Lawry's The Prime Rib

The Scene – A pair of brass lions guards the expansive main dining room, dominated by dark wood, tapestry-backed booths, chandeliers and oversize brass-studded leather chairs. Frequent camera flashes signal birthdays and anniversaries. – – The Food – Choose from six juicy aged and roasted prime-rib cuts, seasoned with Lawry's salt and sliced to order from roll-top stainless-steel carts. Bone-in options tend to add fat, so if you're looking for a plateful, try the "beef bowl" cut. The Lawry cut (with bone or without) is a happy medium. Whipped-cream horseradish…

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Editor's Tips

Look Good:: The restaurant prefers that customers not wear torn jeans, T-shirts or athletic gear.
Save Money:: Lunch is more casual--and a bargain. Grab silverware and a tray, order at the counter and enjoy a hand-carved prime rib, turkey or tuna salad sandwich, house-made potato chips and one side dish, between $6 and $12.

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User Reviews (54)

ambiance	92.5% positive	“The bar very is nice and the waiting area is huge and very comfortable.” “It's romantic, the food is OUTSTANDING, the portion sizes are plentiful, the service is always OUTSTANDING, you don't have to wait very long to be seated (make sure to call for a reservation).” “The spinning bowl salad was not only tasty but fun to watch them make, and while they do put a lot of dressing on it, it still tastes really good.” “Lawry's is the best place for prime rib and a very relaxed atmosphere, not slow, but nicely paced.” “The ambience exceeded my expectations, but the big cut of Prime Rib did not meet all the hype.” “Outstanding prime rib, great service, wonderful ambience” “The servings are huge, and the place has an amazing atmosphere.” “While you might assume that a restaurant located inside a mansion with such elegant decor would have stuffy service it most certainly did not.” “Loved the atmosphere and food.” “The atmosphere is great, the restaurant is in an old mansion, it has a nice elegant feel.” “Lawry's is a wonderful location for prime rib, elegant dining, and for special” “Their uniforms are also fun.” “Many couples enjoying themselves and it is a very romantic place to sit back and enjoy!” “We had decided to stay over the week end in the Magnificent Mile area to enjoy the ambience of Chicago.” “If you want excellent food without the wait and for a great price and relaxing atmosphere this is the place!” “The ambiance of the restaurant was great, so if that matters to you, more than the quality of the service and the food, you would love it.” “That was particularly unfortunate since they could have fantastic ambiance considering what a beautiful space they are working with.” “Great food, service and atmosphere.” “original prime rib] was excellent, as was the service, and atmosphere.” “Lastly, the valet parking service was the worst we have ever experienced; extremely disorganized and rude.”
dessert	100.0% positive	“English trifle is wonderful for dessert, but I usually get the banana coconut cream pie.” “recommend a baked potato, creamed spinach and that you skip dessert altogether.” “The steak was awesome and the cream corn was the best I have ever had!” “All the food was fantastic from the spinning salad to the prime rib to the desserts.”
drinks	100.0% positive	“The bar very is nice and the waiting area is huge and very comfortable.”
food quality	85.41999816894531% positive	“The food was just gross.” “and the salmon was divine.” “If you're near mag mile and in the mood for good meat try Capital Grill or Keefers.” “The ambiance of the restaurant was great, so if that matters to you, more than the quality of the service and the food, you would love it.” “Loved the atmosphere and food.” “recommend a baked potato, creamed spinach and that you skip dessert altogether.” “Let me tell u the place need to go out of business, for the terrible food i had to endour for the prices they have.” “The steak was awesome and the cream corn was the best I have ever had!” “The best steak I've ever taste” “All the food was fantastic from the spinning salad to the prime rib to the desserts.” “This place is wonderful for the beef lovers and service is great!” “If you want excellent food without the wait and for a great price and relaxing atmosphere this is the place!” “The spinning salad is awesome.” “I'd still recommend it though, as a good alternative for people who enjoy beef but balk at the eye-watering prices at the usual Chicago steakhouse.” “It's romantic, the food is OUTSTANDING, the portion sizes are plentiful, the service is always OUTSTANDING, you don't have to wait very long to be seated (make sure to call for a reservation).” “Very good beef lovers excellent prime rib of beef” “The spinning bowl salad was not only tasty but fun to watch them make, and while they do put a lot of dressing on it, it still tastes really good.” “Great food, service and atmosphere.” “get a prime rib as thin as my pinky and mashed potato's that taste like it came from a box.” “absolutely delicious food and lots of choices.” “High prices DO NOT mean great food!” “For less than $30, you get the best prime rib in the world (Lawry Cut), a great salad, and potatoes.” “Though I must say if you go to a steak house and don't order steak.” “We wanted to celebrate our 10th anniversary with great food at a nice place.”
menu variety	100.0% positive	“The Prime rib was also wonderful and I love the fact that you have so many choices in size.” “absolutely delicious food and lots of choices.” “open the menu and you pretty much have no choice but to order the prime rib.”
overall	100.0% positive	“thought the wait was to be expected since i heard it was a good place to eat and it was v-day after all.” “My husband and were in Chicago on vacation during our anniversary so I wanted a nice place to go to.” “If you want excellent food without the wait and for a great price and relaxing atmosphere this is the place!” “great restaurant” “My favorite restaurant of all times.” “This is my absolute favorite restaurant in the world.” “We wanted to celebrate our 10th anniversary with great food at a nice place.” “Lawry's is the best place for prime rib and a very relaxed atmosphere, not slow, but nicely paced.”
service	84.20999526977539% positive	“The wait staff were friendly and accomodating with any of our questions.” “Great food, service and atmosphere.” “Outstanding prime rib, great service, wonderful ambience” “The waitress was very nice, but in general the service was cheesy.” “have experienced worst service ever from this restaurant.” “While you might assume that a restaurant located inside a mansion with such elegant decor would have stuffy service it most certainly did not.” “Always great Primerib and excellent service.” “They have the best service and the best prime rib.” “We finally went to Lawrys, wow, Best Prime Rib i ever had and the staff was great.” “Our waitress was friendly, out going, playful, but also knew her stuff and did her best to please all of us.” “I'd still recommend it though, as a good alternative for people who enjoy beef but balk at the eye-watering prices at the usual Chicago steakhouse.” “It's romantic, the food is OUTSTANDING, the portion sizes are plentiful, the service is always OUTSTANDING, you don't have to wait very long to be seated (make sure to call for a reservation).” “This place is wonderful for the beef lovers and service is great!” “Maureen, our waitress was great.” “You would be much better off going to any steakhouse and get the same quality prime rib for a whole lot less AND walk out with a full stomach (and were not big people so it doesn't take much to make us full).” “The ambiance of the restaurant was great, so if that matters to you, more than the quality of the service and the food, you would love it.” “original prime rib] was excellent, as was the service, and atmosphere.” “If you are looking for some great service, then I highly recommend not go to this one.” “Lastly, the valet parking service was the worst we have ever experienced; extremely disorganized and rude.”
value	87.5% positive	“The servings are huge, and the place has an amazing atmosphere.” “If you want excellent food without the wait and for a great price and relaxing atmosphere this is the place!” “Let me tell u the place need to go out of business, for the terrible food i had to endour for the prices they have.” “Best prime rib in the city without a doubt, been going there off and on for years (due to the price).” “High prices DO NOT mean great food!” “The dining room is huge and busy, even on a Tuesday, so consider making a reservation.” “I'd still recommend it though, as a good alternative for people who enjoy beef but balk at the eye-watering prices at the usual Chicago steakhouse.” “The bar very is nice and the waiting area is huge and very comfortable.”
wait time	100.0% positive	“Lawry's is the best place for prime rib and a very relaxed atmosphere, not slow, but nicely paced.” “It's romantic, the food is OUTSTANDING, the portion sizes are plentiful, the service is always OUTSTANDING, you don't have to wait very long to be seated (make sure to call for a reservation).”

