out of town visitors, or a date. read more

Theater on the Lake - View near the restaurant - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Had the pleasure of going here for a work related event Good was great , service was great and the setting was amazing as you have a great view of beautiful Lake Michigan Great place to have dinner or an event read more

Service has gotten lax over the last year or so. Now, apparently has following health codes. I was in there this weekend and someone was seated at a table with a dog which was clearly not a service dog based on behavior and they had it on their lap practically on the table. This was INSIDE the restaurant and the dog was walked thru the entire restaurant. read more

I had a fabulous time ringing in the new year. There was no line, when I arrived the coat check was cash only. I believe there is an ATM available. The venue is very spacious. There was a section for VIP tables and room on the dance floor to cut a rug. I enjoyed the food and the theatrics. The drinks and the bartender was nice. read more

This was my first time at this venue and I may be biased because it was a work conference where every expense was covered, but we had easy valet parking, breakfast parfaits, pastries, fresh fruit and coffee, a mid morning snack of yummy mini BLTs with avocado toast before a delicious lunch and afternoon snacks, an amazing view of the lake (on this 80 degree day in October!) and a lovely venue with both indoor and outdoor space we used during breaks that was laid out well and not overly crowded. A great location off LSD, right on the lake; what's not to like? I had an enjoyable day and would love to come back here. read more

See all

The food here is always wonderful. We shared a crispy tuna appetizer. Delicious - served on crispy rice with avocado, a little Sadie and jalapeño slice. I had French onion soup. A touch of sweetness - I'm guessing Vidalia onions. Friend's Cobb Salad was fresh and tasty, visually appealing. A few glasses of Whispering Angel Rose for a perfect lunch. read more

This was my first time going to Theater on the Lake. Was actually there to play with the band that was playing The food is really good.... And the ambience looking at Lake Michigan is amazing! read more

Theater on the Lake - Theater on the Lake.... Band on this day was " Meadow Lark Lemons " - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

The service was terrible here. We had a reservation and our table was not ready for 30 minutes after the time we had booked our table for. After we were sat, we had two people taking care of us (one of who was covering for our actual server because she never came to our table). Our waitress hardly ever came to our table and the drinks took forever. The fish and chips were so bad I couldn't eat them. read more

We went there to see a neighborhood band play- " In spite of ourselves" which were excellent.. but ate at the bar first... Shared the skirt steak which was very tasty.. Even I enjoyed it.. The people at the bar we very attentive... the atmosphere was amazing, to be on the lake front watching snow come down outside.. all in all a great experience.. the only thing better would have been if I was allowed to bring Reilly, my pup here.. read more

Theater on the Lake - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Been wanting to check out this restaurant for a long time as I had been there for a play but haven't been there to eat. It's a great restaurant in a wonderful vintage building with one of a kind of views of the lake because it's right on the lake! Has an outdoor patio and the place is open year round. Cool and large bar too if you just want to pop in for a drink. Food and cocktails were both really good. Had the brisket French dip, which was excellent. my companion had the fish and chips which was also excellent. Valet parking makes it super easy to get there- service was also very attentive. read more

We came here for dinner and a concert. The location is awesome, and the staff were super friendly and professional. The concert venue was fine. A big open conference hall essentially. But they had booze, so that's good. The performers were excellent. The food here, was...food. Not good food, but food. The fact that they got several things wrong doesn't help. And the quality of the meal seriously left something to be desired. Just really not good. Come here for the show and the location. Get a couple of slightly overpriced drinks. Skip the food. And then go home. read more

Thought I'd help out some people here looking for a cool spot for the Chicago Air and Water Show. Great view of the city and planes. Food and drinks were good and tickets were worth it. Only thing I'd probably recommend is to have separate coolers or stations for water/non alcoholic drinks. Waiting in a huge line for just a bottle of water was a long. Other than that great job by the team. read more

Theater on the Lake - Lakefront Views - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Perfect location in Chicago on the lake can't complain about enjoying a nice view of the city at the same time a view of the lake. nice facility. No parking I would just take a Uber there. read more

Theater on the Lake - people standing in front of a stage - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

