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Categories: Lounges, Steakhouses, Seafood
440 W Randolph StClinton (Pink, Green)
Washington/Wells (Orange, Brown, Purple Express, Pink)
Mon. 5:30 p.m. - 10:00 p.m.
Mon. 11:30 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
Fri. 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Fri. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
Sat. 5:00 p.m. - 12:00 a.m.
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Let me start by saying, I had three desserts. Three. And I am NOT ashamed.
This place was wonderful. Service was stellar. The food was faboozle (I like to throw in made up words; don't hate). I absolutely recommend the Kobe with peppercorn sauce and the brussel sprouts side dish (it evened out the three desserts).
You can't go wrong with a restaurant with S'Mores and Kobe on the menu.
This restaurant reminds me of staying at the W Hotel. Maybe it's the neon purple lights.
Had the steak tartare, and maine lobster to start. Scallops and the Kobe flatiron for mains. The food was good, the service was great.
And like most W's, it's good for what it is and should you leaving quite satisfied. Be sure to try the banana eggrolls for dessert.
We had "Chatty Charlie" for a wait person during lunch and he single handedly got a star knocked off. Talking at every table, he even told us that he realized it was lunch hour and that he shouldn't talk as much since people were in a rush. Uh, yeah. He easily added on an additional half hour to 45 mins to lunch in being late getting to the table, not checking in, and forever not bringing the check (or even meeting our eyes) when we were trying to flag him down. And I really didn't care that he was doing shots with some of his customers the night before since he was a Yankees fan and they were Phillies fans.
It was pretty crowded during lunch with an upscale business crowd. Decor is dim but bright (if that makes any sense). No one at the huge circular bar in the middle but some patrons sitting near the bar on the side. We were sat right away but also got there slightly before noon without reservations.
We all had salads, which were tasty. The chopped salad was mixed at the table. the Caesar salad was just a normal blah Caesar. And the tuna had a few slices on it and many greens. The iced tea also was good. $65 with gratuity for 3 people.
We were watching another table have fondue over a lit pot which looked pretty tasty (and that table didn't hesitate to polish it off). Some larger tables as well as smaller tables of patrons.
Because of the lack of service I will hesitate coming here in the future, especially if I'm not looking for a leisurely lunch. Maybe for dinner.
After the wedding most of the group came here for drinks. Nicely decorated, hip people eating and drinking (present company excepted) and getting samples of Absolut from the reps from Absolut.
And there's a Ghost bar upstairs.
I used to walk by this place everyday from the Ogilvie Station to work and one day decided to have lunch here. Walked in and was shocked at the decor. Fancy stuff! I had the hangar steak and I didn't care for the sauce but the cut of meat was better than expected.
Thought this place would be a cool place to drink after work but haven't had a chance yet.
N9NE was a HUGE DISAPPOINTMENT. It is trying too hard to be trendy and is unbearably noisy. Impossible to converse with our friends. Impossible to hear our wait person.
We'll never be back due to the noise problem.
The food was interesting, the decor was delightful, the service was good.
The noise UNDID all positive impressions.
Never again.
I could have enjoyed everything so much more if I'd been able to hear myself think.
N9NE is a very swanky restaurant in the west loop. The interior is amazing. Big pillars that are covered in mosaic disco ball glass, high vaulted ceilings that change colors from hot pink, to red, to purple. Big semi circle booths, dark mahogany wood tables with big comfy silver leather chairs. This place has serious sex appeal. The bar is also very hip and chic and has a lot of ample comfortable seating.
I'm not a huge fan of steak so I opted for the halibut. My meal was OK, the fish was lacking some flavor but the portion was just perfect. Some of my dining companions had the crispy chicken with mac & cheese (was the table favorite), hanger steak with garlic fries and fillet mignon. The steak is the thing to order when you head to N9NE. All sides are ala carte and cost around $9 each. The mac and cheese is amazing. Skip the skinny fries. They are impossible to eat and messy.
This place is great for groups and perfect for an intimate dinner for 2.
