China Grill Chicago

Recommends

Kimberly Peiffer

Joined 3 years ago

Citysearch Editorial Review. It may be called China Grill, but the fare is not limited to Asian cuisine at this swanky restaurant inside the lobby level of the Hard Rock Hotel in the Loop . Everything about the inside is reminiscent of a nightclub, from the dim lighting to the loud music and sleek decor. The sharing-friendly menu boasts a mixture of Asian, Italian and French-influenced dishes like lobster pancakes and spiced crispy pork belly. The food doesn’t come cheap, but considering the crowd of expertly-dressed diners and trendy out-of-towners, it's no surprise.

Doesn't Recommend

gluttonfourpunishment

Joined 4 years ago

Obscenely overpriced ... incredibly slow service.. Decor pleasant ... that's where it ended.

Music too loud for medium upscale restaurant.

Restaurant was half full, if that. We waited 35 minutes for our one course; it arrived basically RAW.

Sent back, it took another 15 minutes.

We are poured water from Voss, didn't ask the for the second bottle ... still charged $20 more.

Obscenely overpriced (for "theme"), $135 for two dishes, 2 glasses of wine total and 2 bottles of water.

Nothing tastes that good.

Complained to manager; not even apologetic, no credit; nothing.

Do not expect a return. Ever.

Recommends

JessicaRodriguez

Joined 5 years ago

Best Pan-Asian restaurant in the city!. The food here is excellent. Be sure to try the crab cakes as an appetizer and BBQ Salmon as an entree, you will not be disappointed.

Recommends

Renee001

Joined 5 years ago

Best Asian Fusion concecpt iv'e heard of, Lively and Happening, Customer service was great. This was my first time dining at China Grill, never heard of the restaurant until a friend of mine's husband surprised her with taking her there for their ten year anniverary.She bragged and raved about the service and how great and unique the food was until my husband and i finally made reservations. When we first stepped through the door we were welcomed with warm and enchating smiles from the two host standing at the podium.China Grill was mellow yet vibrant and lively the server was prompt and proffessional. The food was fantastic! the seasoning of the bbq salmon was perfect to the tee. As soon as i cut into it, it fell apart, thats just how soft and tender it was, when i took my first bite it melted in my mouth, i took my time savoring all the rich flavors. I also highly recommend the avocado rice. I dont even like avocado, but this mixture of avocado with other ingrediants had my taste buds standing on their tippy toes.Im also not a big fan of spicy food, but it's not so much of a spicy where it's so hot you have to hurry and drink a glass of water it has a hint of spice but you can still taste all the flavors. Our money was well spent and you totally get what your paying for.

Doesn't Recommend

nyunder

Joined 8 years ago

nice place... ok food. We were promptly seated because the restaurant was practically empty. The waiter was quite attentative. The food was ok. The only thing I enjoyed was the duck salad. i could not get enough. It is a pricey place but the waiter made good suggestions for one appetizer and one entree for 2 people. The drunken chicken should be renamed the very salty drunken chicken... I think it is a nice bar scene, but i was not terribly impressed with the food. I normally like china grill management restaurants. Asia de Cuba in New York is incredible, but they need a chef change in Chicago.

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vikarad

Joined 8 years ago

Great lunch spot!. A client took a group of us out to lunch at the China Grill and it was fantastic! Great service, great food - plenty of veg options- baby leaf lettuce salad or the avocado rice were my favorites, and best of all, great dessert. (Do not miss the Bavarian Chocolate or the Bananas in a box... yum!) Nice place to go but probably at a time when someone else is picking up the tab! I would def go back.

Recommends

bling76

Joined 7 years ago

It was OK but nothing more than OK. The China Grill in Las Vegas is much nicer (and I can't stand Las Vegas). The restaurant is always empty...service is mediocre but the food is about the samebut for basic Chinese food it is OK.you can go to Chinatown for better food.

Doesn't Recommend

cojac103202

Joined 8 years ago

What a mistake!. After having a fabulous time at the Las Vegas China Grill, I was excited to bring out-of-town friends to the Chicago location. The host was pleasant however we waited much too long for our waiter to greet us, the restaurant was virtually empty. My friend made a comment that her drink, a Jack and Diet, didn't taste right and barely touched it during the rest of the meal. Our server had barely cleared the appetizer plate before one of our entrees arrived, and then we waited ten more minutes for our second entree. To top it off, my favorite side dish, the Crunchy Spinach, was so heavy with grease it left an unpleasent dirty oil aftertaste that even my martini couldn't disolve.

We received the check, which had it's own problems, realized my friend DID have the wrong drink, laughed, and said we would never go back.

Recommends

Contributor

Joined 10 years ago

A sexy crowd pouts over Asian-inspired fare at this of-the-moment Hard Rock Hotel restaurant.. The Scene
Loud, stylish and packed to the rafters with a flashy crowd of suits and locals, this Loop restaurant is about as scene-y as Chicago gets. Hottie bartenders sling drinks in a glass-front bar with jaw-dropping 44-foot-high ceilings; in the dining room, amiable servers shout to be heard over the din of conversation and blasting music. Decor is minimal, but gets the job done with gauzy gold curtains, snazzy red-lacquered tile and a Plexiglas wall of wine.

The Food
The restaurant's creative, Asian-inspired global cuisine comes at a steep price (appetizers are in the $20 range), but generous sharing portions and impressive execution soften the blow to your wallet. Salads are surprisingly good, from crackling calamari with mounds of greens in zesty lime miso dressing to "Confucius" chicken salad with lots of crunchy sliced cabbage. Other favorite plates include meaty, tender lamb spare ribs, perfectly flaky barbecued salmon, and absolutely decadent lobster mashed potatoes.

Recommends

ewingva

Joined 8 years ago

Cool Place/Food is Very Average. Cool place to be seen and to begin an evening. The food was over priced for asian cuisine and the portions are not as large as advertised in their write-up. Would return for drinks and the appetizers.