Tavern at the Park

My boyfriend and I were venturing around the city when we lost track of time and realized we needed to find a place to eat before our train. We searched online for nearest restaurants by us but there was barely anything that caught our attention plus they were all overly crowded so we knew the quality was not going to be the best. However, Tavern at the Park caught my attention so I dragged along my boyfriend to walk the extra minutes with me to try this place out. At first I was hesitant since the atmosphere of the restaurant had that «formal» look so I thought the prices would match that. When handed a menu, I realized the prices were just right, comparable to P.F. Changs/​Weber Grill but the quality overshadowed.
Tavern at the Park exceed my expectations when I took my first bite into the Ashley Mac and Cheese. Now, I have had a lot of mac and cheese in my life but I can honestly say that the Ashely Mac and Cheese is the BEST I have ever ate. Now my boyfriend ordered a classic hamburger which he said was delicious but he could not stop trying to eat some of the mac and cheese! Meanwhile, I was grabbing some of his mouth-​watering shoe-​string fries because I rarely ever see those on the menu in restaurants anymore. Not only was the food exceptional but the overall service and staff. Not only was our waiter attentive and hospital but the staff members who came around each table to check on the guest.
They describe the menu as comforting food but they should also include the staff and atmosphere because I felt welcomed right when I stepped in the door. I also just want to add that our waiter, John B., made us feel as if we were long time friends because he kept us laughing throughout the entire course with his witty humor and cordial attitude. I never felt the need to write a Unilocal review because I always thought why should I if others already have? In spite of that, Tavern at the Park made me want to go home right away just to write about my experience so others could also try this place out!

Friday night enjoyed the hungry hippie burger and strawberry blues dessert. Burger is very soft but tasty. Dessert was huge. Enough for 4. Good service.

Mini steak burgers are great! Ravioli lobster (no seafood flavour) and rissotto (too salty) but not bad! Exceptional staff!

Food was decent but very overpriced for lunch, so the value wasn’t there from my usually thrifty perspective.
Team lunch and expensed, and so I ordered 2 appetizers, thought it would be smaller amounts, it was a large amount of food, at about $ 10 – 12 each, I guess maybe they were sized to share. Okay, but definitely NOT the best Margherita flatbread or (so greasy) calamari…
Next time will go with a entrée, my neighbor’s salmon looked interesting, albeit farmed and a whopping 8−10oz.
Service was good, as it should be, considering the table was at least 20 people at avg of $ 25pp… water was refilled and tables bused almost constantly.
Entertaining factor — millennial boys wear tight pants and short jacket suits… everyone else is more casual. Easy to see the generational differences nowadays. =)

A polished restaurant with great food and a prime location!
The location is perfect — At Michigan and Randolph at the corner of Millennium Park in Chicago’s downtown loop area. The atmosphere is upscale, classy pub. The servers were attentive and knowledgeable. Price is a touch higher compared to loop area restaurants, but not undeserved.
Let’s get to it… the food.
I had the Blackhawk Special named for the local professional hockey team. This filet comes out sizzling in a cast iron pan. Have you ever been in a Mexican restaurant when someone orders fajitas? Yeah, just like that. This amazing steak is drenched in garlic butter and tastes incredible. Seriously. Now, do note that no sides come with — I added the mashed potatoes and they were a great accompaniment.
The wife was craving ‘pub grub’ and went with a Guinness and the chopped steak burger. Very well sized and she only finished half. She rates it a very solid hamburger that finished well.
On to dessert and likely the weakest part of the evening. We tried the bread pudding and it was average — dry, mild flavor, and the sauce was unimpressive. A crème anglaise dressing would have been much better. Not a deal breaker and we will certainly try the others at the next visit.
Is sum, a fantastic restaurant with good atmosphere and great food and drink. We will be back!
*Personal note — I’m a professional with a family who lives and works in the loop.

We had a great experience here. Everyone enjoyed their food, which we were expecting based on many great reviews. We were celebrating my brother’s graduation from the Naval Recruit Training Command, and the restaurant thanked my brother for his service and paid for his meal. We thought that was such a kind thing to do, and it was very appreciated. The steak sandwich and French onion soup were great.

This was an amazing start to our time in Chicago. We saw this place across the street from Millennium park and since the sun was setting, we knew rooftop dining was perfect. The waiter was great at helping us choose drinks, meals and dessert. He was also helpful in letting us know some other great options for beer tasting. The view was magnificent but even more so the food was out of this world! I had the braised short rib over polenta and it melts in your mouth. I wish we has stayed in town long enough to eat here again, but plan to return when we return to Chicago.

Never knew of this gem, wife and i decided to try it as we happened to be walking by. AMAZING, the view overlooks the park, multiple floors, and we were right by window. The host and staff were amazing and did a good job of checking on us to make sure we had what we need. The food was excellent, cooked to order, and we were both very satisfied.
Shout out to Peter the owner A UK alum, and the manager of this establishment for doing things right

5 for rooftop ambience
3.5 for food/​drink menu
A bit expensive but that’s due to its location. Perfect spring/​summer rooftop spot for groups.

