Tavern on Rush

(312) 664-9600

1031 North Rush St (East Bellevue Place)
Chicago, IL 60611 41.9017 -87.628

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Neighborhoods: Near North Side, Central

tavernonrush.com

Years in business

Established in 1998

Hours:

Mon-Fri 11am-2am

Sat 9am-3am

Sun 9am-2am

Last updated 8.07.11

Category:

Restaurants, Bars & Pubs, Taverns

Payment Methods:

American Express, Diners Club, Discover, Visa, MasterCard

Bar & Pub Special Features:

Martinis, Mojitos

Restaurant Special Features:

Private Rooms, Date Spot, Bar Menu, Romantic Dining, Trendy Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Brunch, Outdoor Dining, People Watching, Upscale Casual Dining, Notable Wine List

Cuisine:

Steakhouse, Seafood

Bar & Club Special Features:

After Work

Smoking Permitted:

At the bar

Editor's Tips

What People Are Saying About Tavern on Rush

Featured Review

Contributor

Contributor

The Scene – Thirty-something singles eye each other over martinis at the bar of this classy Gold Coast restaurant, whose country-club decor is all dark wood, leather accents and lazily twirling ceiling fans. Upstairs, the stately dining room is a more subdued, family-friendly scene, with tall, spacious booths, a bustling open kitchen and no-nonsense servers who could recite the menu backwards if asked. – – The Food – The classic American menu scores with upscale steak and seafood plates. Favorite starters include artichoke and crab dip and griddled crab cakes, plus a…

Editor's Tips

Where to Sit:
During the warmer months, the Tavern's sidewalk patio is the ultimate spot for Rush Street people-watching.
What to Drink:
The list of wines by the glass is fairly limited, so go for a martini--they're big enough to swim in.
Call Ahead:
Due to the restaurant's popularity, it's best to call ahead and make a reservation, especially during summer when the outdoor patio is open.
ambiance
95.45000076293945% positive
  1. “This place is so much fun, the food is great.”
  2. “The ambiance is nice, very "steak house" but a little loud and cramped especially on busy weekend nights.”
  3. “Nice atmosphere as well.”
  4. “The dining room was inviting and our table had a pleasent view over looking Rush street.”
  5. “Nice view of the people on the street.”
  6. “And of course half the fun of dining at the Tavern is who you see there - politicians, athletes, movie stars - there always is someone famous dining at the Tavern.”
  7. “The atmosphere is relaxed, but intimate enough to have a good conversation.”
  8. “Tavern on Rush- A great location with lousy cuisine”
  9. “It's a fine location if you want to sit outside to people watch, but if you expect decent food and professional service from the staff, consider another restaurant.”
  10. “Good food, great staff, fun atmosphere”
  11. “Great location for people watching and the bar is always filled with nice looking people.”
dessert
100.0% positive
  1. “had the jumbo shrimp with the square pasta in a pink cream sauce and found it delicious, good portion.”
drinks
100.0% positive
  1. “The bar was filled with Chicago's beautiful crowd.”
  2. “Great location for people watching and the bar is always filled with nice looking people.”
  3. “But well worth the wait, and transforms into a great place for drinks at night, and right next d.”
  4. “Maybe the drinks since there is a big bar in the middle.”
  5. “With the drinks, bread, and salads on the table it was a good fit-when the food came, it was cramped.”
  6. “The staff was very attentive and very helpful with their knowledge of the wine list.”
  7. “While the purist may not consider The Tavern's steaks as good as Gibson's - the hopping bar scene plus the delectable food makes up for it.”
food quality
89.58000183105469% positive
  1. “With the drinks, bread, and salads on the table it was a good fit-when the food came, it was cramped.”
  2. “great food”
  3. “It's a fine location if you want to sit outside to people watch, but if you expect decent food and professional service from the staff, consider another restaurant.”
  4. “Tavern on Rush- A great location with lousy cuisine”
  5. “While their appetizers can be a let down (the flat bread with olive tapenade and swiss cheese cubes was lack luster), the grilled chorizo and egg sandwich with peppers and cheddar is a Sunday hangover's dream.”
  6. “Will try one of the many other great steak houses in Chicago next time.”
  7. “While the purist may not consider The Tavern's steaks as good as Gibson's - the hopping bar scene plus the delectable food makes up for it.”
  8. “had the jumbo shrimp with the square pasta in a pink cream sauce and found it delicious, good portion.”
  9. “The food falls short of average, the bartenders are rude and un-attentive, and the management is creepy.”
  10. “little expensive, but some of the best steak I've had since Mortons (and not as expensive).”
  11. “couldn't resist adding salt to my side dishes and even worcestershire sauce to my steak to make the food more palatable.”
  12. “Anyone who thinks tavern on rush serves good food needs an education in cuisine.”
  13. “Depending on the season - the oysters on the half shell are wonderfully fresh and a gastronomical treat.”
  14. “Though it was pricey, we all had amazing steaks and to-die-for twice baked potatoes.”
  15. “Not to mention the food is excellent and quite a reasonable price.”
  16. “breakfast/lunch. They have great omlettes and sandwiches, and everything is relatively affordable.”
  17. “Here's the ironic part - the food is actually good.”
  18. “This place is so much fun, the food is great.”
  19. “Good food, great staff, fun atmosphere”
  20. “The service was excellent and the food was fantastic.”
  21. “The food was GREAT and a nice place to go to people watch.”
  22. “The ambiance is nice, very "steak house" but a little loud and cramped especially on busy weekend nights.”
  23. “My steak was better then the amazing steak I had at Gibsons (across the street) the night before.”
  24. “Though I know there are other steak houses in the immediate area that are also very good, I think that Tavern is as good as any for both food and people watching.”
overall
100.0% positive
  1. “order filet nearly every nice place I eat.”
  2. “But well worth the wait, and transforms into a great place for drinks at night, and right next d.”
  3. “great place to take a work break”
  4. “The food was GREAT and a nice place to go to people watch.”
return potential
0.0% positive
  1. “It was a horrible experience, and I'll never return to this place.”
service
83.33000183105469% positive
  1. “The service was excellent and the food was fantastic.”
  2. “Waittress and staff were friendly and attentive.”
  3. “Though I know there are other steak houses in the immediate area that are also very good, I think that Tavern is as good as any for both food and people watching.”
  4. “Terrible service”
  5. “the crowd was friendly.”
  6. “Good food, great staff, fun atmosphere”
  7. “Unfortunately, Tavern fails to master the saving grace of having a polite and attentive staff.”
  8. “The food falls short of average, the bartenders are rude and un-attentive, and the management is creepy.”
  9. “This is an excellent place to come during the middle of your work day due to the quick and friendly service.”
  10. “The staff was very attentive and very helpful with their knowledge of the wine list.”
  11. “It's a fine location if you want to sit outside to people watch, but if you expect decent food and professional service from the staff, consider another restaurant.”
  12. “Great location for people watching and the bar is always filled with nice looking people.”
  13. “Nice view of the people on the street.”
  14. “The food was GREAT and a nice place to go to people watch.”
value
100.0% positive
  1. “Though it was pricey, we all had amazing steaks and to-die-for twice baked potatoes.”
  2. “Not to mention the food is excellent and quite a reasonable price.”
  3. “breakfast/lunch. They have great omlettes and sandwiches, and everything is relatively affordable.”
  4. “the prices were good and i do recommend”
  5. “little expensive, but some of the best steak I've had since Mortons (and not as expensive).”
  6. “But well worth the wait, and transforms into a great place for drinks at night, and right next d.”
wait time
100.0% positive
  1. “This is an excellent place to come during the middle of your work day due to the quick and friendly service.”
5 Star Rating: Highly Recommended