Womp Womp
I read so many reviews, looked at all the pictures on the site. It didn't live up to my expectations. I went for this chef selected hors d'oeuvres thing they were doing with http://evite.com. Couscous, bruschetta with the toast points separate from the topping, and melon. My party and I were unimpressed and felt we were suckered into just getting us in the door. Should have known right?
We decided to just sit at the bar and order from what we thought would be a better selection of appetizers. Womp womp. The appetizer list was ultimately disappointing. We ended up ordering the Shrooms and Calamari. The shrooms were stuffed with Alaskan crab and cheese or something. The crab had lots of shell and cartilage pieces in it. I was pulling hard pieces out my mouth the whole time I was eating it. My drink was the Charlotte Fizz, which was good but this one bartender with an unwarranted attitude with us made my second one and it wasn't even the same color right along with tasting like crap. When I told the first bartender what the drink was and it was terrible, he took one look at it and said "That's not a Charlotte Fizz." He was kind enough to remake it correctly. His name was Mike and he was very cool. I stuck with him.
The interior is glitzy but it gives you a false idea of fabulous. I might go back, but I'd walk right back out if Mike wasn't at the bar.
I escorted a group here during a recent conference (I was the staff liaison), so I don't know if our pre-set menu includes standard menu items. If they aren't on the regular menu, they should be. Everything was outstanding.
We started with three cheese ravioli with spinach and crispy pancetta -- the ravioli were soft and delicious, and the pancetta added the right saltiness. Second course was a very large Caesar salad. It was a little more over-dressed than I like it, but the thick pieces of Parmesan and the crispy croutons evened it out.
Main course was a New York Strip, cooked perfectly and seasoned expertly. The beef was buttery and really tender, and as much as I wanted to, I just couldn't finish! We shared the garlic mashed potatoes and sauteed spinach. Dessert was a chocolate-mousse cake with a coconut bottom crust and a scoop of coffee ice cream. A-maz-ing.
The decor here is very cool, although I thought it was strange that the kitchen shared a hallway with the route to the bathroom. I nearly crashed into a guy with a huge tray of salads.
N9NE is great for a special occasion, or just for a Tuesday night when you want an excellent meal.
I had an amazing time dining here last weekend. I took my bf here for his bday and I am glad he loved the food =) It doesn't look like much from the outside but when you walk in it's really cool and chic.
We decided to take it very lightly for our appetizer since we never seem to save room for dessert so we decided to get the hamachi carpaccio. I thought it was pretty good however a bit salty for my taste (maybe my taste buds are changing.... ) I do love how the tiny mint leaves with it =)
We decided to split our meal so I ordered the Black Cod Miso with shiitake mushroom and he ordered a 12 oz (?) steak. It was amazing. My fish was heavenly good and his steak just melts in your mouth. I wish I would've taken those last 2 bite size steak pieces he cut up for me to take home haha. It's been a while since I had an amazing steak in a loooooong time!!
I had no room for dessert but we decided to try their infamous carrot cake. Since according to Jessica Y. it came close to her her favorite =P. I have never had a carrot cake in my life so I'm a virgin with that but I thought it was pretty good especially the cookie that came with it heheh
He had a few vodka on the rocks with blue cheese olives (man, that was good! - the olives I mean.. never heard of that before.. where have I been?!) while I baby my glass of wine.
I would love to give this restaurant 4 stars, but the food didn't WOW me. It was definitely presented well and delicious, but nothing extraordinary! But I will say that the atmosphere is great and it's a quieter place to take a date.
What I do love about N9N E is the superb service! Great servers are important to me and really make or break a restaurant experience. He suggested all the right dishes, gave us the right amount of time and never failed to be patient with us, even when my boyfriend and I had a million questions to ask! I'm a foodie and love to meet people, so naturally, conversations tend to get lengthy sometimes. Luckily, we went early, so the server was in no rush!
