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Kinzie Chop House
Category: Restaurants Steakhouses Steakhouses [Edit]
400 N Wells StChicago, IL 60654
Neighborhoods: Near North Side, River North
(312) 822-0191
Announcement
Delight in Winter with our newest 3-Course $27.95 Menu, also available with Wine Pairings!
- Nearest Transit:
-
Merchandise Mart (Brown Line, Purple Line)
Clark/lake (subway) (Blue Line)
Clark/lake (elevated) (Brown Line, Green Line, Orange Line, Pink Line, Purple Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 11 am - 10 pm
Fri 11 am - 11 pm
Sat 4 pm - 11 pm
Sun 4 pm - 9 pm
- Parking:
- Garage, Street, Validated
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$$
- Attire:
- Dressy
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- No
- Takes Reservations:
- Yes
- Delivery:
- No
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Full Bar
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Classy
- Has TV:
- Yes
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
281 reviews for Kinzie Chop House
Review Highlights
"I love their winter delights special."
(in 12 reviews)
"And the butter rum cheesecake is amazing."
(in 18 reviews)
"We had the warm flourless chocolate cake."
(in 9 reviews)
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281 reviews in English
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Review from Colleen W.
Chicago, IL
1/11/2012
Frankly, I think this place deserves a 6th star. From the smiling hostess, to the knowledgeable and attentive wait staff, to the unbelievable food, Kinzie Chop House never ceases to impress.
I might as well dive right into the descriptions of the food. We started off with mussels in a garlic butter white wine with tomato-chunks pool of heaven. They were perfectly done...and the broth was so incredible we soaked the rest of our bread basket in it after the mussels were gone. We could not get enough. Then came a wedge salad that we said we'd split...lo and behold, they brought it out on two individual plates for us. The ranch dressing is some of the best I've ever had. If they sold it in stores I'd be broke and chubby because I'd eat it like soup.
The steaks, served a la carte, came soon after. They were perfectly crusted and cooked. I highly recommend getting ALL of the dipping sauces. They are FREE! and so worth trying. The mushroom medley and asparagus with hollandaise were a perfect pairing with the meal. The sides are very reasonably priced for the amount of food in each serving. Honestly, we didn't even miss the starch.
If I was rich, I would eat here as much as possible. I've never been disappointed. You should go. I am obsessed. -
Review from Kelli H.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011
I would give this a 3.5 but would rather round up than down.
Went with my parents on a Tuesday night. Made a reservation thru OpenTable and was called 3 times to confirm. Nothing to deduct for but I did tell the manager when he sat us.
It wasn't very crowded when we arrived at 6:30 so it was quiet and there wasn't anyone sitting next to us (expect for someone siting at a table next to me for 20 mins or so). By the time we left around 8:30 or so several other tables were full, the volume had def. gone up. Some of the tables are quite close so if it's packed, you may get friendly with your fellow diners.
Service was good - the manager came and checked on us a few times (more on that later) and the waiter came back at the right intervals to answer questions and take orders.
My parents both ordered steak, the bone-in filet and the delmonico, and I ordered lamb. My lamb was cooked medium like I requested, and my dad's steak was medium rare like he asked. My mom ordered her's medium rare but it came out medium. Now, my family, we're steak eaters and we know when a steak is cooked a proper medium rare, so when my mom cut into hers (like the waiter all asked us to when he set down the plates) her's was def. medium. I understand the restaurant is dark and that some people may not know what medium rare is but it kind of rubbed me the wrong way when the waiter asked if he could look at it in the light to make sure. But he toke her steak away and fired a new one.
The new steak came out on the rare side, but my mom didn't want to hassle them again. Also, it took a while for our meal to come out; a couple seated a good 20 mins after us was almost done with their meal when we got ours, and my mom's 2nd steak took all of 5 mins so not to say we waited "forever" to get our food but it kind of surprised us how fast the second steak was cooked.
But besides those few snafus, the meal was good. I really liked my lamb with the mustard rub, the chipotle potatoes def. had a kick. My dad ate his entire steak, which for him means good. And while my mom didn't really like her steak, she loved the broccoli fondue and scallop potatoes we got as sides. We also had the scallops for an appetizer and they were delicious. Dessert (key lime pie and hot butter rum cheesecake) was kind of meh.
So overall, the meal was good, not great. The service was good and they were good about fixing my mom's steak. Not in a rush to get back (I mean, it's Chicago, lots of other places to check out) but since it's close to my apt, if I ever crave a steak and am at a loss of where to go, I'd considered Kinzie Chop House. -
Review from i.am.a A.
Chicago, IL
12/24/2011
Went here with my hot date with some hot gift certificates. These are the specs on the situation, you can figure out the rest:
Couldn't make a reservation at 8pm, either 7pm or after 9pm; cool. Got there at 7pm and they had an OCEAN of open tables (WTF??!!)
