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Categories: Restaurants, Tea Rooms [Edit]
Neighborhood: Near North SideChicago (Red)
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I went here with three friends for dinner on a Friday evening. The restaurant is located in the lobby at the Peninsula (thus the name). They are similarly creative with the name of the hotel bar: The Bar. The space is elegant; you definitely feel like you're in a nice restaurant.
If you're looking for wine by the bottle, their wine list is a book, with a table of contents and everything. There are many, many choices from all over the world. I was the only one having wine, so I went with something from their much smaller by-the-glass selection.
Everyone in my group liked their food. The highlight of the meal for me was the truffled mac & cheese, which I ordered an appetizer-sized portion of to start. It was freaking delicious. Like lick-your-bowl-clean good. But it was a nice restaurant, so I didn't actually lick my bowl clean. I do have SOME class! Others started with a soup or salad, and reported they were good as well. I had the pork chop for dinner. The presentation was nice. The chop was a good, hearty cut but was a little plain. I asked for it medium-well but it seemed like it came out well-done to me; it was just a touch dry. It was still good, but fell short of being 5-star worthy. My companions reported their entrees were good as well. We were too full for dessert.
The service was good. We weren't kept waiting and water glasses were refilled regularly.
I think this place is kind of hidden away up in the Peninsula lobby. I'm not sure how many people know it exists. If you're looking for a good meal downtown on a weekend night and didn't make reservations somewhere, check out The Lobby.
Delicious, wonderful tea time. From sweets to sandwiches, it ended up being too much food for me to finish. Great ambiance, and live music. I wanted to shout 'encore' to the players, but it wouldn't match the mood of the room.
So why not 5 stars? Because the way the tea is in the pot, the tea became extremely bitter. Most teas should only seep for 2-3 min, and when my tea is seeping for 30 min +, it's an aweful taste. Don't they know better? Also, we were unfortunate to sit next a table who ordered some deluxe tea, which included hard boiled egg, chocolate covered strawberries and other delights we didn't get on our tea. The comparison was so extreme, and I glanced over many times during our meal. Sigh. what bad luck to sit next to them. I be they spent over $100 per person on that menu!
My boyfriend and I love chocolate. When I heard about the chocolate bar at the Lobby I know this was where i was taking him for his birthday dinner. Our mouths watered for a week in anticipation of all the chocolate options and we were absolutely not disappointed with the spread. There was everything from traditional to completely unexpected and it was all delicious, creative, and almost worth the price you pay per person. Almost. It's very hard to eat $35 worth of chocolate in one sitting but we sure as hell did our best.
The rest of the experience was a disappointment. The service was ok but not phenomenal. Frankly the person that took my reservation over the phone two weeks prior to dinner was more friendly than our server. Speaking of reservations, I mentioned to them at the time that it was a birthday celebration. I didn't expect them to do anything extravagant, but they did absolutely nothing for us. No special greeting, no happy birthday from the server, no complimentary dessert. Several months ago during my birthday celebration all of the above happened at a different restaurant and I guess I expected a place as reputable as the Peninsula to do at least the same. But... nope. Not a word.
Dinner was just ok. The salmon was slightly dry and overcooked but my fillet was wonderful although it was basically the only thing on the plate with some sauce and a few slices of tomato. Presentation was completely lacking.
Of course the Peninsula is a beautiful hotel with a fantastic feeling of luxury. The chocolate bar was amazing and the live jazz performance was a great and I enjoyed one of the best cappuccinos I've ever had in my life. But overall I just wasn't that impressed.
I went to the The Lobby for dinner yesterday and had a mixed experience. Let me get the negative out of the way and say that the service was absolutely terrible. There appeared to be one waiter and he had absolutely no pep in his step. He also almost smacked my mom in the face with the dessert menu and would leave the table before getting everyones order a few occasions. He also licked his fingers to turn a page on his pad of paper and then touched a spoon which was also really gross for a germaphobe like me. In regards to the atmosphere it is very cozy and comfortable. Definitely a relaxing dinner at least on a Sunday night.