05/21/11

superb

by sweetconfusion1111 at Citysearch

fun place. the service is always exceptional

4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/04/11

A Gold Coast Institution...

by ksmith771 at Citysearch

Located in the heart of the Gold Coast Tavern serves up stiff drinks and has a great vibe. It gets extremely crowded at times so try to get a table. Avoid the upstairs restaurant as it's overpriced.

2 Star Rating: Below Average

03/02/11

koo koo waiter

by Umbrella at Citysearch

The waiter's eye were shifty, attitude like he was the food,

the place, the owner, maybe he was having a bad day.

But the food made up for it.

1 Star Rating: Poor

07/16/10

WORST EXPERIENCE I HAVE EVER HAD IN AN ESTABLISHMENT!

by stargazer ranch at Citysearch

I Never had an experience where the paid "entertainment" took liberties with the guest at an establishment!!!

At the Tavern on Rush the owners of this over priced restaurant/bar had a guy with a suit jacket walk around the bar and sat down at tables without being invited to interrupt conversations. Many times I witness him groping the female guests and even kissing them. We had to pay him to leave Our table. The only staff that was more rude and arrogant was the management themselves. Save your money and your girlfriend or wife from being inappropriately touched and go anywhere but the Tavern on Rush!!!!

  • Pros: NONE, NEVER WILL GO BACK
  • Cons: RUDE OWNER, HAD EMPLOYEE THAT PUT HIS HANDS ON FEMALE GUEST
4 Star Rating: Recommended

05/20/10

Top Outdoor Patio

by Mallory Ulaszek at Citysearch

Tavern boasts a large outdoor seating area, and while at times crowded and slightly packed in, can be worth the wait. The patio mimics a Parisian café, is open for lunch service only, and puts a 2 hour time limit on each table. Bloody Mary’s are exceptional here with a celery salt rim and blue cheese stuffed olives. Their lunch and dinner menu runs the gamut in terms of cuisine, with options ranging from sandwiches to fish and steak dishes. While their appetizers can be a let down (the flat bread with olive tapenade and swiss cheese cubes was lack luster), the grilled chorizo and egg sandwich with peppers and cheddar is a Sunday hangover’s dream.

  • Pros: Atmosphere and people watching.
  • Cons: Waits for seating, appetizers.

The Details on Tavern on Rush

Place Categories:

  • nice place
  • great food
  • attentive great staff
  • nice fun atmosphere
  • amazing steak
  • decent service
  • beautiful crowd
  • great location
  • fails tavern
  • rude bartenders
  • good price
  • inviting dining room
  • attentive waittress
  • freezing cold restaurant
  • great steak houses
  • flat bread
  • wonderfully fresh oysters
  • good conversation
  • worst filets
  • delicious portion
  • great omlettes
  • great nights
  • nice view
  • nice ambiance
  • famous dining

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