We started off our meal with an ahi tuna tuna crudo, which was good, but I've had more exciting appetizers. The next dish however, was the one that really started off the meal! We ordered the Heirloom Tomato Salad, which was loaded with some of the freshest and most delicious mozzarella I have ever tasted! For the main course, we were prepared to order either steak or lobster, but our server really sold us on the black cod miso. Boy did he know how to sell! So we settled on splitting 1/2 black cod miso and 1/2 steak. I am SOOO glad we decided to go with his suggestion of the black cod miso, which was very delicate and full of flavor! It was sliced to just the right pieces and melted in your mouth. To add to our already heavy meal, we also ordered a side of lobster mashed potatoes! Plus, he surprised me by pairing it with my favorite wine!
Even though we were stuffed, we couldn't resist trying out some desserts. I always have room for dessert! The boyfriend ordered The Float, which is a traditional root beer float with very sweet chocolate chip cookies while I went with carrot cake, titled "The best you ever had!" Although it wasn't my favorite, it came close!
N9NE was undeniably a wonderful evening and great experience, but for the quality of the entire menu, I'm still hesitant to bump it up to 4 stars. I would still recommend going there for a nice, fun evening!
I go here quite frequently for business lunches and have also been there for dinner...and I have to say I have never been disappointed. Thus it is really rather a 4,5* rating...not 5* just because the N9NE tries a little too hard to be fancy.
The food is excellent - especially the seafood and any dish that includes steak (unlike at some other places that claim to be steakhouses). Really anything I've tried from their lunch menu has been good. Especially the steak salad with crumbled roquefort cheese so far always managed to brighten up my day...
The atmosphere is great. Love the lighting, service is always extremely friendly and quick, and I really enjoy that it is not too loud here. An equally good place to go for a business lunch and for a date.
Keep up the good work!
I love the salad there.
I've been here an couple times and I'll keep coming back, I've never had a bad experience here, the food is great and the waiters are on top with the wine & dinner menu-
I like the environment inside N9ne, it's not stuffy and it is a younger crowd, yet last year I saw a 70 year old version of a Playmate, at least it was entertaining-And it's nice you can wear something a little "flashy" here since it suits the environment of N9ne-
Last night I got the pan seared scallops that were on top of a bed of sweet corn, peas and lobster risotto, drizzled with truffle oil-I get leery when I order scallops b/c I have some places serve me small, fishy scallops but these were fresh, huge and perfect, so good I had to close my eyes and say "Mmmmmmm"-
My husband ordered an entree that the server kept pushing, the Black Cod Miso, when it was placed in front of him I could just tell it was going to be good-The fish was cooked just right, and the Miso sauce was perfect-Such a simple entree with a lot of taste-
I didn't see anything on the dessert menu I wanted, but my husband did so he got the Carrot Cake to go, he said it was "pretty damn good"-
This place starts getting entertaining & busy around 8:30-9:00, so if you want an early dinner you will get right in, unlike some other places on Randolph who have an older crowd-
OMG, I just got out of my seat at work and started doing the two-step!
This place is amazing! The food is great and the ambiance is just as great! So, the first time I ate here, someone took me during the interview process for lunch. She had the chicken and these fries and I had the salmon with shitake mushrooms and the lobster bisque. Both, absolutely amazing! She enjoyed her meal just as well.
The second time I went, I had the same thing, and the other person had the filet. I tried her filet and it melted in my mouth. So good! I love a good steak, and N9ne knows a good steak. The bill was a $100, but it was such a great meal. I highly reccommend it. However, it's definitely a special occasion kind of spend.
Please go! It should have been named 10, because that's what I give it!
the scene: went on a wednesday night and the place was totally dead - not quite the scene I was expecting. service was pretty good, but honestly could have been better for the price and the fact our server had no other tables.
the eats: the martinis had blue cheese olives (yum!). the skinny fries were DELISH. I asked my server for a recommendation between the lamb and the filet and he enthusiastically recommended the lamb. I thought the lamb was good, but it's not a meal I'll remember for the rest of my life (or next week). had the tuna tartare for an apetizer and it had a flavor I didn't care for, but can't really describe.
the win: make your own s'mores at the table!!!
If you want amazing tasting food, come to N9NE.
I had a birthday dinner here and oh my god, the food is out of this world. Honestly, sitting here thinking about it my mouth is starting to water! I just ate breakfast yet now I'm hungry for their amazing crab stuffed mushrooms!