The server was great. A bit overly chatty, but cool in any case.
The food was good. I said GOOD. This means NOT AWESOME and NOT CRAPPY.
I ordered a medium-rare steak with a blue cheese crust. It came more medium well, no rare in sight, but the right amount of blue cheese crust (so you can taste the meat and not only the cheese). I didn't want to be a bitch and ate it; the meat was good, the crust was right, my date had her food...but i wasn't 100% satisfied.
We starting chatting with some very nice table neighbors and the host brought us some champagne, I thought that was a nice touch.
SO, this was a nice place to go once and specially if someone else is paying for the meal; but I will not be going by for seconds on my own dime.
(Sorry friendly server!) -
Review from Cindy K.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
This review is a bit biased-- it was my birthday on 11/11/11 and after dinner, my boyfriend proposed to me. I was already in a great mood, so Kinzie would have to mess up pretty badly to screw up my dinner. Luckily, they did a great job. Service was stellar-- they were polite and helpful without being intrusive. My boyfriend made a reservation and noted that it's my birthday. They called to confirm and asked if there is anything they could do for us. They ended up giving us a great table, an intimate and spacious booth tucked away in a little corner.
The food was delicious. I had the prime rib and ate the entire thing. They give you a selection of sauces and they are unlimited. I've never had that touch at a steakhouse, and it was certainly appreciated. At the end of dinner, they brought out a complimentary birthday flourless chocolate cake. I left the restaurant practically waddling. -
Review from Leslie S.
12/16/2011
A very average steakhouse near the Merchandise Mart. There's nothing wrong with the food, but there's nothing spectacular about it either. The waitstaff sometimes has a bit of a chip on its shoulder that makes the experience unappealing.
It's rarely difficult to get a table here, particularly for lunch, but there are better options nearby. -
Review from Robert F.
Chicago, IL
12/19/2011 Seated via OpenTable
My girlfriend and I went here on a Friday night and we liked it for the most part.
There were 2 small things about it that we didn't like.
First, it was SO SO SO HOT in there. I mean we were sweating and it was just sweltering.
Secondly, the Scallop appetizer was the tiniest thing ever, I mean 4 small scallops for 14 bucks. ehhhh
We split as we always do the 36 oz. porterhouse and we didn't finish it. The mac and cheese was super good, the asparagus was...forgetful.
Overall, a good date place, if they don't have the temperature on the grandma setting. -
Review from Jay C.
Fishers, IN
Great food, service and atmosphere. Winter special was great value.
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Review from Helen S.
11/16/2011
I came here for an awkward first date awhile back. The place was also way too fancy for a first date because we were literally the youngest people inside. This would've been okay if we were having a great time, but I'm actually a pretty awkward date because I don't put effort into avoiding awkward silences, so if I don't have anything to say...I generally don't. And this place is also very old school.
I got the sesame crusted ahi tuna, and he got a steak off the daily special. My tuna was so good - I love seared ahi tuna, and they cooked mine perfectly. It was delicious with the soba noodles. I also tried his steak and his was cooked perfect too although it tasted pretty standard and didn't have any fancy flavors or anything. I didn't have the best experience here because we ate in silence maybe half the time, but the food was perfect and the service was wonderful.Listed in: Noteworthy in Chicago
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Review from Amy D.
11/18/2011
I don't know much, but I know a good steak. And I can tell you you'll find one at the Kinzie Chop House. At least I did.
I went with an associate a few nights ago and had a wonderful evening. The sommelier was fantastic and recommended a wonderful pinot noir that went great with the calamari app we had. The calamari was probably the best I've ever had - it was cooked perfectly. I mean PERFECTLY. The spicy aoli and marinara served along side it didn't disappoint either.
The staff at Kinzie knows their stuff - our waiter patientely answered all of our questions and gave his best recommendations on cut, temparture, flavor, etc. I got the bone-in Delmonico (rib eye) cooked medium and it was quite tasty. I think next time I'd select medium-rare, but the flavor was still really great and the meat was tender. My associate said nothing but wonderful things about her filet and the sauteed spinach and mushroom side we split was tasty and enough for 3-4 people.
The great thing about the KCH is the atmosphere - it's dark, woody, classy - very Chicago-steakhouse-esque. They take the time to explain things and allow you to really enjoy and savor a fantastic meal. -
Review from Brian P.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
My girlfriend took me to Kinzie Chop House for my birthday dinner, and it made for a delicious end to a jam-packed birthday weekend.
I had a peppercorn-encrusted 12 oz. filet cooked to perfection, which is to say that it was cooked on the inside and very, very rare on the inside. Just how I like it! The filet was a very thick cut, too, which I find important for a perfectly prepared filet. It was easily among the best steaks I have ever enjoyed.
The salad and sides were very good, too. I especially liked the broccoli fondue.
