(773) 248-6228
816 W Armitage Ave
(At Halsted St, Lincoln Park)
Chicago,
IL
60614
41.9182
-87.6492
Neighborhoods: DePaul, North Side
Years in business
Established in 1987
Hours:
Seatings Tues-Thurs at 6 and 9pm
Fri-Sat at 5:30 and 9pm
Price:
$$$$
Last updated 8.16.11
Category:
Payment Methods:
American Express, Carte Blanche, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard
Restaurant Special Features:
Local Favorite, Family-Friendly Dining, Celeb Hangout, Private Rooms, Special Occasion Dining, Fine Dining, Notable Chef, Chef's Table, People Watching, Business Dining, Group Dining, Notable Wine List
Cuisine:
Eclectic & International, New American, Traditional American
Notable Chef:
Charlie Trotter
Smoking Permitted:
No
What People Are Saying About Charlie Trotters
Featured Review
Contributor
Contributor
Sconce-lit and smelling of fresh floral arrangements, the setting of this Charlie Trotter venture is quietly luxurious. Attracting foodies from the world over, its dining rooms are done up with glinty glassware, bone-white dishware and comfortable upholstered armchairs designed to withstand languorous, prix fixe grand, vegetable and kitchen table meals. Ever-changing and always artfully imaginative, a meal might include Olorosso sherry granite with dates and mustard greens or poached skate wing with red curry, meltingly tender, 20-hour braised fennel, razor clams and a wisp of herb oil. The…
Editor's Tips
- The Extras:
- Twice weekly during the school year, Trotter hosts public school students for a free meal. Charlie's one requirement? Each student must ask two questions before leaving.
- What to Drink:
- The wine list is one of the world's finest, with four cellars storing about 18,000 bottles in temperature- and humidity-controlled environments.
- Look Good:
- On your way out, ask the host whether you can see the kitchen; if things aren't too hectic, you may be treated to a guided tour.
- Know Before You Go:
- Reservations are taken four months to the day in advance. Hint: Call in the afternoon, when cancellations generally come in, and you may luck out with a same-night table.
- Where to Sit:
- Reserve the kitchen table, where four to six guests can dine in the midst of the action (reserve at least eight weeks ahead).
- Pull Up a Chair:
- If you can swing it, the best seat in the house is at the Kitchen Table, which has its own custom menu and ensures primo peeks of chefs at work.
- Fun Fact:
- Trotter works with more than 90 purveyors, emphasizing organic produce and naturally raised meats, to build his edible masterpieces.
- Know Before You Go:
- Jackets are required.
- The Extras:
- In addition to offering wine pairings, there's a non-alcoholic beverage tasting menu with sippers concocted out of fennel and spring onion as well as sparkling kalamansi and Thai basil.
| ambiance | 90.90999603271484% positive |
|
|---|---|---|
| dessert | 100.0% positive |
|
| drinks | 86.66999816894531% positive |
|
| food quality | 86.87000274658203% positive |
|
| menu variety | 94.44000244140625% positive |
|
| overall | 100.0% positive |
|
| service | 87.04000473022461% positive |
|
| value | 83.33000183105469% positive |
|
| wait time | 50.0% positive |
|
Tragically disappointing
by GAE at Citysearch
This highly rated fine dining restaurant was a tragic disappointment. The quality of the food was poor (duck and veal were tough and stringy - not sure how that happens, asparagas was woody, dishes were too salty).
At one point we had to search for a server which took over 10 minutes. A dish was sent back for additional cooking which should have taken a few minutes but took almost 20. This does not represent the "Excellence" on which this restaurant prides itself.
I know what a great dining experience is, and this is not it. Save your money!!!
- Pros: tour of kitchen
- Cons: quality of food, poor service
Disappointed
by kzi928 at Citysearch
Most of you reading this review have already read many others or heard of Charlie Trotter's. You will walk in utterly impressed by their impeccable greeting and hospitality in the lounge area. You may pick up a couple books and read about the best restaurants in the world which include Trotter's. That is how our night started and we were excited.
Then we were seated about an hour late with no apology. The food was good enough, but certainly not worth the price. You can find tastier food at 100 other restaurants in Chicago for less than half the price. And for a 20% automatic service charge, I would expect their service to be exactly that - automatic. But it took too long for any at-table requests to be realized.