The single best dish I've ever had in Chicago has come from N9NE. Isn't that a bold statement? It's true! One of their entrees is this smoked chicken pasta dish. Very simple, but the flavor is just incredible. It's their only pasta on the menu, and they just do an excellent job with the spices, flavoring, etc. I've even dreamt about this meal! I know, I need a life.
I concur with other reviewers, the martinis are strong. One gets you going, two knocks you out. The service is good-to-great, and the atmosphere is a mix of tourists, business types, and Paris Hilton wannabes. Kinda like Chicago in general.
Go to N9NE! You won't be disappointed.
I have to say, a pretty solid dinner. I skipped the appetizers, planning on tackling the 24oz Bone In Rib Eye. Good plan, at least for the first 10oz. 24oz is a big slab of anything. It was pretty close to perfect. I like these guys pink, not red. It was honestly pink from top to bottom - nothing more or less, just a consistent pink. Really good.
The Gin and Tonic was stiff, at about the right level for me.
Waiter was on the ball. Quick and accurate service.
The location always throws me a bit - I tend to approach the meal with caution, picturing a train spewing exhaust all over the kitchen. Unfair I'm sure, but enough to keep this one from getting 5 stars for me.
Carry on.
I have frequented N9ne many times in the few years that I've been here in Chicago. Everything about this place is wonderful from the ambiance to the knowledgeable waiters. More importantly, the food is just absolutely delicious.
My two favorite appetizers are the rock shrimp and the calamari. The rock shrimp comes in a Chinese take out box and includes two dipping sauces which are amazing. The calamari is probably the best that I've ever had mainly because of the aioli sauce that is drizzled over the top.
If its your first time dining at N9ne, I suggest trying the lobster bisque. It is rich (but not too rich) but very simple.
Unless you've refrained from eating all day, I would definitely suggest that you NOT get an appetizer + a soup + a salad. You won't make it through your main course + sides. Stick with two pre-main course items at the most.
For the main courses, I've had the organic salmon which is cooked perfectly. They'll adjust the way its cooked if you're looking for something that is more on the seared side. The Chinese mustard glaze tastes like oranges which goes really well with the vinaigrette that the vegetables are covered in. I have also had the steaks (obviously). My favorite (and the only one that I can finish) is the 8oz filet. Yum!
All of the sides are large enough for two, maybe three, people to share. My favorites are the creamed corn and the lobster mashed potatoes.
I love N9ne and will consider it my favorite steakhouse until something else better comes along which, thus far, hasn't happened.
Was invited here for a work dinner, which seems like a popular reason to visit N9NE in West Loop. The downstairs long bar is nice, the big spectacle of a round bar in the middle is empty, so I don't get its purpose. Overall, the place has a Space1999 interior, meaning cold and modern but it borders on being peculiar. The kitchen though, was fantastic and that made up for everything. The service was good.
went with a big group for a birthday dinner.
The restaurant was beautiful inside not as dark as I thought it would be. Which is good for me bc I like to see what I eat.
They were very accommodating, the waiter was attentive and the food was delicious but pretty expensive.
Trendy inside, just how I like it. A bit too much white for my taste but will let that pass. Spacious, you don't feel like everyone else is almost eating next to you. You get at least 2 servers per table (David was one of ours - 5 stras for him too), so you're sure to get everything you ordered, as ordered and fast. All very attentive and helpful. They know their menu, are happy to make recommendations and are great at recommending wines.
We started with Rock Shrimp and the Crustacea (Grand shellfish platter served on shaved ice). Amazing!!!!
You all have to try this, specially the Rock Shrimp.
I ordered the Jumbo Scallops (seared, with Lobster Rissotto, Lobster) sad to say the scallops were salty and the Risotto undercooked but still really good taste so not taking points off for that.
They ordered several desserts for the table - they all looked delicious. Unfortunately I was too full to try them all but, was fed (yes, you read it right) a bit of the carrot cake and have to say it's one of the best I've had so far. You have to try it!!!
Ended dinner with a latte and a big smile on our faces. We were all very happy with our dinner and our experience there.