I'm not going to get a long-winded about this, but we were delighted with our meal and will definitely be back! -
Review from Natalie P.
Miami, FL
11/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
Kinizie was great!
My boyfriend and I made reservations at Kinzie on Nov 19 through our hotel concierge around 1:30 pm on Nov 19. By the time we arrived 30 minutes late for our 6:30 pm reservation, we were engaged! Our concierge called to inform them of our exciting news, and the wonderful maitre d', Ryan, greeted us as soon as we walked in the door and gave us special treatment throughout the evening! Ironically, I was the one who insisted we make reservations, yet I had no idea of our impeding engagement!
Partway through our meal, Ryan came over to check on us and asked to see my ring, asked about the proposal, etc. Then he shared with us that two years ago on the same night he proposed to his wife! How wonderful! It was very touching that someone we didn't even know was so genuinely excited for us!
We began our meal with drinks - I was drinking the excellent Silver Mer Soleil Chardonnay and he chose the mojito (his go-to drink). I was really impressed with both, a great suggestion on the part of our server since i normally drink pinot grigio!
For appetizers, we had the herbed baked goat cheese and wild mushroom & gorgonzola cheese torte. Both were wonderful! My taste buds were going crazy and I was so ready for my main course - risotto!
Unfortunately, my risotto never came. This is where Kinzie loses a star. Instead, the server came over nearly thirty minutes after I had ordered and informed me that it could not be made without the chicken stock. When I ordered, he was very clear that it could be done "no problem" so I was pretty disappointed and a little choked, but luckily nothing could ruin my mood because of the new, giant, sparkly rock on my finger!
Instead of the risotto I ordered the Portobello Ravioi. DF had the 12 oz filet and we shared sides of Brussels Sprouts and Asparagus with Hollandaise. His medium-rare fliet was cooked perfectly and, in his own words, "mmmmnnnn." I'm a sucker for pan-fried Brussels and once again, I was very satisfied! I can never say no to asparagus, and it was cooked perfectly and served with the Hollandaise on the side for dipping - which I promptly drizzled all over the gorgeous green stalks!
For dessert we shared the profiterole. One of our most beloved Italian favorites, these were quite good but not the best we've ever had. Still, no complaints! We were served complimentary glasses of rose champagne with our dessert which was a nice little touch to help us celebrate our special occasion!
After dessert, Ryan once again came over to chit chat. He was asking what brought us to Chicago, etc. We had a nice 5+ minute conversation with him, he examined my ring and told my fiance "great job!" etc. He insisted that we let him know next time we are in town, not just to come into the restaurant but to grab drinks together. Now that, my friends, is service. It's a beautiful thing when you can bond with a restaurant employee to the point where you would like to hang out with him/her after your meal.
So thanks, Ryan, for helping to make our special day even more wonderful! See you next time we're in Chicago! -
Review from B. C.
Chicago, IL
12/13/2011
I'm sure they have many great dishes, but the Steak Risotto was terrible. It tasted like an OK version of Beef Fried Rice.
The only reason I gave a 3 is because I've heard other dishes are good and the service wasn't below average. -
Review from Justin U.
Glen Ellyn, IL
12/12/2011
We have an annual men's holiday steak dinner for the better part of a decade and this year we made the mistake of Kinzie Chophouse. They have a great back room and knowledgeable servers, but beyond that, the steaks were not that great. I had a 16oz Delmonico Ribeye that lacked a nice rub(even as simple as salt and pepper) and charring(no "crust" to the steak) that I typically associate with some of the better steaks that I have had(and I've been to most of the name brand steak houses in Chicago). I wouldn't have probably written this review, but when I heard my friend ask for any sauce because the steak was dry, I asked him for a bite. It was really dried out. Any place worth their salt I feel should have replaced his steak(he asked for it medium rare), but they brought him a bernaise sauce. They also got my medium rare on the higher end of medium. Barely pink in the middle.
Luckily we have enough othe great steakhouses in the city, but disappointed that the annual men's holiday steak dinner was sub par. -
Review from Paul C.
10/20/2011 1 Check-in Here
My boo threw me a surprise birthday dinner at Kinzie Chop House and I had a great time. The service was impeccable. The staff expertly handled the surprise element of my dinner, and our waiter was able to handle our rowdy table with grace and aplomb.
I tried their Kansas City steak which was as good as any steak I've had in the city. The sides were great, and they even brought me out a little piece of cake with a candle for my birthday. All in all a great meal. I wish I could remember more of it but I washed my dinner down with two or twelve drinks, but I do remember having a great time.
With so many steak houses in Chicago it's difficult to tell most of them apart. What sets Kinzie apart from places like Morton's or Gibson's--aside from price--is the ambiance. Those places offer a louder, some might even say cheesy, environment. Meanwhile Kinzie has a softer, more intimate setting, much better for a romantic dinner, or an intimate gathering of friends.
