East Bank Club

This place has every amenity you would want! The only part missing is that when I signed up over a year ago I was told they were putting in an ice rink (Yes! An ice rink!), of which they have yet to put in. I wouldn’t even include that in my review but for that I was a competitive figure skater for 18 years. Other than that, they have everything. It’s clean. Staff is friendly.

Not a member but work close by and always stop there at lunch for their Ranch! They make the ranch in house and you can buy a tub of it for $ 3! YUM!

East Bank Club is a beautiful facility beautifully maintained. The staff is excellent and services in the club – especially the dining – are of surprisingly high quality. Wonderful, vibrant community of regulars here, with people of all ages. Much less attitude than I’d expected, too.

So I’d like to write an update for the club. Physically, of course, the club is great. Centrally located, with ample parking, various new and genuinely high quality machines and workout tools, a ¼-​mile indoor track, pool deck and so on. All of that is great, and it’s discussed by other reviewers.
But I’ll share the intangible drawbacks of the club. I call them the «soul» or the «atmosphere» of the club. I think not getting the «atmosphere» right detracts from the investment in the physical. Handful of examples, in no particular order:
— Some staff don’t enforce no talking on the phone in the workout area rule;
— Some staff clean up/​replace weights in between a member actively working out and his reflection in the mirror (obvious no-​no per gym etiquette);
— First-​floor workout area with machines (near the staircase; adjacent to main workout area) plays COMMERCIALS. Of course, that’s distracting. Management will say «use your headphones,» but I will say to them: why make your gym artificially WORSE? Attentively go through the typical user’s experience.
— In the same first-​floor workout area with machines, I personally think they play sub-​par music, and better they turn it off. Management will say «people have different tastes,» but I will say to them: when the speakers are wailing «I used to beeee… a little boy… what’s a boooy. supposed to dooo?» (Smashing Pumpkins) when you’re getting a hard workout in, — that’s not helping. They got the right idea in the free weight room — no music at all.
More to follow :)

Just to disclose, I am not a member, but I was given a tour of this huge gym.
The East Bank Club is a country club for the hot shots of our city. When I toured the gym I was told celebrities like Mayor Emmanuel and certain pro athletes are members.
There’s tennis courts, Olympic sized swimming pools, a car wash (!!), a spa, valet parking, a private workout room, restaurants, a golf range, etc. To access all this you will pay a $ 500 initiation fee, along with $ 120-​$ 200 a month, depending on your age/​circumstances. There’s even an annual rooftop Summer party! Like I said, country club for the hot shots.
This is a very cool place to workout and I wish I had the money to afford this place.

Had been member for 3 plus year. Great facility, with the exception of hair salon.
my review is about hair salon only
Guy name Garry had not been able to repeat my base color. Lady name Christine completely screwed up my highlights. Emergency brought me there since my regular hair person was not available. I had demonstrated to her my highlights through consultation, and she did confirmed that she will make sure everything will be as blond as I had requested. Well, when she got done, top of my head was medium brassy color. She continued to repeat that it is blond enough; salon manager came by and stated that any more bleach and my hair will be damaged. I suggested that both should be fired for lying and and being incompetent, speaking to club manager. I hope they will fire them. Bad reputation for the club

My work offered a free week to give them a try, so I took advantage going 3 days straight. The place is huge. There’s so much to do other than working out. You can take golf lessons, tennis lessons, swim lessons, play squash, or join in a basketball game during open gym. They have countless cardio machines, multiples of weight machines and barbells. There’s really no reason to have to stand and wait by a machine waiting for someone to finish their set. There is also a quarter mile track, a crossfit area, pilates area, cycling area, aerobic studios (even one where the luvabulls practice). There’s a few dining options which is helpful if you spend a lot of time there and get hungry. So much to do, so little time.
Other than the other expensive monthly membership, there are a few downsides. The baby/​kidsitting area is small in size like a closet. I don’t see my child enjoying her time there. The locker rooms are pretty outdated from the carpet to the lockers and even the combination locks they provide. The tiny 4 person hot tub and steam room could use an upgrade. Also, there’s no pool to leisurely swim; there are only lap pools or where the kids take their lessons.