I love steak.....I'd eat it for breakfast if I could, so when I had a Yelp coupon burning a hole in my pocket (plus it was about to expire) I had to try this place and so I made it a special date night with my lady friend.
As for the decor, I really like contemporary, so this place is right up my alley, though the lighting should be a bit more focused on tables and not so red-but rather white light , but it didn't make me want to drop a star on the review.
First were drinks at the bar, which the bartender was nice, but seemed more interested in talking to the wait staff at the end of the bar to the right, but we did get a simple drink order and pre-lubed a bit before dinner.
I used Open Table to make the reservation and I requested a booth, which for the first time in using Open Table the establishment ACTUALLY did what I asked! Yea! We were seated in a nice booth overlooking the expansive, albeit sparsely populated restaurant, but it was a Tuesday night mine you.
As we slid into the dark upholstery booth there were food crumbs where we were to sit....not good N9NE.....that little lack of detail in not good for the prices you serve...and considering the dark color of the material to miss it means the wait staff never looked. I should never have to "sweep" my seat sitting down in such an establishment for any reason, thus a loss of a star.
The waiters were very professional, perfect in presentation, attentive and I DO like the white jackets...I my opinion in the industry it speaks to professionalism....if at the very least illusion of it, which in this town should be enough. The menu is very comprehensive and has a little bit of everything from an upscale dish perspective.
Steaks were to be had, but as a starter we had a mango/avocado dish that I'm going to make tonight I loved it that much!!! Steaks were 8oz of prime meat and not cheap either...these are more than Capital Grill or Morton's last I checked, but they didn't disappoint. Wine was great, but no matter how much pressure I put I couldn't convince my lady friend to get dessert? Oh well.
This is a great date place or place to get a drink and feel sexy. Service it dead on - less there cleaning up skills, with some things I think need to be seriously addressed to make this a 5 star experience. But I will definitely patronize this establishment in the future.
I cannot believe that there aren't more mentions about their black cod miso. The texture was so soft and melted in my mouth while the taste was light yet flavorful. I was getting excited thinking about the next time I'll eat this while I was still eating it! I consider it the second best fish dish that I've ever had in my life while my bf has said that it may be the best for him.
My bf tried the restaurant week menu and we were pleasantly surprised by the hanger steak. We thought it would be tougher but it was quite good and tasty. Lobster bisque was also pretty good but nothing special. Same thing with their bread pudding...it was good but I don't think we would order it again. Heard their rock shrimp is freaking amazing...will def get that next time.
In terms of the ambience, the place looks very glitzy which some people will love and some won't. I personally liked it...reminds me of Vegas but it also almost had like a food court feel to it?? I think I thought this way since the bar is in the middle with all the tables around it.
Regardless of any negatives, N9ne still gets 5 stars because of the black cod!
Ventured here this evening with my mom for a nice dinner. Part of the reason I chose this place was that I had a $25 off certificate (Thank you Colleen) and I always wanted to try anyway.
This place is really looks nice and the bright lighting in the center of the restaurant really sets the place off. I beat my mom there, so I decided to have a drink at the bar while I waited. The cheapest beer was $7, so I went with the 312. She walked in and loved the scenery. The waiter (Xavier) quickly made his presence felt and let us know what was good on the menu. We started out with the calamari as an appetizer, which was ok. We both got the lobster bisque soup, which was more than spectacular. For my entree, I got the Hangar Steak which comes with garlic fries. I ordered medium well and it looked medium rare. I didn't put up a fuss because I was slightly full anyway.
My mom got the Surf & Turf, which is basically the filet mignon and a lobster. It looked really good and she seemed to enjoy it. For dessert, we got carrot cake. On the menu, under carrot cake, it is described as "The best you ever had" and she agreed. I'm not a big carrot cake guy, but it was good.
I checked out the bathroom and it was pretty nice and clean. They had the smallest tv's I have ever seen in a bathroom, over each urinal. I had to squint to see my stupid Dallas Cowboys cut TO today.
As we left, the host and hostess were really nice and told me since I work right down the street then I should be a frequent customer. I told him that might be a possibility.