If you're planning a special occasion Kinzie Chop House is a great choice. -
Review from David G.
Florence, KY
11/4/2011
So you're in Chicago, you know you're going to have great steak, and you know you're going to spend an absurd amount of money. That's a given. You're in Chicago. This town is nuts like that.
Kinzie Chophouse leads the pack in the "intimate upscale casual" category. I'm not diminishing their excellence by categorizing them; there are different classes -different freaking strata!- of steakhouse dining options in this town. And Kinzie dominates their niche.
The atmosphere is antique casual (which of course, today, comes off as tremendously classy) -hardwood everywhere you look, plate glass, felt surfaces... It's rather like having a restaurant in a billiard room.
The food is superb. What? Did you expect anything less? It's fantastic. Five stars! But in Chicago, you can almost take that as a given.
The only thing you really need to know about the food (so you won't get confused by the menu) is that a Kansas City, a Delmonico, and a New York Strip all come from the same muscle, just different ends, or sometimes they're trimmed differently. (oh, and T-bones and Porterhouses are those same steaks, plus the rib bone, plus the muscle on the other side of the bone. Mystery solved!)
The wait staff is very professional. Yes, they're knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive, all nice things -but the staff at Kinzie gets shit done. Friendly might be nice, but I never had the chance to find out how much iced tea my glass held before it was filled again, and that's *awesome*.
When my party was finished we sat and talked for a long time. Probably too long, actually, but the folks at Kinzie treated us just as well as if we had just walked through the door, all night long. Later, they brought out a desert sampler, on the house.
I'll definitely be coming back to Kinzie. Regularly. -
Review from Kim H.
Chicago, IL
10/17/2011
I planned a birthday party for my man. He turned 35 and I wanted to adequately commemorate the occasion. I made a large reservation at Kinzie Chop House a few weeks back and counted down the days.
I wanted it to be a surprise so we were about 10 minutes late for our 8:00 p.m. reservation. My other guests had already arrived and were seated at the table. When we got there, we were told the table was not yet ready and encouraged to wait by the bar. I panicked a little because I didn't see anyone I knew, so I called a friend who quickly informed me that everyone had been seated.
How cool is that? Kinzie tried to help out with the surprise! And let's just say my boyfriend was shocked. Although he was a little suspicious, he had no idea what I had been planning.
Our waiter was tremendous. With a party of 8 people, he was courteous, friendly, helpful, knowledgeable and most of all patient.
He expertly explained the specials and described each cut of steak available on the menu, complete with real uncooked examples. Nice touch.
We got a little bit of everything. Several people ordered delmonico steaks, one ordered the tuna and a my man and I got the special with Kansas City cut steaks. As promised, the steaks were tender, juicy and delicious. We also had crab-stuffed shrimp with a lobster sauce on the side. Wonderful.
To top it all off, we told the waiter that it was my man's birthday and in a few short minutes, he returned with a scrumptious, warm lava cake (with lit candle) and the words "Happy Birthday" written in raspberry sauce. Sweet! The table sang happy birthday to my baby and the rest of the back room joined in. It was really neat.
All-in-all it was a superb experience. The service was impeccable and the food was delicious. I love the soft ambiance and the look of the place and will definitely return for a more intimate dinner for two.
Excellent work Kinzie Chop House. Thank you for a great birthday celebration. -
Review from Ad W.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012
This is one of my favorite places! The mussels are so good; they are so large I think they may be on steroids. The mac and cheese is to die for and the steak is always made to perfection. I'm always impressed with the service. They are very attentive and friendly. They have a happy hour menu during the week too!
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Review from Kenny H.
Chicago, IL
12/12/2011
I visited Kinzie Chop House to have an early and quiet date night with my fiance. We arrived a little more than 30 minutes before our reservation, so we sat at the bar for a couple of cocktails. The bar staff was very amicable and made great drinks; not much to mess up, but nothing I could complain about!
We moved into the dining room and had no problems being seated. I started off with what I thought would be an interesting drink, The Backstretch, as it was essentially an alcoholic Arnold Palmer. You couldn't dislike it. Big and strong, my type of drink.
Appetizer: Jumbo Lump Crab Cake
-Very tasty, and large enough to share between the two of us. Moist with just a little crust on top, the crab cake sat on top of some basic greens and the best spicy remoulade my lips have ever touched. In fact, the sauce was so good that I went back to dip my bread in it after the crab cake was gone!
Main Course 1: KC Strip-Pepper Rub-Butter Sauce
-Cooked PERFECTLY. I haven't been to many steakhouses in the Chicago area, but one has yet to cook a proper Medium Rare, until Kinzies that is. Wonderful flavor throughout the steak, good size, and fantastic rub. The steak presentation is actually what sold me on the KC, so very nice. I could have done without the butter sauce, however. I will choose a different sauce option next time we are in.