My wife and I came here for dinner on New Years eve. Yep, crazy crowded time. So, even though we had to wait about 15 or 20 minutes for our table to be ready (with reservations), I wasn’t too surprised. But I was bummed that we couldn’t have a drink at the bar while we waited (too packed). Oh well.
We did get seated at a very nice booth down stairs behind the bar. A nice and cozy space. We ordered soups and salads, entrees and a nice bottle of champagne from Gruet winery of New Mexico. Yep, they carried Gruet! What a nice surprise, having just moved here from New Mexico, and Gruet making some serious world-​class champagne (check out their review in Wine Spectator). But I digress.
The service was very good and attentive. No complaints. The soup was excellent! Salad was salad. I had the lobster ravioli. They were excellent and simply loaded with really tasty lobster. Very nice. My only complaint was that the first ravioli (and only the first one I cut into) was a bit cold in the middle. It was weird, because all the others were fine and hot. Just that one. Oh well, whatever. Everything else was good. And even on a crazy busy night like, we didn’t feel rushed to get out. Nice.
The place isn’t cheap — it’s actually $$$ not $$ — so be prepared. Other than that, a nice, upscale experience!
Oh, and definitely try the Cloudgate drink for $ 221! It comes with a Tiffany diamond necklace. We got two each (just kidding). But, if the drink itself sounds good to you, you can get it without the necklace for a slightly more reasonable price ($ 12).

I had Fish and Chips and it was great! I really like this place. The service was really good too! Eliza and Keith were great! Kudos to them! This is my first time here and I will definitely be back. #Datenight

Work function brought me here. Would I come back if I could afford it, most definitely. As it was, I had the filet steak. Thick cut but still cooked nicely. Great location, very nice servers and laid back and non-​stuffy atmosphere.
Pros: Location Location Location and food
Cons: Price is high on some choice items, but you do get what you pay for. For thick cuts such as the filet it might be nice to have option to get a butterfly cut to allow a cleaner medium temperature.

Stopped in while on our way to millennium park. We had drinks and dessert. I ordered the bread pudding (I believe it was 8 dollars) and it was enough to feed four people. It was absolutely delicious and tasted like it had just come out of the oven. I highly recommend ordering it. I even had leftovers, which tasted just as good. Friendly staff!

The Tavern at the Park was okay. We originally wanted to go to Wildberry, but it was way too crowded, so we settled here. We were seated immediately and the server was quite nice. We had the steak salad and burger teasers. The steak salad was pretty good. However, the burger teasers were a bit of a disappointment. It was pretty dry and there were way too many fries. I don’t think it would be a good place to casually eat, especially if you’re young because you can be quite intimidated by the business people who go there and loudly discuss their work.
Although it’s no fault to the restaurant itself, I think the reason why I didn’t like it was because our table was next to a really obnoxious man. During the entire lunch time, he kept making sexist, racist, and flat out ignorant comments.

Since my friend offered to take me to dinner on our first night in Chicago, I tried to find us a nice place to eat on our second night. When I select a restaurant, I look for the complete package experience. And, since it was my first time in Chicago, I wasn’t really worried about the cost. While we could have enjoyed our amazing dinner in the restaurant, we opted to sit at the Treehouse on the roof. The view was incredible! We ordered the Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread and Roasted Beet Salad as our starters and took full advantage of the steak house options for our entrees. Their specialty cocktails were also quite tasty.

You see that Cloudgate drink on the menu for $ 221? Yeah, I didn’t get that. If you have the $$$$$ and want to splurge on a drink, then by all means get that drink and please write a Unilocal review so that I know what it’s all about.
Instead I ordered the light yellow drink in my photos (forgot the name). It tasted terrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrible. Avoid, avoid, avoid! It tasted so disgusting that the name vanished from my memory and got buried in the spot of no return. I ordered what my girl friend was drinking, which was the Takes Two to Mango. That was delicious, so I would recommend ordering it. Also, brownie points for the clever drink names.
We went during the day, but I think the ambiance and experience would have been better at night. This would make a great date spot in the summer at night. It’s next to Millennium Park, so you can stroll on over there before or after this rooftop bar. Try to get a seat by the window if you can.
Side note — shortly before we left, we saw a spider crawling up my girl friend’s drink, which completely freaked us out. Not the restaurant’s fault, but I guess that might happen when you’re outdoor. So watch out!

Service and Food are very good. If you want something fancy on Michigan Avenue, but not too fancy this is your place. The filet was excellent, we shared that with some asparagus. No Kids Menu, so we ordered the buttered“mac n cheese” no cheese for buttered noodles. Definitely not a children’s place, but still most places would have an offering for children.
Ashley was our server and she was so prompt and always checking in on us.
Valet in the beginning was not there, so I dropped off my keys with front desk, but overall service and food were great being so close to millennium park.

Nice spot for a business lunch. Service is very attentive and fast, so you can easily get in and out in an hour if necessary. We both had salads that arrived very fast after ordering. I had a grilled veggie salad that was very good, big size, nice grilled chicken and lots of vegetables.
They have a rooftop that looks worth checking out sometime as well.

