Willow Room
Jonathan Reed · 188 Google reviewsWillow Room — top-tier american in Lincoln Park. Order the Mussels. The look is curated without feeling cold, and handles groups well. Jodi Hill: "The ribeye was cooked perfectly and the short rib was pull apart tender" [$$]
What 786 diners keep saying
What 786 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“I didn’t know much about the willow room before going but wow I am so glad we went. My mom and I got the Monday night 3 course meal and we both got the short rib and it was delicious. The 3 course meal was such a deal and I’m excited to come back and try the burger and beef Wellington.”
“Came here wuth a large group. Service was welcoming and professional. Everything went smoothly. The location itself is so cool. Very aesthetic spot for brunch. Breakfast burrito was luxurious if a little heavy. Great food, reliable service, great aesthetic; cant ask for a better brunch spot.”
“Had a very memorable birthday here on a snowy Chicago night and I don't think we could have picked a better spot! Food and drinks were delicious. I was happy to see mocktails on the menu since I wasn't in the mood for drinking. Great service. Five stars all around!”
“Been wanting to come here for a while and so glad I finally did! 10/10! The service was welcoming and accommodating, but not hovering. At no point did my water glass ever hit the half way full point, he was on it! Mussels, Cesar salad, short ribs, burger, flourless chocolate cake and the donuts were great! Cute bathrooms too!”
“Checked out Willow Room and had a really solid experience. The space itself is very cozy, food is great but the service is what actually stood out. Our waiter, Ryan, was excellent. He was super attentive and stayed on top of everything without being overbearing. He made the whole meal feel more like hanging out at a neighborhood spot rather than a stiff restaurant. We will be coming back! Thank you!”
“What a find! We needed a place to eat before our show at Steppenwolf and Willow Room did not disappoint! Got the carpachio as an appetizer which was tender and flavorful. My entree was the Shrimp risotto and it may be the best risotto I've ever had. So creamy and delicious! I asked for an after dinner cocktail with Baileys and whatever the bartender put together was divine! The service was impeccable as well. Would absolutely go back!”
“Fabulous meal. Mandy was wonderful and the food was so tasty. Thanks!”
“I was blown away by how much I loved this restaurant. I went with my friends for one of their birthday dinners, and everything about the experience was wonderful. Here is a tip: on Mondays they offer a $38 three-course dinner menu with some amazing options, and I really do mean amazing. I started with the mussels, then had the short ribs, and finished with the orange donuts. The star of the meal was definitely the mussels. I am not usually a mussels person, but the other starters were salads, and I thought, “I can get those anywhere. When else will I have the chance to try quality mussels?” I am so glad I did. They came in a flavorful broth that perfectly complemented the buttery meat and were served with a slice of sourdough to soak up the broth. They did not hold back on the portion either; it was a generous serving that completely satisfied me. The short rib followed and was just as impressive. A tender, perfectly cooked cut of meat that fell apart with just my fork. I would guess about five ounces, but every bite was packed with flavor. To finish, the glazed orange donuts were incredible. Citrusy, light, and filled with cream, they were such a unique and delicious way to end the meal. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone visiting or living in the area. It was a beautiful dining experience from start to finish.”
“Excellent and very tasty dinner and a wonderful atmosphere. We both went for their 3-course Monday at $38 per person to try a selection of their dishes. We were told the apps would be 1/2 portions but were surprised when they arrived appearing to be normal and well sized portions. Everything we ordered was excellent. I will say the majority of dishes are extremely rich and savory. Knowing this, for apps we picked the beet and arugula salad (refreshing and great blend goat cheese and walnuts) and the lemon butter mussels (lemon butter was absolutely divine). Both shareable size between the two of us. Our mains were the short rib (upon recommendation by our waitress) and the double patty burger. We actually still had our lemon butter sauce from the mussels so our waitress recommended dipping with our burger fries (so, so good). The burger was cooked to medium (so some red in the middle) which was perfect for us and was complimented well with the pickles, onions, and side mayo. My short rib was absolutely massive, and combination of the fork tender beef, demi glace, and potato definitely filled me with every satisfying bite. Dessert, like each course, was also very, very good. We had key lime pie and the off-menu raspberry cheesecake (I believe its a special as our waitress also recommended it). Key lime pie was leaning towards tart, so very palate cleansing. Raspberry cheesecake had the perfect texture so it wasn't overly decadent and still melted in your mouth when eaten. If paid at regular dinner prices I would still be very satisfied for our meal, as each dish would be fairly priced in my opinion. As we had the 3-course Monday meal at $38 per person, our whole meal came out to $85 after tax (with no drinks, btw). At that price, each course was more than reasonable, might I even say even value being just shy of $13 per course. So while I can easily recommend the Willow Room any time of the week, if you happen to be available Monday evening, absolutely dine here. I just wish my stay in Chicago extended until next Monday 😅.”
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