Mike Ditka's Restaurant

10/11/09

WONDERFUL DINING EXPERIENCE

by morning glory at Citysearch

We were in Chicago for a week in August. We went to Ditka's on a Wednesday night and it was amazing. We prime rib, chicken and I had the homemade chicken noodle soup (so much chicken) and a tomatoe and fresh mozzarella salad for entree'. After dinner we went up to the lounge and saw John Vincent - he was terrific. We decided to go back on Thursday to see John again - the waitresses in the lounge were so attentive and when we left on Wednesday they told us to come back on Thursday and they would remember us and they did!!! Just a a note BE SURE TO TRY THE HOMEMADE MAC AND CHEESE IT WAS A HUGE SIDE DISH AND 3 OF US SHARED IT. WE DECIDED WE COULD EAT THAT ALONE. We are going back to Chicago in October 2010 and will definitely go to Ditka's - in fact we liked it so much we have decided to stay right there at the Tremane Hotel..

• Pros: Great Food, Great Service, Wonderful Atmosphere
• Cons: None

07/27/09

Overrated and Overpriced

by betamale at Citysearch

Stay away from this place. I made the simple request of a separate check for just myself (in a group of maybe seven), which our server acknowledged. When the bill came... Sure enough. No separate check. You brush off a Customer's simple request, you're gonna get a bad review. Additionally, I could have made my dinner at home for like $5, and it would have tasted better. The atmosphere is overdone, and the prices are way out of line with the quality of the experience. Mike Ditka, his servers and his barstaff have an exaggerated sense of self-importance.

• Pros: Nice woodwork
• Cons: Bad service, mediocre food, tense atmosphere

03/16/09

Bloody Marys and Beer Chasers

by bethylou at Citysearch

Order a Bloody Mary, and you'll get complimentary beer sidecar and a fresh shrimp skewer. Bonus on a Sunday morning!

02/01/09

John Vincent makes all the difference!

by funfood007 at Citysearch

I really like this place. The steaks are d' bomb! but what I really have come to enjoy is the music by John Vincent. He really transforms the space. His Sinatra songs are the best. He always has a smile on his face! I always make a reservation and am seated quickly. The wait staff is professional and knows what they are talking about!....Oh I have seen da' coach there last christmas time. He was mobbed with crazy fans!

You got to hear this man sing! Great!

01/31/09

Entertainment, food, and fun on a constant basis...plus a little Frank Sinatra thrown in....

by pc20 at Citysearch

Ditka's is definitely is a places that will leave you with some type of fantastic memory. First off, the staff is one of the best that I have seen and have been served by. They always make sure that you are well taken care of without missing a beat. The drinks a moderately priced but worth it....I had a hard time stopping from ordering the Chocolate Martini's they're unbelievable. The upstairs bar has a singer-Mr. John Vincent, that will make you think Frank Sinatra is there in himself...he sounds exactly like the guy...He's Amazing!!! Plus, he throws in some Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong to boot. John Vincent is worth just hanging out at the bar and taking in his show every night if you can swing it. You'll feel like you are at a Sinatra concert listening to him perform all the hits...Chicago, Strangers in the Night, The Lady is a Tramp, That's Life, ect. It's a blast and it's free!!!! The food itself is fantastic- but a word of warning...the portions are HUGE!!! So, if you go on a date you might want to split something on your first time there so you have room for dessert. I have taken a number of friends out for dinner and a night of Mr. John Vincents singing, only to be left with a smile on my face. There is not a person that I have taken there, who has not had a great time. It is not surprising that sometimes Mike Ditka himself will be in the upstairs bar area, having dinner and listening to Mr. Vincent sing. If you do see Iron Mike there, go ahead and ask him for an autograph if he isn't eating...chances are that you will leave with a smile on your face and story to tell. The downstairs is mainly a restaurant and a big bar. It is great if you are looking for a fantastic dinning experience. But if you want to see John Vincent you will have to go upstairs...that is always where the fun tends to be...oh and almost forgot, because Mr. Vincent is such a great singer...there are CD's of his to purchase if you wish. Enjoy the night if you go...

• Pros: They do have Valet!!
• Cons: Depending on what you order...you can up a big tab....

07/30/08

Good food - Terrible, terrible service

by Rogenea at Citysearch

Saving Ditka's as our last meal on our week long stay in Chicago was a big mistake. Apparently the staff was far more tired than we were! We ordered the bone in filet and the new york strip. Both were good, but not great. The creamed spinach was good, but not great. What turned what otherwise would have been a good dining experience into a below average one was the absolutely terrible service we received. There is just no excuse for having to wave down a busboy to see if your waiter has quit or gone home for the night. Three times we had to find our waiter to get steak knives (the steak was good, but not good enough for butter knives alone!) and have our drinks refilled. It's a shame that a waiter can be so inattentive to completely ruin a what would otherwise had been a good, but not great, meal.

• Pros: Ambience
• Cons: Terrible service

10/22/07

Great All American

by travel4job at Citysearch

This is a Great All American place for Chicago! We did not have to wait long for a table, but while we did we had a drink from the bar upstairs. We didn't mind waiting as we got to take our photo with the man himself, Coach Ditka! We were very excited and he was very pleasant considering how many people flocked to him. The food was delicious and plenty of it. One of the things that made is such an enjoyable expereience was the waitstaff. They were very courteous, very knowlegeable about the food, it's indgredients, different wines, and had lots of input about Chicago on where to visit, etc.. We will definetly go back next visit.

10/22/07

Great food, Great service!

by angelinajeffrey at Citysearch

Visit Chicago 2 or 3 times a year... always stop at Ditka's for dinner or at least a drink. The food is fantastic and the customer service even better! Our favorite time to visit is Thanksgving Day.... Ditka's turducken is amazing!!!

09/10/07

I won't come back if it was on the house!

by donishacrump at Citysearch

Awful food, I cheeseburger appetizers taste like old hamburger meat, potroast nachos where greasy and hard, the banana pie taste like it was made with a box of banana pudding and nutri-grain crust, caesar salad was oily. I will never go back even if someone else paid for my dinner.Our server was nice and very apologetic but it was not her fought.

• Pros: FREE VALET
• Cons: AWFUL FOOD , VERY EXPENSIVE

07/21/07

Loved it!!!

by larasplace at Citysearch

WOW!! What fun this place was!! Very cool to be in a place where Chicago's FAVORITE coach has been. Great food!! Fantastic Service!!! Of course, like everyone else I had the Pork chops!! The best ever!!

• Pros: Too many to list!!
• Cons: Nothing comes to mind!