Main Course 2: Jalapeno Barbecued Pork Tenderloin
-If I wasn't in the mood for steak, I so would have had two orders of this juicy tender heaven. The bold flavors and barbecue sauce meshed perfectly, and we were cutting the pork with only a knife. Fantastic! It sat on a bed of a homemade slaw, which was good, but there was a bit too much of it on the plate.
Side: Bacon and Scallion Smashed & Broccoli Fondue
-People think I am crazy when I tell them that my favorite food is broccoli, but places like Kinzies only makes me love it more. Melted cheese (which was a great flavor) over perfectly cooked broccoli = Heaven. The smashed potatoes were great as well, however, I could have used more bacon, like there is such a thing as too much bacon.
Dessert: Hot Buttered Rum Cheesecake & Pistachio Semifreddo
-This was one of the greatest highlights of the evening. This was the best cheesecake I have ever eaten. We were told that all of the desserts were made in house, and you can definitely tell by how rich and creamy this dish was. Add some strawberries, whip cream, and buttered rum sauce in one bite, and your mouth will be having a party worth all exaltation.
-Pistachio Semifreddo. First off, I had never had gelato before, and while I know it isn't a far cry from yogurt/ice cream, I was still a bit wary. The first bite of this dessert became the best dish I had eaten there (yes, even more than my broccoli.) The gelato was fantastic and the freshly baked sugar crisps were so light, surprisingly deep in flavor. I am getting married in less than a year and I would be honored and elated to have this semifreddo for a dessert.
--Also, the desserts are $5.95 each...Crazy!! I would pay $15 for both of the desserts we had! Superb!
All-in-all, I cannot wait to go back to Kinzie Chop House. The atmosphere was great, the prices were fantastic given the value, and the staff was phenomenal. The manager stopped by our table a couple of times and was one of the best front of house managers I had come into contact with in a very long time. I will bring family, friends, and business here any day of the week. Great job, Kinzie!! -
Review from Dan T.
Chicago, IL
11/16/2011
Wow, I am baffled how a place with such prices in Chicago can get such good ratings with such low quality.
Leaves only two conclusions:
(a) either people who dine here don't know what a good steak is
or
(b) they screwed up all 3 of our meats
But then a steakhouse should know how to cook a perfect steak blindfolded and with hands tied. Hence no excuses.
The meat was overcooked. After the first cut I could already tell that it was wrong. The waiter offered to refire a new one and it would only take five minutes. What ?!?!?! How do you get a perfect steak in a few minutes.
Service was also mediocre as our waiter forgot drinks, the fries arrived after we were done with the steaks .....
Go to outback and you get better value! -
Review from Carmen C.
Chicago, IL
12/27/2011
The service is the best by far after I came to America! and the surrounding is good and confortable. We order a halibut, a tilapia and two steaks(name forgot, sorry!) All foods are very good especially the steaks. My bf love the risotto served with the tilapia.
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Review from Saba S.
9/25/2011 1 Check-in Here
9 PMish on a Saturday night. 20 minute wait. SECRET: Eat at the bar! They provide a full menu, and it seemed to be a quick service. We were starving so before finishing all my bread and butter our steak was out.
We split (small eaters here) a 16 oz prime rib medium well. Sides are a la carte but we didn't get any. Desserts looked amazing and there were 8 on the menu all under 7 dollars.
Hadn't had a good steak for a long time but it was delicious. Loved the brown painted walls and dark, romantic ambiance. -
Review from Kenneth M.
Chicago, IL
9/28/2011
My wife and I dined at the Kinzie Chop House this past Monday for my wife's birthday, and by far, this is one of the best dining experiences we have had in a long time. From the relaxing, fun and engaging staff at the bar, to the extremely friendly and knowledgeable host and wait staff, this was a special evening and dining experience we will always remember.
The food was perfect, the staff is not pushy or snobby, and the location is perfect. This was the best prime rib I have ever had, melted right in my mouth. My wife had the fillet, and it was also perfectly cooked and cut.
The attention to detail is next to none, and the staff even prepared a custom dessert, with my wife's name on it for her birthday.
Street parking near downtown you can not beat it.
I definitely rate the Kinzie Chop House as one of my favorite restaurants in Chicago! A must for a special occasion, or if you are out to impress, or even out for the best steak you could find around. -
Review from Porsch K.
Chicago, IL
10/16/2011
I brought my boyfriend here for his birthday for dinner and we really enjoyed ourselves. After doing some research on all of the top notch steak houses in the city, Kinzie was the most reasonably priced and was much more intimate than the rest. We went on Saturday night and it was packed! Thankfully I made reservations. To make this short and sweet we started off with:
Appetizer: Calamari
-Fresh, lightly fried w/ an amazing mayo based (spicy) sauce which was to die for!!