4 stars from the AW
I have mixed feelings on this place. Although the food was amazing (I had organic salmon with some ginger sauce and veggies) and the martinis were STIFF but excellent, and the dessert was to die for, the waiter wasn't the best when it came time to paying our bill. He was pretty pissed that we wanted to pay separately. Apparently you can't do this at high class restaurants? Sorry but I'm not going to pay $280 for myself and 2 friends to eat dinner here! I thought it was a little ridiculous how irrational he was being just by being short with us towards the end and rolling his eyes. Not cool. Customer service is way more important to me than how good the food is. I would maybe consider going back here but not so sure.
I was extolling the virtues of N9NE and why I preferred it over Ghostbar. I think the sad reality is that N9NE has lost a little luster too.
Or, who knows, maybe it's just Restaurant Week.
My first choice for Restaurant Week was one-sixty blue, and I left feeling like I should have gone there instead because dinner at N9NE tonight was resolutely average.
First, we were served lukewarm, flavorless tomato water calling itself Lobster Bisque. Then I was served a hangar steak that was supposed to have been medium but was yelling "mooooo" at me from the plate. That's how raw it was.
Had a very weird exchange with the server, who seemed to want to know if I just wanted the piece I had cut into re-served, or an entire new steak. Um, huh?
I got a new steak. And it was cooked medium and it was very good. The chocolate bread pudding was ok.
Every thing was just ok. The service, the food, the atmosphere...was just ok.
N9NE is not the "hot" destination spot that it once was. At least it wasn't tonight. Here's hoping things will improve post Restaurant Week.
We went last night to take advantage off the restaurant week menu, but once we got there we opted for a few different dishes from the main menu. Considering the prices, we all thought that the wine and food didn't live up to expectations. The scallops were over-peppered, the mashed potatoes over-salted, and my steak was decent ... but I've had a comparable cut for half the price elsewhere.
The only thing saving me from giving this place a terrible review is the staff. Everyone we encounter from host to server to bussers were excellent. Everyone was attentive and it is by sheer force of their presence that I walked out in a good mood.
This review is for the 2009 Chicago Restaurant Week menu.
It's a great deal. The portion sizes are huge. BUT, if you want steak, you'd better like very pungent blue cheese or remember to ask to keep it off your steak. I ordered my hangar steak medium rare, but it was more on the rare end, and with a chewy piece of meat, the bright red meat was even harder to eat. Since it was such a huge portion, I was able to just eat the more medium-rare parts off of the edges--not very elegant, but I was hungry.
I started with the lobster bisque, which was lighter than I had expected, since they serve the bisque poured over a piped dollop of creme fraiche. I opted to leave my creme fraiche floating island and ate the bisque around it so I would have room for meat and potatoes.
The bread pudding was ok--the Oreo ice cream wasn't as good as something you'd get out of a supermarket gallon, unfortunately. It was more icy than creamy, but less flavorful than the usual cookies 'n cream. The bread pudding itself wasn't chocolaty enough to hold up a bland ice cream.
N9ne reminds me of a nightclub or lounge. The restaurant is really shiny, and the lighting changes color every hour or so. I probably wouldn't pay steakhouse prices to eat in that environment, but for an inexpensive steak meal with good company, it served its purpose.
ps: my friend informed me there are TVs in the bathroom stalls
Wow, this place is cheesy. It feels like a dirty miami-vice restaurant with all the waiters in white blazers and the mirrored bar and all. I did not think the service was up to par for the price paid. The thing that threw me for a loop is that I had a flank steak and fries, yes, fries. I don't want fries with my steak, I'm not 12. I would like a vegetable or a potato that is NOT fried. It was just odd.
I will not return to N9NE because in a city full of amazing restaurants this was just MEH.
Set the Scene: super swanky downtown scene, sparkly lights, club-like atmosphere. The table next to us were dudes right out of the Boiler Room; young, suites, ties, loud and obnoxious... throwing down Benjamins and eating lobster. Hot hostesses are walking around in their ridiculously small mini skirts. A couple at the bar are about to jump each others' bones while they drink very expensive martinis.