EBC my country club in the city…
I love the amenities as much as I love the workout facilities.
You can mix up your routine daily and still not experience all there is to offer. Great for people who can get bored in their fitness. The weight room, cross training area, hundreds of cardio machines, the track in the winter is amazing if you’re a runner, organized vball, tennis and bball leagues, the yoga & spin & body pump classes are fantastic and the staff is constantly upbeat and friendly even though they must have to deal with some real wack jobs on a hourly basis.
$ 4 parking across the street, excellent food & entertainment in maxwells and the café, expensive but fantastic smoothies. Steam room, sauna, spa in the locker room with anything you need to get ready.
Finally, my favorite part… summer time on the pool deck can be as social or as relaxing as you want it to be. Bask in the sun, have two vodka lemonades, and call it a day.
Professionally, I use ebc as a second, less formal office in the city. Great for those first ‘getting to know you’ client interactions.

EBC is the best urban country club in the U.S. Note that most of the negative reviews on Unilocal are from guests, not members. I’ve been a member for over five years and I enjoy it! I do agree that the overall look of the club is a bit dated; however, I’m excited to see the new locker rooms once completed. Great service, great employees, great equipment! Whoever says that any of the weight or cardio equipment is dated is an idiot. EBC has the latest and greatest of everything. You won’t find a better club with better amenities.

My main reason for joining EBC over a year ago was for its convenience, and I have stayed a member since because of the great variety the gym offers — alll types of cardio machines, multiple areas with gym equipment, tennis courts, a track, a wide range of group classes — yoga, spin, step, boot camp, barre, water workouts, kettlebells, gyrotonics/​pilates studio, and much more.
Instructors seem to be pretty good all around except for the spin classes where only a couple are keeping EBC in line with the boutique spin studios. Shout out to Lissa and LaVar, I won’t go to a spin class unless they’re teaching it! There are a lot of fantastic yoga teachers — Brooks, Suzanne, and Callie are amazing.
Like other reviews have mentioned, the gym is very outdated. However, a recent newsletter said there will be renovations throughout the club including a rustic/​modern look to locker rooms and new workout equipment, which I am thrilled about! Wish they could get rid of the teal color that is used everywhere though :/​
The food could also use major updating. Juice bar is the most offensive. Yes they have fresh made-​to-​order green juice, but why is there canned tomato juice in one of the juice options? They really need to stop using low-​fat frozen yogurt in their smoothies, we’re not in the 90s anymore. Maybe try some greek yogurt? Chia seeds? Or some protein powder that has more than 8 grams of protein a scoop (another gripe). Casual diner is also old school in a bad way. It’s very generic and more flavorful innovative healthy options would be a great addition. I hardly ever eat there even though I’m at the gym EVERYDAY. That says something. Food shop (the to-​go food) is pretty solid with lots of salads, protein add ons, paleo goodies, and Kombucha.
EBC has so much potential, and is an overall great place, but needs some work to keep up with all the hip gyms around town.

My main reason for joining EBC over a year ago was for its convenience, and I have stayed a member since because of the great variety the gym offers — alll types of cardio machines, multiple areas with gym equipment, tennis courts, a track, a wide range of group classes — yoga, spin, step, boot camp, barre, water workouts, kettlebells, gyrotonics/​pilates studio, and much more.
Instructors seem to be pretty good all around expect for the spin classes where only a couple are keeping EBC in line with the boutique spin studios. Shout out to Lissa and LaVar, I won’t go to a spin class unless you’re teaching it! There are a lot of fantastic yoga teachers — Brooks, Suzanne, and Callie are amazing.
Like other reviews have mentioned, the gym is very outdated. However, a recent newsletter said there will be renovations throughout the club including a rustic/​modern look to locker rooms and new workout equipment, which I am thrilled about! Wish they could get rid of the teal color that is used everywhere though :/​
The food could also use major updating. Juice bar is the most offensive. Yes they have fresh made-​to-​order green juice, but why is there canned tomato juice in one of the juice options? They really need to stop using low-​fat frozen yogurt in their smoothies, we’re not in the 90s anymore. Maybe try some greek yogurt? Chia seeds? Or some protein powder that has more than 8 grams of protein a scoop (another gripe). Casual diner is also old school in a bad way. It’s very generic and more flavorful innovative healthy options would be a great addition. I hardly ever eat there even though I’m at the gym EVERYDAY. That says something. Food shop (the to go food) is pretty solid with lots of salads with protein add ons, paleo goodies, and Komucha.
EBC has so much potential, and is an overall great place, but needs some work to keep up with all the hip gyms around town.