Sides:
Sauteed Spinach & Mushroom
-This was great but the only downside to this was that it was mostly mushroom w/ very little spinach. I was expecting spinach not ALL mushroom...still a great side
Lyonnaise Potato Gratin
-This was so flavorful BUT I was not expecting so many damn onions! I took 3 bites of which all consisted of more onions than potatoes. Again, this was great, but if I would of known it was so many onions I may have thought twice about ordering it.
Entree:
16oz Delmonico
-I absolutely enjoyed this! It was soo juicy & full of flavor! I chose the Gorgonzola Cream as my sauce & it was delicious. This was worth every bit of $30.
18oz Kansas City
-My boyfriend LOVED this, I'm not sure what side he had but it was prepared PERFECTLY.
All in all I WILL return here! The waiting staff was prompt and knowledgeable.
The only downside was that some of the dishes (Delmonico Gorgonzola cream & lyonnaise potato gratin) were too creamy. I was unaware that they were dairy based & this caused me quit a bit of pain once my dinner was complete (lactose intolerant). It was also my BF birthday & they brought out a cheescake w/ a candle w/ Birthday spell BISHDAY on it. This actually shouldn't even be a downside because it was so hilarious...perfect way to end a beautiful night! lol -
Review from Rick M.
Novi, MI
11/12/2011
Very classy place with wonderful service and excellent food. My party arrived early and was seated right away. Our server Brandon was one of the best. Very attentive and very educated about the menu and the wines offered. We took up the table for three hours on a busy Friday night but never felt rushed. We ordered mussels for an app and they were very tasty. Not rubbery at all. Dinner included prime rib, kc steak and a variety of sides. The prime rib was some of the best I have ever had.
Many options on the well thought out menu, the service and the overall ambience is why I list kinzie chop house as a five star. I also love gibsons but this place gives them a run for their money. Bravo! -
Review from Kristy N.
9/12/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yummy! I stopped in for lunch with a colleague and we scored a seat on the patio with no problem. The service was great and the food was delish.
I ordered the blackened chicken sandwich which was topped with gouda and fried onions. It was cooked to perfection and served with a side of steak fries. My water and diet coke were never empty and we were out within the hour for less than $30.
I will definitely be back when I'm in the mood for a sit-down lunch. -
Review from Stephanie L.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 9/30/2011 1 Check-in Here
Well here I am...back, randomly :)
I actually was pleasantly surprised by Kinzie's new atmosphere. The place was bustling on a Thurs night.
We were seated right away. I quickly noticed that they no longer have the fake candles....they have real candles now...good job Kinzie...good job. You must be listening to Yelp.
Also, the service was much better. Our server was pretty busy, but there were several other people that were checking on us, etc.
I was impressed with the fact that they made the burger for us, despite it being only offered for lunch. YAY! It was good, but over powered by the pretzel bun that it was on. We also had shrimp cocktail, mac and cheese and a salad....not to mention decadent chocolate cake too :) All of it was really good. The salad was delicious. It had jicama in it...which I love. The cake wasnt my favorite, but I just think I dont like that kind.
Overall, they have stepped it up since I was here last :) I guess they dont have much choice with all of the competition popping up everywhere.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/29/2009
Ok so here we go
Pros
1. $20 fall back pre fix menu (you had to ask for it despite it being displayed… Read more »
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Review from Rachel V.
Chicago, IL
9/18/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm going to keep it simple here:
- Price: Extremely reasonable for a Chicago steakhouse
- Steaks: Good selection, loved being able to choose my own sauce etc.
- Sides: Sound amazing, but they're really kind of tasteless (spinach) and deceiving (potatoes au gratin should be called onions au gratin)
- Dessert: yummy.
- Wine: Great selection and our server was very knowledgeable and made an amazing recommendation (probably the best part of the meal) -
Review from Jonathan C.
Monterey Park, CA
PRIVATE DINNING REVIEW:
Classic old school chicago style steak house. Our group was led to a large private room in the back.
Evening stated out with an couple of appetizer towers (BRUSCHETTA and CRISPY CALAMARI SERVED WITH MARINARA & SPICY AIOLI) http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Both were pretty decent.
Our Choice of Salad : We went with the CHOPHOUSE SALAD http://www.yelp.com/bi.... Pretty run of the mill.
For Entree we had the choice of the:
SEASAME CRUSTED SEARED AHU TUNA STEAKhttp://www.yelp.com/bi...
Slightly over cooked, but the seasame sauce as actually done quite well.
DIJON & HERB CRUSTED NEW ZEALAND LAMB CHOPS... sorry no picture. Although this seemed to be the favorite out of the people who got it.