I don't really fit in here at this moment. Why exactly am I here? Yelp $25 gift certificate, that is why!
Beyond the over-the-top scene, this place has pretty good food. This was my second time dining at this restaurant. Everything on the menu is a crowd pleaser. Nothing is surprising or experimental, it is a steakhouse and sure does please a steakhouse crowd. This is just not a five star favorite for me because I prefer cuisine that is much more inventive. However, this would be a top choice for me if I were entertaining a group of people who aren't the the experimental type.
On this particular evening, I wanted to come here because I was craving Nobu's black cod miso dish. Chicago doesn't have a Nobu so I gotta rely on the copy cats. N9NE's black cod was very very good (although, it's not Nobu!). I ate every morsel on the plate. My guy got a steak and it was solid.
The service this evening was excellent! Our waiter was one of those types that can predict your needs before you state them. He made it a very enjoyable experience.
Definitely recommended if you want to show off a "happening" Chicago scene to a group with a variety of pallets. If you have a more sophisticated pallet, you can still enjoy this place but it probably won't be the most amazing meal you have ever had.
This place was great. The service was excellent, the food, drinks everything was great. I got the surf and turf which was excellent, and the s'more desert. Everything was fantastic
I love this place.
They make you feel special if you are a returning customer, which I love.
The grilled calamari is amazing. The lobster bisque outstanding. The steaks are perfect, as is the salmon.
They have innovative drinks and delicious desert.
The atmosphere is very modern and they don't make you feel bad when you meet people there for dinner who are cheap and decide to split an appetizer for dinner, rather than act normal and order food.
Don't worry, myself and a few others ordered enough to make up for it.
PS if you don't get the lobster mashed potatos, you are seriously missing an important part of life. ORDER THEM!!
A little on the pricier side but it was a special occasion so meh.
I tried the New York sirloin since the waiter said that was his favorite. I generally like medium so I requested medium rare. It came out medium so I was happy. (Be careful of your request though, my friend requested medium rare and it came out medium rare. i just prefer it to be a little undercooked than a little overcooked) It was extremely delicious and was pretty filling.
We tried the lobster bisque and the lobster mashed potato. The bisque had a nice little kick to the taste and the mashed potato was good except it was a little dry for my taste. I wonder if i can request more gravy next time?
Something to be aware of: We came as a party and some people were drinking beers. The waiter would replace the empty bottles with new bottles even though we didn't say we wanted more (very ninja-like too! no one even noticed). So we got a lot of beer we didn't want... I'm assuming each was on the bill since I don't know any place that has free refills on beer. Make sure you tell your waiter "no more!" when you're done.
After having a bad experience during restaurant week, I sent an email to the restaurant explaining the bad time that I had. I received an email back from the General Manager who graciously invited my friend and I back for a meal on them (or partial meal because we spent a lot).
I want to give N9NE 4 stars, but I don't think that's fair since I got most of my meal for free.
We ended up going all out and got so many things. We got the crab stuffed mushrooms, filet mignon, brussel sprouts, lots of wine, the smores dessert and coffee. They also treated us each to a glass of delicious champagne and caviar.
Overall I enjoyed our evening and I thought everything from the food to the service was excellent. They definitely treated us like queens, but I can't know for sure if it was because we were treated poorly the last time. ...I'm assuming so.
The restaurant itself doesn't stand out above other restaurants in the city. The prices were pretty high and the atmosphere was just ok. I probably won't go back, but that's not due to my experience. I just feel there are many other restaurants out there that deserve my patronage more!
The food is routinely strong and I have to honestly say Nine consistently offers better cuts of meat than a few of the old school Chicago steak houses. The cold seafood platter is off the charts, the large one comes w/ a whole lobster, crab legs. shrimp, mussels and oysters. Its so good and fresh you almost forget you came for a steak. I have a filet every time, and its perfect every time. the sides also round it out, lobster mashed potatoes and creamed spinach. Staff is great, the interior is a touch flashy rather than refined... but in honesty I'm too busy chowing to notice it.