Came in on a Tuesday, was greeted by warm hosts. We put our name on the wait for outdoor seating in the patio upstairs and had to wait, not a worry because if there is a bar, I am all in there.
I got a drink that was their version of a piña colada, cruisin for the infusin’. Such comical names, I love it. man, was that delicious! I had two and then another drink, which was their version of a margarita. was incomparable to cruisin for the infusin’
For dinner I had their seasonal salad! It was to die for!

My fiancé brought me here for my birthday! We sat outside on the roof top. The view of the city was beautiful as always! They had great beer selections and the cocktails were good also. The cocktails were a bit pricy!
I ordered the surf and turf ($ 38), it came with a 4oz steak and 3 large shrimps that’s it, it came with no sides: it was good but I was disappointed with their surf and turf.
Next time I will try something new.
Since it was birthday, they did give me brownie and ice cream dessert that was beyond delicious!

Hawks Win!
After spending too long waiting for the Hawks to parade past Grant Park, I headed to the nearest place for some grub and alcohol. It was great to see the Hawks parade by.
Well, I should say it was cute to see the top 3 inches of their heads. The crowd was stacked, whacked and white teenage suburbanite. No alcohol within sight but ganja was in the air.
The restaurant was full of hockey fans. It was pretty cool. There was like a hive of red and black bees. The upper deck was pretty cool with a great view that we were unfortunately too late to get.
The food was tremendous. My turkey burger was by far the best I’ve had. The bun was fantastic and held together, a rarity with huge hamburgers. Most of all, the wine selection was very nice.
The first floor is more formal and stuffy, yet still contemporary.
I’ll be back next year after they repeat. Go Hawks!

I have gone to Tavern at the Park on both of my visits to Chicago — in the summer and the winter. Both times I have been very pleased with the service and quality of food.
In the summer, the best way to enjoy an afternoon at Tavern is on their rooftop deck called The Treehouse. It is filled with comfortable tables and lounge chairs, great background music, and provides a great view of Millennium Park. During my summer visit I had their Fig & Prosciutto Flatbread which was absolutely delicious. I’m a sucker for anything with truffle oil, and when you pair it with poached pears, blue cheese, and prosciutto… it’s an easy home run. Their Tuna Tacos, Buffalo Chicken Mac & Cheese, and Shoestring Fries with Truffle Aioli were also very good. I have a major sweet tooth so I went to dessert heaven when I ordered their Warm Apple Blueberry Bread Pudding, New York Style Cheesecake, Key Lime Crème Brulee, and Apple Crumble. The bread pudding is MASSIVE and can easily be shared between 4 or 5 people. The cheesecake and apple crumble were probably my favorite.
In the winter, I went to Tavern for a romantic dinner in their Tree House Atrium, which is an enclosed glass section on their deck. Very romantic, quiet, and intimate lounge area. For dinner we had their Wild Mushroom & Truffle Risotto and Lobster Ravioli which were both so, so good! I was so happy we took leftovers back to our hotel so that we could have the next day.
The service was also excellent. The waiters were very attentive and accommodating. I will definitely we returning to Tavern at the Park in my future visits to Chicago.

My wife and I enjoyed an early dinner here that has put us in the mood to return very soon. My wife had the steak sandwich, which at $ 25, had better be amazing. It was. She only gave me a few small bites, but oh man, was that the best steak sandwich I have ever had. It’s real steak, not hamburger steak. The aioli and onions on top just made it an out of this world meal. I had the fish n’ chips, which was also very good.
I found the service to be exceptional. We arrived during a shift change, so we got to experience two servers, and both gentlemen were very knowledgeable, polite, and funny. One of their drink specials was recommended to my wife, but after one sip, she said she just didn’t like it. Without hesitation the server (Chris) said he would bring her anything else she wanted and that she wouldn’t be charged for the drink she didn’t like. That’s just great customer service!
The atmosphere is very relaxed yet professional. This is not a bar. I would recommend patrons wear something a tad bit nicer than you would if you were going out to Applebee’s or TGI Friday’s. But if you want to go casual, hey, that’s up to you.
You’re in The Loop, so remember that you will be spending a bit more to eat here. We reported a bill of $ 89 (including tip), which I thought was pretty good.

«Take these fine people to the rooftop!»
Well, didn’t we just feel so special. The rooftop was gorgeous and had a balcony with a bar. Unfortunately, it was a little chilly to be out on the balcony but the wall was all windows so we still experienced a beautiful view of the lake, towering buildings, and the touristy bean. Service was great. The woman poured my beer straight up. No foam. Impressive.
The dinner menu had a nice selection of apps, sandwiches, and plated entrées. I browsed the Tavern Favorites section and spotted the Santa Cruz Turkey Burger. A 10 oz. turkey burger loaded with provolone cheese and guac on a brioche bun. You better be hungry if you order this burger… this thing is a monster. It was absolutely delicious! It came with a side order or fries which were prepared to a crisp.
I applaud you Tavern and can’t wait to make a visit on your balcony in the summer!