Oriole
Ken Cook · 165 Google reviewsOriole — top-tier fine dining in West Loop. The atmosphere does most of the heavy lifting. If you drink, start at the bar. [$$$$]
What 653 diners keep saying
What 653 diners keep saying
verbatim, from Google
“Wonderful experience all around. Enjoyed every bite. This is a late post.”
“This is a must try culinary experience. The aesthetic of the restaurant is amazing with the rustic elevator from the very beginning. I had an amazing time!”
“Oriole was an absolutely phenomenal experience from start to finish. My friends and I had a lengthy heated debate on which dish was the best and we couldn’t all agree, as there were so many standouts! I would definitely recommend the wine pairing (we had the regular one) the matches were spot on and it definitely elevated the food even higher. Every staff member is at the top of their game and made us feel extremely welcome. There was no stuffy atmosphere like you see in some Michelin restaurants. I can’t thank you all enough for creating some wonderful memories! Henry, Aseem, Aneta & Abbie”
“Phenomenal 3 hour dining experience. Special thanks to Maddie the bartender at the beginning of the experience. She was friendly and very welcoming. We had 3 small seafood oriented bites at the bar, it was a fabulous start to the evening. My favorite dish was the Hudson Valley foie gras with California fig, peppercorn and oxalis served in a brioche bun. One of my friends ordered the wine pairing and we all thought it matched well with the dishes. As for seating, we had the kitchen table and would totally recommend this as you enjoy the almost choreographed atmosphere behind the stoves.”
“Sin palabras , no subiré platillos para que ustedes vivan la experiencia, el servicio excelente y la comida… hasta lloras de las emociones que te hacen sentir la mezcla de los sabores acompañado de vinos de calidad y únicos”
“Finest meal I've had in Chicago. Chicago is stacked with amazing fine dining spots, but Oriole is one of the few names that always comes up in the same breath as the best. My friends and I came in with months of built-up expectations and somehow left with all of them met. Interactive, with a real shift between spaces. Personal stories folded into a few of the dishes. And beautiful execution on plates built from seemingly pedestrian ingredients. This was one of the top three meals I've had this year. The space-shifting gimmick usually feels a bit tacky to me, but here it felt organized. The progression from the old elevator entrance to the bar, into the kitchen, and finally to the table had a sense of order. We opted for one of the two tables with a full view of the kitchen, and even with the hectic foot traffic, the pop-culture drawings scrawled across the ceiling and walls kept the whole thing oddly calming. Most of the evening was impeccable, but a couple of dishes lodged in my brain for weeks, which says a lot given how deep my fine dining fatigue runs right now. The A5 Miyazaki Wagyu Ribeye and the Matsutake Custard were some of the best bites I've had in my life. Matsutake Custard was soft on soft. Paired with foie gras, and I walked in assuming a soggy foie wouldn't hit the way a grilled one does. I was wrong. That nuanced umami balanced beautifully against the luxurious earthiness of the matsutake. Another thing I loved was the Rosemary Ice with Lemon and Olive Oil. They let one of the junior chefs weave her own childhood story into this dessert. Plenty of places build the head chef's narrative into the menu, but handing that spotlight to a junior cook was a bold move, and it made the dish more memorable than any dessert I had all of last year.”
“Difficult to find the appropriate superlatives to describe the experience. Oriole is the best all around dining experience I’ve ever had. From the moment they greeted us at the unassuming door and served us tea on the freight elevator, to the moment they put us in a car they called, we felt like the most important people in the building. I’m not going to single out any single dish here, I’ll just say that the menu was truly outstanding. There were so many unique flavors and combinations, dishes that stunned me, dishes that surprised me, and at times challenged me but in a way I appreciated. Please do the wine pairing, I think it’s a must for the best experience. Oriole is just a special place. With three hours of phenomenal food, service, and atmosphere, it’s not just a meal it’s a world class experience.”
“Great food, great service, and a really unique experience overall. It was especially nice to see a vegetarian tasting menu that’s given the same level of care and creativity. We also loved the NA wine pairing! Looking forward to returning.”
“Oriole is, without question, the finest dining experience Full stop. I have dined at some of the most celebrated restaurants in the world, and Oriole does not just belong in that conversation. It leads it. Every single element of this evening was a perfect 10: the food, the drinks, the service, the ambiance, the décor, the pacing, the presentation. Not one weak link in the entire experience. The tasting menu is a masterpiece of intention and creativity. From the ethereal cucumber course served over crushed ice with delicate white flowers, to the impossibly perfect Miyazaki Wagyu on a slate plate with a dark reduction that looked like fine art, every course felt like a revelation. The Blue Fin Tuna, the Squab with its dramatic tableside presence, the Cacao finale served inside an actual cacao pod. This kitchen is operating on a level that very few restaurants in the world can claim. The service matched the food beat for beat: warm, knowledgeable, attentive without being intrusive. The wine program is exceptional. The space itself is intimate and moody in the best possible way. Thomas Keller and The French Laundry better be paying attention. There is a new standard in town and it is called Oriole. Chicago has been hiding this gem long enough. I will be back. Soon.”
“This was a meal of a lifetime. The art of the presentation, the tastes were other worldly. The skill of every single member of the staff were honed and perfect. From start to finish it was labelled as an experience and cleaely one of the great ones in my life. A profound culinary adventure. Bravo!!!!!”
“Oriole is definitely one of the best fine dining experiences you’ll find anywhere. From start to finish, every detail feels intentional, polished, and incredibly well executed. The service is impeccable — warm, attentive, and perfectly paced throughout the evening. The food itself is exceptional. Every course showcases high-quality ingredients prepared with incredible precision and creativity. With roughly 13 courses, this is a true culinary journey, and by the end you’ll absolutely leave in a full-on food coma — in the best possible way. The wine pairings deserve special recognition as well. They are thoughtfully curated with several unexpected twists and surprises along the way that make the experience even more memorable and fun. What really sets Oriole apart is the progression of the evening and the atmosphere of the space itself. From the moment you walk through the very unassuming entrance and step into the old freight elevator, you immediately know you’re entering somewhere special. The experience begins in the bar area where you’re treated to your first few courses before moving into the stunning show kitchen for another course. The kitchen itself is ultra-modern and a complete showstopper. Finally, you transition into the main dining room where the real performance begins and the incredible dishes just keep coming. The entire evening feels immersive, theatrical, and deeply personal without ever feeling pretentious. If you’re looking for a truly unforgettable fine dining experience in Chicago, Oriole is an absolute must-try.”
“I went here with my husband for a late birthday dinner, I could recommend experiencing this place SO much. I have never been to a coolest atmosphere. Everyone was amazing, from the hostess to the bartender to our waitress and waiters. The food was something I didn’t think I could ever experience in my lifetime, and I truly hope I get to go back soon.”
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