My boyfriend and I dined here for Restaurant Week. N9ne was average as far as food went and failed to impress. Outside of the Restaurant Week menu, we ordered the rock shrimp and it was well worth it. It was crispy and delicious. I strongly suggest this appetizer for anyone who likes shrimp and will be dining at n9ne. The rock shrimp appetizer seemed to be a little on the oily side though.
From the Restaurant Week menu, I ordered the lobster bisque soup, salmon entrée, and chocolate bread pudding with oreo ice cream with marshmallows. All were great tasting and hit the spot, but nothing I was really crazy about. The salmon tasted great with the sesame seeds, but it was nothing extraordinary. I was excited about the dessert, but only the oreo ice cream and marshmallows were noteworthy (though, again, not extraordinary). The chocolate bread pudding part fell below par.
My boyfriend had the hangar steak and French fries. The fries ended up soaked in the juices of the steak. The hangar steak was appealing and ok-tasting, but tasted like any other steak - nothing special.
Service was great as the table was cleared off when needed and water refilled frequently.
I thought drinks were pricey -- my glass of Melbac cost $15.
Overall, the food at n9ne was just ordinary; everything one would expect from a steakhouse and nothing more. The decor was the flashy part and seemed to suggest a hip, nightclub-type atmosphere. So I guess one would bank on coming here for the modern, trendy decor and close proximity to the trains (for after work events). But it's not worth making a special trip here for the food. It's just ordinary.
I went here Friday night for dinner and thoroughly enjoyed the experience. The building isn't much from the outside, but it is very well decorated inside. The wait staff are well dressed and are always around when you need them, but not overactive. Our waiter was also very knowledgeable about the menu and suggested a number of on- and off-menu items to us. I went with the lobster bisque soup, jumbo sea scallops over sweet corn and lobster risotto, a side of the lobster mashed potatoes (shared), and the blueberry and brioche bread pudding for dessert. The lobster bisque was very good, not great, but it was all up from there. The scallops were perfectly cooked, and the sweet corn and lobster risotto was heavenly. There was a slight hint of horseradish/wasabi under the risotto that I really enjoyed and there were sizable chunks of lobster in the risotto. It was an incredibly well balanced dish. The lobster mashed potatoes were also very, very good.
I was so full at that point that I almost decided not to get dessert, but I'm glad I did. I generally enjoy bread pudding, so the blueberry brioche bread pudding stuck out to me. Whoa! They give you a very large portion of bread pudding and despite feeling like I was going to explode, I scraped the plate clean. The blueberries were perfect. They had a very intense flavor and amazing texture. The bread pudding was also the best I've ever had (and I've had a lot of bread pudding in my day), though that was probably due in no small part to the amazing blueberries. The waiter said that they keep some form of bread pudding on their dessert menu year-round. The tease!
Anyway, I *will* be back. Maybe next time I'll try the steak. It is supposed to be a steakhouse, after all.
Note: Beware of the "spendy" rating on Yelp. This place is solidly in the above $60/person range unless you're only ordering entrees.
I've been to N9NE twice - once on a date and once for a company dinner. The first time I went, I really liked it. The lobster bisque was amazing, and the steak was tender. The second time I went, I wasn't as impressed. I ordered the surf and turf, and the lobster was terrible while the steak was just okay. My main complaint with the lobster is that it was still in the shell. It was cut in a way that made it extremely difficult to eat. Not only was it messy, but there wasn't very much meat. The steak wasn't bad, but wasn't great for the price. The veggies were great, but that's not why you go to a pricey steakhouse. My coworkers were similarly not impressed.
Pros:
1. Delicious steak
2. Fun Atmosphere
3. Cozy booths
4. Great people watching
Cons:
1. Waiter tried to charge us $30 to substitute shrimp for the lobster on the surf and turf (3 shrimp in exchange for a lobster tail is a surcharge?)
2. Waiter making fun of a gay couple (I lived in boys-town for years, I no longer find anything shocking or offensive)
3. Waiter pretending to have an Italian? accent
Summary: Waiter was a douche, food was great!
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Neighborhood: McKinley Park
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Neighborhood: Near North Side
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
Chicago, IL
Category: Nightlife
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Steakhouses
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