12 OZ FILET MIGNON with BEARNAISE SAUCE http://www.yelp.com/bi... - seemed ok but no one really raved about it.
Sides
BROCCOLI FONDUE with GOUDA - http://www.yelp.com/bi...
People couldn't stop saying how suprising good this was.
BACON & SCALLION SMASHED POTATOES - This was decent as well.
Dessert was KEY LIME PIE -http://www.yelp.com/bi... which really looked and tasted like a cheese cake.
SERVICE was very good. Well attended and not overly in your way. Was working on something in the lobby and server offered to bring my salad out for me. They also brought out some Mushrooms and a Massively Mutatated Potato for our lactose intollernt friend since all our sides had dairy.
Overall an enjoyable night. -
Review from C R.
San Leandro, CA
10/3/2011
A chop-house that has a decent vege selection shows forward-thinking and catering to a broad clientele. Special star points for that.
Its a hoppin' place so get your reservations in early. We did and were seated promptly but it was packed!
Its the only independent chop-house in Chicago, which is saying a lot. The fact that its not only survived but thrived in a a very competitive environment against large national chains, means its doing something very right.
Eventhough it was super busy, we were never left wanting for service. Both wait staff and busboys were quick and attentive.
Food was very good and ample portions. Our friends who ordered the steaks complimented their ability to cut and cook to order and the accuracy. We compliment their lovely seafood and vege options which would be proudly served in pescatorian and vegetarian establishments respectively.
We come back every year we visit Chi-town. -
Review from Chris L.
Chicago, IL
9/16/2011
I little bit steep on the price considering the quality of their steaks.
The dry-aged delmonico (rib eye steak) was decent. The dry-aged KansasCity (bone-in strip steak) was disappointing.
The shrimp cocktail appetizer tasted like one of those ready platters from dominicks.
By no means is this place a bad steakhouse, but with the price in consideration, you could do better. -
Review from Esther K.
8/31/2011
I was here with four girlfriends for one of their birthdays and had a lovely experience.
I called ahead to ask whether it would be okay to bring in a cake; the hostess said it was against their policy but that she thought it should be fine. I was worried that I might run into some trouble when I actually arrived, but as soon as I walked in the hostess noticed the cake, asked if I wanted them to bring it out with the candles to sing and then take it back to slice it, and took it right off my hands with a smile. Very much appreciated that!
I don't have too much experience with steakhouses, so I thought it was fun that they brought out the different types of steaks beforehand to present and explain. I had the Del Monaco medium rare, and thought it was perfectly cooked. We shared the asaparagus with hollandaise (nothing too special), lyonnaise potato gratin (delicious), and the sauteed spinach and mushroom (my favorite!) as our sides.
We were seated against a wall so had plenty of space, and the ambience was wonderful. Mostly low conversations in soft lighting, very nice. The service was impeccable (water glasses never empty, napkin re-folded when I returned from the restroom, our server offering to take a group photo for us). A great dining experience!
Happy Birthday, KHUSBU! -
Review from Shawn W.
Albany, NY
8/20/2011
My first question was - are your steaks prime? "No" and I knew almost immediately that it wasn't going to be anything special.
It really wasn't that good, though not terrible - and I wouldn't go back. There are so many awesome chophouse/ steakhouses to go to, why waste time here.
I was pretty disappointed that none of their steaks were prime and the server knew very little about the meat. Sounds silly but when your spending so much on a good steak, I'd like to know it's the best available - not just some beef that I could buy at the supermarket.
I'd say skip it and hit up one of many prime steakhouses in Chicago. -
Review from Dennis S.
Updated - 7/3/2011
Having not been to Kinzie Chop House for over a year, we went back. Probably shouldn't have. Nothing was wrong, but we sat there eating steaks that we both knew were not as good as Ruth Chris' or Mortons or Ditka's.
There's no reason to avoid Kinzie Chop House. Just not enough reason to pick it over better choices in Chicago.2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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11/13/2009
We had to decide:
- Great food but horrid service on the first visit.
- Lots of good reviews from… Read more »
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Review from Jemmie W.
Carmel, IN
9/7/2011
A review for a restaurant like Kinzie has to take into consideration its prices. So the rating should not be in the context of Outback or Lonestar, but other steakhouses where steaks are in the $40 range.
I had their $50 special of the day, which was the 16oz dry-aged Delmonico with two shrimp and risotto. First, the steak looked small for 16oz. Second, the steak was slightly burned (I ordered "medium"). Third, it didn't have the tenderness and taste normally associated with a dry-aged ribeye. Sure, it was better than a ribeye from Outback, but that shouldn't be the benchmark, should it?
Overall there's nothing wrong with Kinzie but it's a rather forgettable and ho-hum experience and I don't feel compelled to go back. -
Review from Helen H.