Got a free day pass to the East Bank Club for a work retreat. I never knew something like this existed and I was shocked by how big it was. I has everything you would ever want to get your fitness on. It’s so big I got lost multiple times even though I just walked through the same corridors 30 minutes earlier. The couple things I will say is that the place does feel a bit dated and there are a lot of dark hallways that can be renovated, especially after I looked up the membership fees. $ 170 per month is steep but not outrageous, but a $ 500 initiation fee is straight up outrageous. Unless you plan to go to the gym 7 days a week and spend 8 – 9 hours there per session (you know you won’t), there might be other places to flash your money.

I love the concept of this enormous facility. Technically, the building has everything you could ever need in a fitness club + way more. EBC has all of the necessary fitness equipment, basketball, tennis, pools for both exercise and social events, networking parties, two restaurants, a convenient dinner-​to-​go shop, apparel store, a bar or two, etc. My favorite is the in-​door track, perfect for runners during the winter. The only thing is that a lot of the facility is outdated, and the food is just average. I think with a major makeover to modernize the gym, I could make this a 5-​star review. Truth be told, the gym does not currently cater to a demographic that needs modern, so maybe this is just their current business model.

This club is AMAZING. I was there for 13 years. My guess is that it’s the best club in the country and if they wanted to take on world domination it probably wouldn’t be hard.
It’s such a great, great facility and the children’s summer camp rocks! The staff is beyond kind. They obviously hire people who really do care about others at a core level, not just because it’s their job or career. The employees stay for years and rarely ever seem to leave. The members are also generally nice to be around and there are so many, that’s saying a lot. Maybe it’s the feeling of the club when you go in. It puts people in a good mood. I felt like I was a VIP member in every situation I encountered with any employee. It really is worth the money if you can wing it. It’s fantastic!!!
I also worked out next to Obama, Oprah, that guy from 90 210, sports stars, news stars, child stars, musicians and a couple ultra crazy people. You just never know who you might see.
I read a review from someone who gave a long list of what EBC needs to get to be considered a «nice club». It DOES have most of the things he listed??? His review is smells fishy. Not much of what he said is accurate. Maybe he works for those clubs in some capacity, maybe as a bicycle valet? And honestly, the TV’s are fine. Who joins a gym for the TV’s anyhow?

I went to the Maxwell restaurant inside East Bank Club for Thanksgiving. I was very disappointed. Not what I thought it was going to be. When you walk into the club it looks sophisticated. That is what I expected for the restaurant as well. Looks can be deceiving as they say. When you walk into the restaurant, the host stand and bar area are very nice. Walk a little further into the dining room and it looks like a cafeteria or nursing home dining room. And it doesn’t end there… the food was horrible. It was Thanksgiving so you would expect a nice meal… Definitely not that. The desserts looked store bought and everything was just blah. When the bill came and I saw $ 45 per person… I was shocked. How can you charge so much for a a meal like that. I would of rather spent that at Coopers Hawk or Wildfire. I will never go back!

Great gym. Has everything you want. Highly recommend.

Well they upgraded and put in shower curtains on the men’s showers! So I upgrade my star rating!

I used to work out with Oprah. Okay, not exactly with… but near. We would both hop on machines mid-​morning, after the crowds had gone to work (an advantage of being self-​employed). She was with her trainer Bob, and I was by myself because I couldn’t afford a Bob. We were both in pretty good shape then, which proves you don’t need a trainer if you’re self-​motivated.
Oprah is long gone, living La Vida Loca in Santa Barbara. And I’m still hitting the machines at EBC. Because it’s still the best health club in Chicago, and among the best in the world. Yes, it costs ($ 185 a month as of this review). But I get a lot for my money. And while I’m working out, I’m not over-​spending on shopping, dining out, having cocktails, etc… so it all evens out at the end of the month.
Here’s what like most about EBC. First the workout facilities are the best. So many new things have been added the past few years that I’ve lost count. Lots of group activities for members who want to meet other members. When I joined, I took group tennis lessons. I’ve met several good friends playing tennis here. Some even developed into clients, although that was never my goal.
There are free classes for every level of fitness. I’ve never been one to take classes… always been satisfied with my weights and treadmill routine. But last week I added three free classes a week because I’ve been Unilocal reviewing (aka eating) way too much for my changing metabolism. It’s so depressing that I can’t eat as much as I used to. (And it’s really not fair that men seem to lose weight twice as fast as women.)
Lately, one my favorite spots is the bar because you don’t have to be a member to use it. Five nights a week there’s live music, and it’s become a meeting spot for my member and non-​member friends. No cover, no minimum, and a tray of free raw vegetables. Or, you can order my favorite, stuffed baby portobellos (just add another hour on the treadmill).
Is everything perfect? Of course not. I hate the fact that younger members get a better rate than older ones who have been loyal to the club for years… definitely reverse discrimination. But the club is private, so management can do as they please. And one complaint I hear often is that beginning exercise classes aren’t really for beginners… there are few choices for people who aren’t in good enough shape to hold a side plank position.
But I saw Jennifer Hudson on a Stairmaster last year, so I don’t sweat the small stuff.