On 9-3-23 I attended a wedding at this venue. The views and interior are nice, clean bathrooms. The service was VERY slow during cocktail hour. I just gave up trying to get a drink. The bartenders are unbelievably slow and don't seem to care! The BEER was so warm a couple of guests left to return with coolers of cold beer. I kid you NOT! Now for dinner... the food delivered to our table was COLD! (Meat and fish entrees). Everybody's dinner was cold, the vegetables and potatoes were cold as well. The staff is the biggest problem with this restaurant, they simply don't care about the guests!!! I would Definitely avoid at all costs!!! read more

Super impressed with the renovations on this place. It's lovely! We went to brunch here this morning for the first time. It's a great view, easy to get a table, food is good, and the drinks are great. I ordered the burrito and a kir royale. I wish the burrito had some meat in it, but I guess I could have ordered bacon or sausage as a side. Otherwise it was good. The kir royale was well made, not a huge deal but the menu said it came with raspberries but when it arrived it has blueberries in it. My husband ordered the fruity pebbles French toast and seemed to love it! Looking forward to coming back! read more

Came for a work dinner and had a great time. Our server was phenomenal and I'm sad I didn't get his name to sing his praises on here. Cocktails were excellent and food followed suit. Apps - deviled eggs and elotes. Both packed with flavor and nice little bites. I had the skirt steak and it was cooked perfectly. So tender with yummy shoestring potatoes. Others got the brisket and it seemed to be good but not amazing. Skirt steak was the star by far... until dessert. Bread pudding and key lime pie are a must! Will definitely come back. read more

Came here for drinks after a long bike ride. The server was super nice and quick. It was a nice day and the view was nice from inside. It would be a great venue for a wedding. read more

Theater on the Lake - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

See all

Overrated. Nachos were beyond mediocre and absolutely flavorless. My 5 year old cousin cooks better than this restaurant. Don't recommend their breakfast. Service was great. Very friendly. Ambiance was ok. Adequate. Think if you're a business and you serve brunch traditional items may benefit your business. Pancakes, waffles, crepes, etc. Bagels, croissants, english muffins. Think having non traditional items would be great IF they were seasoned better. Somethin besides eggs toast and potatoes as a traditional option would have been nice. read more

Great view on the patio and the drinks were great. I ordered the wings and they had great flavor. Our waiter Mary was awesome and attentive!

Delicious food, great ambiance and friendly service. Great location / visit the zoo and then eat and then sit on the lakefront. The views are outstanding! read more

I was part of a big family group yesterday with 16 people. Out server, Jason, was absolutely great handling all of our orders and was very attentive to our table. Location is great on the lake. I wasn't a huge fan of the menu but everyone got something they liked. It was a great event. read more

Amy Winehouse tribute...thank you fever and the great staff. What a spectacular venue read more

Theater on the Lake - Candlelight event via Fever - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

First experience eating out since the beginning of the pandemic. Service was friendly and followed COVID protocols. Great place for good views and would go back for drinks with friends! read more

Theater on the Lake - Tomato soup & crispy potatoes - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

Decided to eat hear prior to a Candlelight strings show. First time here since the renovation and I must say, very nice! As others have stated, what's not to like with views of the skyline and the lake. The food was a pleasant surprise. Not a big menu but what they offer, they do well. I started with ceviche of shrimp, guacamole and chips. Very tasty! Then my wife ordered the chicken tacos with elotes which she really enjoyed. I ordered the hanger steak with chimichuri sauce and it was tender and delicious. The potatoes that accompanied the steak were also very good. Finished with some key lime pie from bang bang . The result......2 very satisfied customers! read more

Haven't been here to eat/drink yet, but we will very soon! Wanted to thank the staff that was there today who helped my wife and I reconnect after she went for a run and her watch battery died. Truly appreciate all your help and kindness. We cannot wait to see you all again. read more

