08/16/09

Don't expect perfection

by JMcPherson

With Ralph-you expect perfection. Food was good, but a couple of things stood out that Ralph would not have been happy with: Always serve pate with French bread, not crackers and when ordering a pinot noir, the waiter tried to pull the "another year switcharoo" by bringing a 2007 instead of the 2006 I ordered. Huge difference. Its OK to be out of stock, just tell me you are out of the 2006 instead of trying to push thru another vintage. Our best reataurants back home don't pull that. There are alot of restaurants I would try in the windy city before going back to RL.

• Pros: Overall food quality was good
• Cons: Missing the little things

02/20/09

Ask for a special table in advance

by cmroma

I had lunch here and had a reservation. I asked for a corner table when I got there but was told they were all reserved. Apparently, those reservations never turned up because when I left, a few corners were still available. That really irritated me! The host was intimidating and I felt like they thought they were doing me a favor by serving my table. It was sort of like it was a club and I was not a member. The food is good but it is also kind of expensive.

• Pros: Food is good
• Cons: Unless they know you ... don't expect a good table

05/16/08

Elegant,a definetly see and be seen spot!!!!!!!

by rashad83

RL has it all, from decor, service,food,to ambience and atmosphere.RL maintains a posh and elegant scene, our server was very helpful and on point.Now the food i must say was one of the best i ever had,from the crab louis to RL's steaks and sides.It's a place where you could dress up and won't feel left out or lonely, everyone here is pretty much dressed up. The only negative comment i have is the wait, although we had reservations we still had to wait a while, make sure you have reservations,i won't recommend walk ins especially on the weekends.

• Pros: It's a Ralph Lauren restaurant,what else do you want!!!!!!!!
• Cons: Wait time really.

03/16/08

Outstanding service, wonderful atmosphere, good food, reasonable prices

by margolis

The decor in this establishment is wonderful. I felt like I was in a private club. RL obviously set out to create an atmosphere akin to a private club and they accomplished that, right down to the menu. All of the classics are represented here. We were promptly seated, honoring our reservation. The wait staff provides impeccable service from hostess to waiter to bus men to captain. All were delightful. We started with cocktails. His g&t and my French martini were perfect and quite strong. Next, we sampled the crab Louie and cheese platter. Both were very good. The bread basket is excellent, especially the cheesy crackers. We opted for lobster bisque as our second course. It was good, but could have used a larger chunk of lobster. The one provided was tiny. It was also just barely warm, instead of hot. He had the Amish chicken. I ordered the steak Diane, a house specialty. We shared the scalloped potatoes and Brussels sprouts. Both side dishes were very good, although, again, only warm. His chicken was tender and tasy, but came warm, not hot. I ordered the steak Diane, because I was under the impression it was prepared table-side, a nice novelty. It was not table-side. They prepared it behind a wall near the kitchen door. The only show I got was a reflection in the mahogany paneling of the flames. The steak was tough and chewy. We were stuffed, so we chose to forgo dessert, but they presented us with a complimentary dessert, since it was our first anniversary. That was a thoughtful and nice touch. All in all, we will return. However, RL needs to work on the serving temperature of their dishes and the quality of the steak used in their house specialty. My biggest disappointment was that the steak Diane wasn't prepared table-side. The best feature was the impeccable, friendly service and the warm, classy atmosphere. We stuffed ourselves, enjoyed cocktails, parked valet, and tipped 20% for a total of $190, not bad for Chitown.

• Pros: Service, Atmosphere
• Cons: Food Temperature

03/14/07

OMG what a great place!

by moun_ki_lavi_zouti_dantel

I decided to stop in on a lark - the restaurant I wanted to visit had closed. Boy am I glad I did. The wait staff were very attentive, the patrons were surprisingly friendly, and the food (scallops) was a revelation. They make a nice vodka martini too. I can't wait to go back again!

• Pros: Food and service
• Cons: Perhaps a little pricey for lunch

02/26/07

Fabulous Decor, Wonderful Ambiance, & Great Service

by winelover15

My fiance' & I visited my cousin in Chicago for the first time in November. She had mentioned as we were walking down Michigan Ave that RL was her favorite place to eat in Chicago, and I highly agree. From the elegant decor to the tasty food, RL is a wonderful dining experience. We had to wait about 10 minutes for a table which we didn't mind at all. It was fun to people watch bc they were pretty busy. The front room is seat yourself, so we grabbed a table with the best view in the place. We ordered Fried Calamari for an appetizer and I enjoyed Eggs Benedict while my fiance' had the Ribeye Sandwich and we both ordered champagne to celebrate my birthday. I loved everything about this place. I don't know....Maybe I was just on cloud nine from being in the most amazing city, shopping on Michigan Avenue & drinking champagne before noon! I would highly recommend to anyone who has taste and is fabulous!

• Pros: Everything
• Cons: Nothing

07/13/06

Did not meet my expectations

by kwlee3

Well, I'm a big Ralph Lauren fan and I had high expectations for the food. However, the food was just ok. The service was less than expected. The place is very noisy and my waitress was not very attentive. Nice pictures, decorations, and restroom. Overall, just OK.

• Pros: Nice restroom and decorations.
• Cons: Less than average Food and Service.

07/05/06

LOVED EVERY MINUTE OF THIS PLACE!!! Great restaurant!

by yoojie

Went here this past holiday weekend. What an experience we had. The moment we walked through the door, it was amazing! I loved the look of the location - VERY COZY.

We went through the whole menu and the food was outstanding! Loved all the appetizers, I personally had the Grilled Ribeye sandwich and loved that as well... Overall just a great place to go.

Make reservations - this place can get very crowded.

If you can get it - the patio seating is a great place to people watch.

07/01/06

not impressed

by topspin55

I went here for lunch and I was not impressed with the food or service. For the price I was expecting spectacular. The atmosphere was posh but the food was just Ok. I talked to another friend and she told me she felt the same way. If you are looking for great food go somewhere else.

06/29/06

Great place - Great food - Great service!!!

by johnboy145

I am a big fan of Ralph Lauren clothing and to my surpise there is a restaurant too! I did not know what to expect when I got there, but what a fantasic place! The look and ambiance is just as I thought RL would be. The food is delish and the service was spectacular !!

The patio area is really a great place right off the magnificent mile so it would be a great place for people watching.

• Pros: Patio - View - service - Quality
• Cons: a bit tight seating