One of the best health clubs in the country. It has everything, free weights, Yoga and Pilates classes, spin class and 2 pools. And you might run into Rahm Emmanuel in the sauna if you go at 6am. The Santa Fe chicken burger is the best, most amazing fire grilled chicken burger in Chi town

What to say about EBC? There isn’t another establishment like it– urban country club. They will do practically anything for you– and all of it well. Sure, sometimes service is a little slow in the café upstairs, but the food is always fresh and tasty (and mostly healthy). The people that work here are the best and make it a joy to be part of such great energy. You could say I’m passionate about EBC for all these reasons.

Review of east bank club salon:
I have been going to the salon to get my eye brows waxed with Elena for 10 months. She has always done a fine job. I went for a wax a week before my WEDDING and she completely messed up my eye brows and made them two COMPLETELY different shapes. They were difference sizes, had different arches, and we’re not well done in anyway. I didn’t notice until I returned home, because I was wearing my glasses and couldn’t see well at the end of the wax.
I have very thick eyebrows and have gotten monthly eye waxes for 14 years, and this was the worst wax I’ve ever received. Needless to say, I will not be returning back.

FYI I am writing this review as a GUEST-​not a member. Anyways, had a guest pass for the day and decided to use it last Saturday. (Sun was shining and I wanted to make use of the rooftop pool!). Got there early and did a quick leg workout with some free weights and machines. Was surprised to find that were was only one Smith machine and barbell rack… one dude was totally monopolizing the barbell rack with his pull ups so I went to the Smith machine for my squats. How about instead of 100+ treadmills you throw in more weight machines like these two? After this I joined a yoga class done by Warren called «Forrest Yoga». Ok, I know I haven’t been regular with my yoga lately but holy S!@# this class pushed me! Loved it. Warren was really good too-​he took the time to come over and correct a few positions and well as push me past my stretching limits. After yoga (around 11:30) it was now time for a quick lunch and to the pool. I grabbed a salad from the store by the entrance and headed to the roof. Luckily I snatched a chair in the area immediately outside the doors. (All of the chairs were taken by the pool). To my surprise, the pool was quite small, not at all how I pictured it to be. To make matters worse, it was completely swarmed with babies and kids. I get it, it was the last Saturday before school starts. But if it’s like this every weekend-​then count me out. A jam packed pool with screaming kids isn’t my favorite thing. I guess this was the «south» pool-didn’t know there was another much bigger one on the north side. Perhaps that one is kiddie free?
Also, bathrooms needed a good cleaning-​noticed lots of dust/​dirt and even a dead bug on the floor of one of the bathrooms. I guess the whole place is kinda outdated, could use a facelift.
Needless to say I will not be getting a membership. I’ve been to FFC in the west loop as a guest a few times with my girlfriend, and their facility is MUCH better. Cleaner, more machines, and a much bigger pool with usually ZERO kids present and a full bar with chair-​side service. If anything I’de give my money to them, not EBC. Yes, I know I have only seen the tip of the iceburg with EBC but my first impression didn’t blow me away. Esp considering how much it cost to be a member.

I’m happy with the club. Staff have been uniformly professional, friendly, and responsive. The indoor track has great views and people are quite respectful (rarely do I see someone circling the track while yapping on a cell phone, for example). The indoor driving range is also a nice feature and the staff in the golf area are very courteous.
It’s easy to find an open locker, and I’m happy with the range of complimentary items provided, like razors and so on. Free apples on Mondays is a nice touch. Towels are plentiful, and the club is spacious and comfortable, even if there is some outdated décor. Occasional member appreciation events, like those involving complimentary food spreads, further contribute to a welcoming atmosphere.
I share some of the concerns expressed by others regarding certain members who visit the club only to be seen and heard. You sometimes forget that a particular type of person exists, only to find them in droves at the East Bank Club. God bless the EBC staff who must deal with these persons on a daily basis.
Luckily, the difficult crowd generally confines itself to a narrow window of hours (early afternoons on weekends or mid-​evening weekdays), and you can usually use the full facility without running into someone who makes you want to scratch your eyeballs out.
I would offer one constructive recommendation regarding the 2^nd floor grill area. On occasion, someone will sit at the bar using their cellphone or will video conference with their laptop at a table, speaking at full volume, while blasting F-​bombs or generally being loud. I would greatly appreciate it if the Grill staff were more aggressive in asking such persons to show some courtesy for those around them. Most of us use that area to carry on a conversation with another member or to quietly read a newspaper with our lunch.
The Grill staff, especially the bartenders, have all been exceptionally gracious during my visits there, and I understand why they might be hesitant to ask a patron to quiet down. But further enforcement of the rules would be beneficial, except for the small segment whose toxic behavior can ruin things for everyone else. More than once I’ve headed to the Grill to get a (delicious!) egg salad sandwich, only to walk away upon seeing the obnoxious behavior I might have to put up with.
Nonetheless, if you are looking for an inclusive gym, I would recommend giving EBC a look. After you take a tour, you are free to request a day pass, and a workout in the club should give you a good sense of whether it’s right for you.