I would expect for the price (expect an average of $375 for 2 people, without drinks) everything to be nearly perfect. They had one chance to show me and they failed. And worse, if you have any criticisms you indicate on their feedback form and ask them to contact you, don't expect to hear from them.
- Pros: Ambience, Food Quality
- Cons: Arrogance, Value
A Wonderful Experience
by TheDOC at Citysearch
Just great. We were also lucky enough to tour the kitchen. The place is full of true professionals. Everyone there takes pride in their work, from the valet attendant to the kitchen staff. I was IMPRESSED.
- Pros: Fine dining at its BEST
- Cons: NONE!!
Best Lunch @ Work Ever
by jrandle at Citysearch
Trotter's To Go (at the 1337 W Fullerton Ave locale) delivered its wonderful and tasty yummies to my workplace. Thank you to all of you who had great things to say about Trotter's because it helped me choose them to cater my company's event. You see, I am new to the office and have been given the task to please 63 hungry men and 2 women every 3rd Friday. These guys eat great everyday and I definitely wanted to impress them. Now, I am sitting back at my desk...breathing a sigh of relief and feeling joy in my heart, because Trotter's really came through. Soooooo, I suggest that you definitely try (if you haven't already) the Spinach Salad w/Artichoke Hearts, Red Onion, Feta, & Yuzo-Miso Vinaigrette; the Cavatappi Pasta w/Spinach Pesto(YUMMY; the Wood Grilled Chicken Breast-Sliced and Flank Steak (GREAT GRILLED TASTE); the Demi Ciabatti dinner rolls (WONDERFUL) and Cookie-Brownie Combination Platter. The Trotter's Team was great and helpful too..Very polite and informative. I rate the overall experience a 10! Thanks again Trotter's To Go...You guys are awesome!!
- Pros: Food tasted great...Staff very knowledgeable and helpful
- Cons: Delivery guy in a hurry, brought the bags in, dropped the bags off and left
Dream Come True
by stephmckean at Citysearch
My husband surprised me with a romantic dinner for our 10 year wedding anniversary. He knows I am a foodie and love to cook. He knew this is something that would be very special to me. He tried to get the kitchen table, but he was told that they only sit 4 to 6 at the kitchen table. Well, the day of our reservations they called us and said that the kitchen table had a cancellation and that it was noted on our reservation that my husband had asked about it. They said they would make an exception for us to fill the table. I thought it was so nice of them to call us, even though we were only a party of 2.
It was truly a remarkable experience. The food was so imaginative. I would have never thought of combining some of the ingredients they did. Even my husband who is traditionally a steak and potatoes kind of guy, thoroughly enjoyed the food. His favorite dish of the 18 dishes we were served was a rare type of tuna that the chef told us only 1 was imported into the United States every week. My husband also ordered the wine pairing with his meal, which he truly enjoyed. The chefs try to make sure everything planned on the menu for that evening is from fresh seasonal ingredients.
They surprised me with asking if I would like to go with one of the chef's and plate a dish. They could tell I was having so much fun, I couldn't stop smiling. Then the asked me to take the dish and present it to my husband. This is not something they do very often, I was told.
I don't eat chocolate because of it making me have headaches, so they made me some non-chocolate deserts that were not the plan for the evening. We were so stuffed we were almost not able to try all the assortment of deserts that came our way.
Then we got a private tour of the restaurant including the wine cellar. The whole restaurant experience was about 3 hours.
Wow! This was an amazing experience of a lifetime!
- Pros: Incredible dining
- Cons: Very expensive
The Details on Charlie Trotters
Place Categories:
- outstanding food
- outstanding excellent service
- wonderful culinary experience
- best great restaurants
- very best meal
- friendly wait staff
- amazing brunch place
- comfortable atmosphere
- unique seasonal ingredients
- simply amazing wine accompaniment menu
- favorite deep dish
- amazing evening
- wonderful yummies
- extremely disappointing whole experience
- romantic dining experience
- amazing lamb
- impeccable hospitality
- terrific dessert
- impressive kitchen
- helpful team
- boring ambiance
- not recommend restaurant
- great match
- wonderful dining
- best charlie



@Ctrotters |