We came here for Mother's Day brunch on Sunday and it also happened to be my birthday :) So it was the 3 of us, my husband and 5 year old son and me. I picked this place because we pass it all the time on our bikes and I've never been before! We found free parking on Cannon Drive by the nature museum about a block or 2 away. You can also valet but it's pricey or ride your bike. The location seriously can't be beat! We'll be back in the summer when it's nice out and sit on the patio. Great views! The atmosphere is very cool with the huge open ceilings and the bar situated right in the center of the restaurant. I also like the varying table heights, it's very different. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the service is just fine. Can't beat a free mimosa on Mother's Day, right?! Especially when they are $17 each!! So, yes it is a bit pricier but honestly, you aren't going to come here ALL the time and in my opinion it's worth it. Even just for a cocktail or two. The food is just ok. I read other reviews before coming about food being burnt. Yes, our food came out on the over done side, too. It was edible but just looked too dark for my taste. My son ordered the cereal french toast and wouldn't eat one of them because it was pretty charred.... However, it was delicious. I ordered the vegetable omelet which was good and fresh, and my husband got chicken and potatoes which he said was SOOOO good :) We'll definitely be back in the summer for a bite or at least a drink when we are nearby riding our bikes. I hope the summer brings good business for them. They really deserve it. On a side note, a wedding here would be phenomenal! So anyone looking for a perfect reception or baby/wedding shower, look no further ;) read more

We love offering our fun selfie booth for their events. Location is great and they have valet service. Airbooth Social Chicago read more

Theater on the Lake - Great event venue with Plenty of floor space. Airbooth Social Chicago - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

5 Star for what they accomplished w this space that has been restored and reinvented to great success. 3 star A Ok food and quality, knowledgeable staff. Came on an oddly balmy and monsoon laden mid February Monday eve so it was pretty empty w a low key vibe. I actually liked it knowing at the weekend and w warmer weather it will no doubt be packed beyont and perhaps annoyingly so. But that is another day. For now we enjoyed the quiet atmo and excellent dishes. Pretzel rolls lightly baked w an aged cheddar and kale spread...w a touch heat a great starter or snack. Pan seared scallops sat on a bed of old world rolled spaghetti w pesto sauce...interesting concept, executed well, loved it Mushroom Risotto w Quinoa, rich but not overwhelmingly so. Good not great. Looking forward to come back and stopping by in the warmer months while biking the lakefront. read more

See all

Nice views, refreshing drinks and good food. The buffalo wings were average but the salads were a nice big portion with fresh veggies. My aperol spritz was perfect on this nice day. Our service was slow, but we weren't in a hurry. Overall a nice place to enjoy the view of the lake. read more

Out on what will arguably be the last nice weekend this year, we happened upon Theater on the Lake. Great menu of options and a decent selection of craft beers - One certainly can't beat the view of the skylight and lake. What will bring us back again is the extremely dog friendly patio, where we all enjoyed a nice treat as we watched the sun set. read more

Theater on the Lake - Performing Arts Near Me - Chicago, Illinois

When I venture to the North Shore I pass this place a ton. It was my first time ever going inside last night. There is a restaurant inside and a bar. And a big room folks can reserve for special events. I was there for a Gubernatorial primary debate. Had a few beers, a salad, 2 sliders, macaroni and cheese dish and whiskey candied bacon. Little cheesecake wheels. I can see this place being a lit spot in the spring and summer because it's so close to the lake and not far from the zoo. read more

See all

The best Bloody Mary I have had in Chicago hands down- so good! I got the sausage breakfast toast and it was so dissatisfying, my server said it was the best thing in menu but the pesto was overwhelming and it needed some type of Cheese. It was missing something and after two bites I was over all the pesto. The smashed potatoes are good but they didn't hAve ranch or anything but ketchup to have with them and they are big. Overall it was a goood experience the service was slow for it noT being crowded buT thE view is beautiful and good vibes in the place. I would give 5 stars for Bloody Mary but 3 for food, service, price! It's expensive and they need more brunch drink deals. read more

In town for a work function and had a dinner event there. Great place along the lake but a lot of pedestrian traffic on Lakefront trail

Theater on the Lake was the site of our amazingly magical wedding on an unseasonably warm October day in 2022. The views are unmatched, the venue team was amazingly easy to work with and cooperated well with all of our last minute requests, and made it insanely easy for our group of vendors. A special shout out to Anna Phillips, a true professional and a real partner in helping us to create the wedding of our dreams. Worth. Every. Penny. read more

