01/18/09

Excellent food and decor

by Dundies

Very typical for a Kleiner restaurant, great food, service, and the decor was awesome. We have been to Room 21 twice, both times sitting in the outdoor patio in the summer, it makes you feel like you are on a mini-vacation away from the city. Both times the service has been great and the food outstanding! The server has explained each dish with great detail, and I mean all dishes. Went there for a romantic dinner with my wife the first time and with a large group the second, which included a two year old, the servers were very willing to accomodate for the little guy which was appreciated! The manager was great and even took us on a private tour of the Capone vault. I will have to say that I was disappointed the second time around with the dessert selection after the departure of their pastry chef, I MISS THE RED VELVET CAKE!! That is the only complaint that I would have, everything else is great!

• Pros: Adapts to the clients; good for large groups with kids or a romantic night, service, food, ambience
• Cons: Loss of great dessert menu with departure of pastry chef

08/25/08

Fashionable South Loop scenester serves updated steakhouse fare in a one-time Al Capone brewery.

by Contributor

-- CLOSED FOR RECONCEPTING --

Jerry Kleiner transformed a former Al Capone brewery in his signature fashionista-fantasia style: Gonzo damask patterns on the walls, French fabric chairs, a jumbo zebra-framed bar mirror and bordello-on-Venus drum lighting in fuchsia and chartreuse. French doors open onto a lovingly landscaped garden oasis. Light-handed New American updates tweak straightforward steakhouse fare. Pricey prime steaks pair with sauce choices, notably a light, tart balsamic jus. Crisp arancini-style crab risotto cakes swell with succulent crabmeat, sauteed corn and arborio rice, their plate drizzled with Old Bay aioli. Deep-fried chocolate "beignets" with chocolate and peanut butter sauces are great fun.

Photo by Jasmin Shah

06/03/08

Terrible Service!!!!!!!

by Lynnchicago

I went here with a group of 12 people on a Tuesday night and the service was AWFUL (although there were probably only 4 other parties there) !!!! The waiter did not come by to refill our water... got our orders wrong... The food was ok.. nothing really spectacular - I definately will not be going here again.

• Pros: Decor
• Cons: Service, neighborhood, food

10/17/07

The worst service. Ever.

by clshafchi

Don't sit in the courtyard if you actually want to have food. Mid August was our first time to this restraunt, I think the decor reminds one of "Bozo's Big Top", bring your peanuts and popcorn, because you will need it.

We were seated in the outdoor courtyard, which I have to say was tastefully decorated and elegant. We were approached by a waiter and offered some water. We ordered a Pellegrino and 2 glasses of wine. Our waiter returned and we placed our appetizer, salad and entree order. We waited for our appetizer....about 20-30 minutes went by, no sign of food, waiter, water guy....nothing. We waited about 10 more minutes to find any employee to enquire about our order, as we were starving. No one in sight after 40 minutes. So we actually went to host stand to request our tab, paid for our bottled water , wine, and left. Any experienced waiter should have come to our table to let us know the kitchen was running behind, etc. Bad, bad, bad service, limited menu.

We wound up going to Cuartro next door and had a wonderful meal. Good Luck room 21 because with all of the competition coming your way in the South Loop you will need it!

• Pros: Nice courtyard
• Cons: Bad service, limited menu, bad service!

06/22/07

Kinda cheesy.

by angi1021

I must say, a dissapointment. Jerry Kleiner needs to find a new decorator, or some new ispiration. The "velvet curtain-zeebra print-obnoxious-color scheme" motif is played out at ALL of his restaurants, and Room21 is no exception. It's dated and corny. The food was ok, (my halibut was cooked perfectly), but the menu was limiting and bland, also, the one great bottle of wine we wanted was out of stock. There was an abundance of two things at this restaurant: lonely cougars chatting up the bartenders, (depressing), and fruit flies circling our table, (gross). While the ladie's room was nice, two of the three toilets were overflowing and nasty. The outdoor area looked great and we would've loved to take our wine outside, but they had it closed because, as our waiter stated, "it was going to rain buckets that night." Clear skies suggested otherwise, but he may have had a radar map hidden in his apron we didn't know about.

Had my boyfriend and I not been in a great mood, this place could've been a real kick in the pants. I was looking forward to a trip back in time to the Capone era, but felt like I was in Marche'.

• Pros: Nice waiter, valet
• Cons: Decor, lame menu

06/06/07

Stale and hard Red Velvet Cakes

by chitina

After hearing good things about Room 21 I decided to try it out with my bf for a romantic evening. This place is overrated! Pricey, boring menu, and the Red Velvet cakes were hard and stale! Go somewhere else down the street and you'll find better!

• Pros: classy ppl, cute bartenders, nice ambiance
• Cons: pricey, Red velvet cakes old

05/22/07

Stick to Carnevale

by vickyvanikiotis

Although this place is pretty new it should be no excuse for the below average visit. This place is unorganized, over-priced, has a very limited menu - and boring. For a better meal and better atmosphere - go to Carnevale - same owner, but MUCH better - and it's less expensive. Don't waste your time or money at Room 21. P.S. - Cuatro next door is better...

• Pros: non
• Cons: don't go here