I am a member at the Olympic Club in San Francisco and the Jonathan Club in LA. I had to spend a significant amount of time in Chicago for work and East Bank Club was recommended to me because there was no waiting list and the membership fees were reasonable. Unfortunately, I joined without visiting first.
I don’t have a single good thing to say about the place, except that there are plenty of workout machines. It is simply a dump and no better than a pay-​per entrance public gym. Here are a few things EBC should look into before calling itself an athletic club.
Updating the locker rooms
Decent TVs
Updating EVERYTHING
Valet parking
Personal trainers on staff
A pool deeper than 3.5 feet
Edible food
Not nickel and dining for small items, like newspapers
More than casual restaurants
Dress code
Member offices for work
Designated children’s area
Sanitization
Concierge
Air circulation
An interview committee (the members are less than desirable)
Lounges
Gender separated lounges
Reading room
Sleeping room
Indoor pool
Poolside service
Indoor bicycle parking or Bicycle valet
Towel staff
Tailor/​Drycleaners/​Shoe Shine
EBC needs to tour some of the more distinctive and reputable clubs around the country, because EBC is certainly not one of them.

Been a member here now for about five years and if you want to be active in the city and not worry about space, this is a great option. Not to mention the amenities, literally anything you need is here. Need a haircut? Right here. Want a fresh smoothie? Yep. What about a bar? Yep. Socializing is also a big part of this place, and you’ll have ample opportunity to meet new people daily in classes or just walking around.
There’s space to work, and there are nap rooms if you are running a little low on sleep for the week. I work near here so it is a great option.
I primarily use the club for swimming– I am a retired college swimmer and really want to just get in enough so I can burn some calories. I find plenty of space, both at lunch, in the morning and after work. The outdoor pool is by far my favorite, and it can be crowded at times, but you’ll quickly learn when classes are run and work around the time. Not to mention a fun group of regular swimmers here both during lunch hours and evening.
Most of the staff is friendly, but generally I assume they deal with a lot of uppity people demanding things, so at times they may seem unresponsive. Also the guest policy is kind of ridiculous, but understandable. They restrict times guests can come, and what areas they are limited to use– so if I want to try and sell the club to someone, it becomes a little hard and I just tell them to schedule a tour instead.
This is the country club for the city, so if you find yourself at the gym a lot, and want options, look no further.

I have been a member for the last 3 years. It has honestly been a total waste of money. The men’s locker room is circa 1980. The weight room is always packed and the equipment is circa 1980. EBC needs to be shut down for at least 1 year for a major renovation.
EBC wastes so much money on printed monthly newsletters. I could think of at least 10 other things the club could use that money for.
The only reason I am still a member is due to its location. Otherwise I would definitely be looking at other gyms.

Simply the best facility of its kind in the US. Hard to find any areas needing improvement. Management and staff are incredibly friendly and helpful (when needed) and the club makes it so much easier to stay in shape in a city with so many eating temptations.
I wish EBC would consider opening other clubs in the US.