Have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Great bar service. Our bartender, Sean, is a superb mixologist and conversationalist. Great atmosphere and times. Highly recommend. read more

Open air sanitarium, anyone!? Many reviews here mention, and I too, remember so well: that amazing open air feel and breeze from Lake Michigan. I first attended a performance here about fifteen years back! I so enjoy the simplicity of the building - the concrete floors, BYOSnacks, the lack of the usual more formal "theatre-y" things. (Heck, you can fit right in wearing a cover-up from the day's beach activities.) My last time to this theatre was two summers back, but I still recall the caress of the lake's light breath in the summer evening. It's a wonderful way to take in a performance. This intimate venue was constructed in 1920 and was originally built to house to "Chicago Daily News' Fresh Air Sanitarium" for sick children. I was pretty shocked to discover that! I was casually watching some wttw documentary a few months back and here is a clip I just pulled from a search! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TOXEwvvF9WY I've included a couple pics from it below. Don't get too used to seeing it like shown in that pic (or how it looks today) because word is - since late November last year - Mayor Rahm is involved and this little venue is getting a big makeover! Performances for 2014 will be scattered to park sites (It's a Chicago Public Park District building, btw) throughout the city while the Theatre is undergoes modifications to take it from a "summer only" place to a year-round venue. Here's one write up about it http://voices.suntimes.com/arts-entertainment/the-daily-sizzle/theater-on-the-lake-to-become-year-round-facility/ I trust that the renovation will be a smashing success..l just hope I can still attend a performance in my cover-up. read more

See all

This review is solely about the restaurant, not the venue space. Like many reviewers before me, I wanted to love Theater on the Lake. It is a perfect location with huge windows overlooking the most beautiful sight of Chicago: Lake Michigan. While the location and view are divine, the other aspects of the restaurant fell short. The service is very slow. I went on a Monday, and there were only a few other tables seated. However, our server was never to be seen. I don't always mind slow meals, but there were large chunks of time that our waiter wasn't even in the immediate vicinity within the restaurant. Oh where oh where did the server go?? The food was subpar as well. The ceviche appetizer was flavorful, but served in a martini glass, which made the appetizer much more difficult and inaccessible to eat. I ordered a salad, which was not well dressed and just dull overall with sparse toppings. My friend ordered the skirt steak, which was a bit better. We were very excited to try the fries (baked, smashed, and fried!), but they weren't as amazing as their description. Overall, the view and patio may make Theater on the Lake worth a quick stop for a drink. But don't stick around for the food and service. read more

Wow, is the service here horrible. You know it's bad when your server says "if I was you, I would be so pissed right now." We came for an 8:30 dinner reservation. Our table was not ready until 8:45 - no problem, it happens. Our server seemed to have half of the tables in the restaurant (not his fault - management needs to staff this place appropriately), so it took a while to get drinks and then even longer to even have the chance to place our order. Our appetizer (burrata) did not come out for over 45 minutes, and our food just never arrived. After watching a table of six that was seated 30 minutes after we ordered get their food, as well as another table seated significantly after us, we asked to see a manager. At this point, it has been over 90 minutes since we ordered. The manager said there was a "mixup in the kitchen" - how it went unnoticed for that long, I have no idea, especially since our server had previously noticed and comped a beer for us for the wait. He repeatedly told us "your food will be out in less than 5 minutes!" I upped this review to two stars because the manager did comp the meal and the chef did come out and personally apologize for just completely forgetting about us. That was a very appreciated gesture, but it was truly just too little, too late. By the way, the food did arrive at about 10:30...it was just ok. We live about a block away and were hoping to make this a regular spot, but we will not be back. read more

We loved Theater on the Lake - "TOTL." We have dined their for dinner for a nice night out and also had brunch after a walk along the lake. Each time we find the staff attentive and the food great. We also recently had our wedding in their event space and it was so beautiful and such a special way to show off Chicago to our out of state guests. The staff there went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make it an incredible evening after postponing twice due to COVID. Anna is amazing - so kind and helpful, and would recommend this as a wedding venue to anyone. read more