Chicago, IL
8/29/2011
Chicken pot pie - NO! the best part is the bottom layer that gets soaked up in all the creamy chicken pot pie-ness, this place just put a puff pastry bow on top... disappointing. VERY disappointing
Kinzie cut steak- very excellent, cooked a little bit rarer than my dinner partner requested, but still very good.
angel hair pasta- good, and the shrimp was excellently cooked albeit expensive about $3 per shrimp!
crab cake sandwich- decent... not too much crab cake in the sandwich.
service was so-so... very busy i think, they were running around alot, so we had to wait alot in each step of the process
good choc cake
good ambiance, but warning sitting outside, it's really close and loud to the brown line. but still really nice outside. -
Review from Grace N.
7/7/2011
My husband is a "meat and potatoes" man. Literally, his atoms are comprised mostly of meat and a variation on potatoes, so I make sure to take him to a steak place every birthday and special occasion and review it on his behalf.
Kinzie Chop House is one of his favorites. It's a subdued, no hype, classic Chicago steakhouse where the spotlight is where it should be - on the steak. He loved his Delmonico and could not manage any articulation beyond the satisfied grunts that were squeezed out between bites.
As an aside - I watched a skinny guy at a table nearby us devour an entire 48 oz. porterhouse (which is supposed to feed FOUR people) BY HIMSELF!! I kept waiting for him to share but he NEVER DID!!!Listed in: Let them eat steak!
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Review from Mandy A.
8/4/2011
My mom and I went to the Kinzie Chop House on Saturday since we were at the Merchandise Mart and they were running some sort of prix fixe menu. Also it was close and we were starving.
Luckily my mom and I have the same brain so when it came to picking an appetizer and entree, we both were torn between the same two choices. Luckily time two, we are smart enough to not order the same thing and split that right down the middle. Yay for smart ladies.
For the first course we got the salad with balsamic vinaigrette and the bruschetta... also with balsamic vinaigrette. They love them some balsamic. For a $27.95 prix fixe menu I was expecting approximately one tiny piece of toast with like four cubes of tomato on it but oh lordy no, it was three fist sized pieces of bread with tomatoes exploding out of it. So much goodness. The salad bowl was deceptively deep, we kept eating and it never went anywhere. Double thumbs up for the starters.
For entrees, I got the jumbo shrimp with broccoli and mushrooms and my mom got the 8 oz Kinzie cut with rosemary french fries. Steak was cooked perfectly and the butter on it was heavenly. Fries were awesome, crispy and perfectly seasoned. Plus anything with rosemary wins in my book. The shrimp again, perfectly cooked and huge. The veggies were delicious and portions again, pretty amazing.
For desserts, she got the chocolate cake because she is a chocolate whore and I got the butter rum cheesecake. I so wanted to eat all of it but I failed. I was so full. In a good way. Both were lovely.
The servers were great, the vibe is really old school Chicago steakhouse which I like. Clean decor but still interesting. I like the location, it feels sort of secret since it's dwarfed by the Mart. I wouldn't say it was the best steak I've had in Chicago but it was a damn good meal. -
Review from Michael R.
Chicago, IL
Updated - 7/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
I recently went back to Kinzie chophouse for a birthday dinner with my friend. Once again, Kinzie Chophouse did not disappoint. The service was perfect. ambiance was intimate and fun and they even expanded their wine selection. Our server said they have regular tastings so the servers can be well educated. I definitely felt like our server was an expert.
We accidentally ordered the wrong baked potato and they changed it right away and didn't charge us for them. That was great customer service. We had a blast and the price is always right for perfect cuts of steak and delicious food and wine.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/23/2010
I was downtown with my wife for an event and i stayed at Hyatt on Wacker Drive and the river. I… Read more »
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Review from Tim W.
10/21/2011 Seated via OpenTable 1 Check-in Here
Jerry was our server and did a great job of educating us in aged steaks and steaks in general. I learned, I laughed, I loved. Worth the money.
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Review from Jeremy H.
Chicago, IL
8/18/2011
I've been here several times for both lunch and dinner. Some of the 1 & 2 star reviews here seem to be a bit harsh, so I wonder if it's just a single bad experience as they never implied return/multiple visits.
First off, I like the atmosphere. The main dining room is a bit tight, but as long as you're along one of the two walls and not in the center, you're just fine and it feels energetic and cozy. Here's a hint - request that at the hostess stand!
Also, with the comparisons to Gibson's and & David Burke's and others, of which I've seen several, I'm not sure Kinzie is trying to BE them, necessarily. Also, I'm not sure if they're taking into consideration that a) Kinzie wet ages most of their steaks, save one that I can think of, and b) Kinzie is significantly less expensive than some other high-end steakhouses in Chicago. So, keep that in mind, because yes, SOMETIMES you get what you pay for, people. Wet aging steaks in bags is cheaper than having massive dry age setups - and that savings gets passed to you here.
I'll keep going back - I've had very nice experiences each time I've been there.