I joined this place about 5 months ago for 4 reasons:
— I live across the street (so I get my $ 500 initiation fee waived)
— My company gives me a stipend
— Because I’m under 25, membership is $ 135/​month.
— I WANNA SEE OPRAH WORKOUT
So far… I’ve been very pleased with my membership. I love going to classes (especially before work) and they have a good variety of class options.
I no longer shower at home because the amenities are so nice and convenient!
— unlimited towels
— spacious rooms to get ready + lotion, hairspray, deodorant, hairbrushes, mouthwash
— ton of showers (even on the busiest days, I’ve never had to wait!)
Super dangerous having a membership card that can charge things onto your account. They have a nice convenient shop on the first floor where you can purchase snacks, salads, yogurts, whole rotisserie chickens, and freshly made food by the lb (stuffed peppers, crab cakes, sweet potato fries, soup, etc.) There are 2 restaurants (1 fancy, 1 casual) and a bomb-​ass smoothie bar ($ 4 – 6 protein/​fruit/​veggie smoothies).
Note membership prices:
Initiation fee:
— Individual $ 500
— Husband and Wife /​Partners $ 700
— Individual ages (21 – 29) $ 250
PLUS
Monthly Dues:
— Individual $ 185
— Husband and Wife /​Partners $ 315
— Individual (ages 22 – 25) $ 135
— Children (ages 5 – 12) $ 15
Not going to lie… I was initially hesitant to join this club. This place came off to be a little stuck up and the prices seemed outrageous for a gym. Surprisingly, everyone is extremely nice and courteous of each other :) If I didn’t have a company gym stipend + under 25 discount, I don’t understand how anyone in their 20s can afford to workout here!
Going to the gym is an experience at EBC… only major catch is that this experience certainly comes at a cost! Fingers crossed I’ll spot Oprah by the time I don’t qualify for the 25 and under discount! ;-)

The mister and I were married at EBC in September of 2012. We are still together and living happily ever after, so clearly getting married at EBC is a step in the right marital direction.
We searched, and searchedandsearchedandsearchedandsearched for a wedding venue that included everything we needed, minus the extra zeros on the price tag. EBC delivered. It was like meeting The One. Every tiny detail we had come to learn would cost extra at other venues was included with the EBC wedding package. Dimmed lighting, a microphone for the speeches, champagne toast, hors d’oeuvres, specialty cocktail, top shelf liquor, on-​site, day-​of coordinator, everything! It was a dream come true.
First, Sydney Schwartz, the wedding guru of EBC, was amazing to work with. Best of all, she has seen it all. And she has no problem telling your future mother-​in-​law that just because there won’t be a mother-​son dance, does not mean she cannot dance with her son at all. Not that that happened… I’m just saying, if that very specific thing needed to be said, she would say it… ahem. She’s stress-​free, down-​to-​business, always available, and gets the job done. I loved working with her.
Second, the venue was perfect. We had two board rooms for the guys and girls to have brunch and get ready in, an on-​site salon for our hair and make-​up needs, a beautiful ballroom that held 170 of our dearest friends and family, and an outdoor, covered patio that our people are STILL discussing. It served as our cocktail hour lounge, and later was the quiet reprieve for the older folks who weren’t so interested in listening to Lil’ Wayne during the dancing. And the views and sounds of the Chicago River just to the side were a perfect setting. The patio area needed very little decorating.
Third, the food was phenomenal. Again, hand to God, I still have people telling me how delicious everything was. The cocktail hour included over a dozen appetizers, plus a cheese and fruit bar. Do you understand how popular cheese is at any given party? Now imagine a massive spread of it, alongside pinwheels of beef and shrimp puffs and crab wontons. The dinner spread included filet mignon, miso glazed salmon, pecan-​crusted chicken, and a tower of grilled veggies that even my non-​vegetarian, non-​vegan friends loved. It was also really great to be able to offer four options to our guests.
Fourth, and maybe most important, the bar. Sydney took my recipe ideas for the signature cocktail to her bar manager, and created a cocktail that my Southern family would love. And that they did… because it was all gone before I could get my hands on one. Word to the wise, bourbon, ginger ale, apple cider, and a cinnamon rimmed glass is a great fall wedding drink. Not only did we have a signature drink, but a top-​shelf open bar for four hours, split up with a one-​hour wine service during dinner.
And fifth, EBC let us run the show. I was a pretty easy-​going bride (seriously!) but of course things happen, or family has demands, and EBC took every request in stride. They made our wedding completely-​stress free. And when we got drunk, before the wedding, and I hopped up on their beautiful dark wooden bar in the restaurant area and started pretending to mix cocktails for my soon-​to-​be husband, the manager adjusted the lights for my photographer to snap the impromptu set-​up. It was perfect.
Brides, if you want a stress-​free wedding that includes truly amazing food, outstanding service, a beautiful venue on the Chicago River, please book EBC. I realize it is rude to discuss money, however I think it’s important to note we had all the trimmings that The Drake Hotel were offering us, all for under $ 19,000 for 170 people. Perfect wedding and on a budget!