04/02/11

Bad Experience - Lawry's

by ckneisly

On 3/30/11 we went to Lawry's for dinner and a close to our four day trip to Chicago for my daughter's birthday. The evening started well enough with a warm greeting by the host and prompt - courteous service in the lounge. Unfortunately, that was the end of professional service. Our waitress was clearly disinterested in doing her job and in fact was useless in our desire to have a fine meal. She never asked if we wanted a drink - we had to slow her down to request a wine list. Never offered a side to the Prime Rib - we had to request a side lobster tail that arrived late. She never explained the horse radish tastes - she dropped it off an left. No smiles, completely rushed the process, lack of execution that you wouldn't experience at Denny's. To top it off the management, instead of apologizing defended the server and only offered ice cream for my two children - which comes with the meal. For 250 dollars for a family of four, kids 7 and 8, this was one of the most disappointing meals and lack of professional service we have every experienced. Skip this place and if you don't lay down the expectations at the door or you will be in for a bad evening.

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03/06/11

Lawry's The Prime Rib

by CityWideMike

Our experience in one word ~ bad!

Upon arrival, the host seemed annoyed that we were approximately 15 minutes early for our reservation. Comments were exchanged as we were being directed to our table. I thought being a bit early would be well received, unfortunately, I was mistaken. Then our waitress was constantly interrupting our conversation, she had a snippy attitude and unfortunately, we could not understand what she was saying. I appauld her for learning English but a customer needs to understand what you are saying. We had to ask numerous times for her to repeat what she said. At the time, the dining room was not crowded ~ so, she needed to slow down her pace, in speaking and serving.

I understand that prime rib is not 'lean' as a filet ~ however, I am not exaggerating in saying the lean part of our prime rib was probably 2 inches in diameter. Horrible!

This was a birthday celebration and trust me, we will not go back to Lawry's!! Very expensive birthday dinner and came away very disappointed. We decided to give Lawry's another try after being disappointed 2 years ago. Obviously, we will not try a third time... some things never change.

Next celebration will be at Morton's or Gibson's... we have always enjoyed our dining experience at both places.

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10/28/10

food quality very poor

by TIGGERRANDY

had 2 prime rib lunches 1 with 1 with out bone in threw 75% away very very tough meat i was appalled at quality especially for all the hipe $72.00 DOWN THE DRAIN PLUS PARKING 2 1/2 HR TRIP I WAS NOT IMPRESSED

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02/15/10

wonderful

by debdawn609

This place is wonderful for the beef lovers and service is great!!!!!!!

Pros: great
Cons: reservation a must

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09/15/09

Superb

by EatingFood

Best prime rib in the city without a doubt, been going there off and on for years (due to the price). I have no idea how people could give this place a bad review, its simply fantastic.

Go there during Christmas time and you'll never forget it!

Pros: Best prime rib in the city... World?
Cons: Very old-timey feel... Little outdated maybe...

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Lawry's The Prime Rib

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What People Are Saying About Lawry's The Prime Rib

Elisa Kronish

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Editor's Tips

04/02/11

Bad Experience - Lawry's

by ckneisly

03/06/11

Lawry's The Prime Rib

by CityWideMike

10/28/10

food quality very poor

by TIGGERRANDY

02/15/10

wonderful

by debdawn609

09/15/09

Superb

by EatingFood

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