In regards to the food I had the chestnut soup which was a little too sweet but the duck in the soup was the best duck I have ever had. It was so crispy and and a great contrast with the sweet soup. We also had the truffle macaroni and cheese which was of course good. How can a dish like that be bad. Given the amazing ingredients I think they could do something a little more special though. Think top chef season one, truffles on the bottom of the mac and cheese baking dish. I also shared the pike with my mom. The fish was a little dry but had a nice crisp. Also it was fun to figure out what all the flavors were. They also split the dish for us and both plates looked beautiful. My boyfriend had the scallops which looked great but I didn't try them.
For the desert we had the creme brulee and apple pie. Neither were that great. The creme brulee could have used a little bit more heat as only one part had that nice burnt look to it. I think that the cafe at that hotel does much better desserts.
Upscale dining with surly service and classical music. Need to fire some servers.
Brunch lovers this is the place! Elegant, attentive and delicious. Thank you for every great meal!
Eventhough on the expensive end, you get what you pay for and definitely the quality exceeds the price.
I love upscale restaurants, but hate pretentious environments. Some people really need to pry their foot out their ass. The food is good and the wine selection is nice as well. If you'd like to be entertained, I enjoy watching the desperate women and men try to find their wives and husbands here. It is quite entertaining!!!!!!!!
I sinfully love chocolate.
I (shamefully) love luxury.
I sinned a lot last night, in the most luxurious of ways. It was decadent, delicious, divine and yes, I will do it again.
Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Champagne parfaits, Lemon Meyer White Chocolate pots de creme, Dark Chocolate Coconut Creme Brulee, Chocolate Banana Eclairs, Chocolate Macaroons, Chocolate Dipped Strawberries, Oranges Slices and Figs, Chocolate Madeleines, Three Chocolate Napolitan, Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Bark, Hot Chocolate, White, Dark, Milk, creamy, smooth, shiny. A dizzying symphony barely interrupted by the sweet and delicate notes of litchi rose and raspberry hibiscus pates de fruits. Hardly disrupted by the subtle presence of pistachio marzipan. A song made in heaven orchestrated by all the pagan gods of cocoa for us, poor mortals.
I didn't even try to be strong...
This review is for high tea.
I try to find a 'proper' tea service wherever I go, and I've heard this was one of those "must see/go" spots.
For about $36, I was served my choice of tea plus a multi-tiered selection of bite-sized sweets and savories. Our window seats overlooked an outdoor seating area, and all would've been quite special if not for F.
F was not a very good service provider. F took over 10 minutes to bring the check. Note: It was NOT crowded in the dining room...what, ten tables or less total? They weren't the only server either. F was just kind of there. The stars are for the food and view, but that's about it.
Very nice MOD comped our meal, but that's because we recognized service that should've met our expectations, but didn't.
They say confession is good for the soul.
I can find the joy of eating food at Arby's just as much as I can at The Signature Room. Both places do what they do very well and while I would never compare the two outside of Yelp, it does bring to the table an interesting point about what you claim to do and what you actually do.
Arby's never makes a claim to offer the finest cuts of meat or boast about outstanding service or white table cloths. In the same vain, The Signature Room can boast about those things, but wouldn't lay claim to offering fast service at a great price, something Arby's can turn into a feather and stick in their cap. As a person who dines out across the board, from Arby's to The Signature Room and beyond, I understand the concept of being true to who you are and offering your customers the best food and service for the type of venue you run.
So what in the world is wrong with the hoity toity Peninsula Hotel? This is a 5 star hotel, doesn't that automatically say to you they earned those stars based on service and detail? FAIL!
I called the hotel 6 weeks before a special occasion to secure a table at one of their famous brunches. The woman on the other end of the phone asked me if I was securing the table for a special occasion. I told her that I was typically reluctant to mention birthdays or anniversaries because it never meant anything in the end. She assured me that in fact The Peninsula not only went above and beyond to ensure their guests had the best experiences possible, but went even further to bring a special experience to anyone celebrating. I confessed that it was a special occasion and she assured me up and down that I wouldn't regret having divulged as much.
Six weeks later, my date and I walked to the hotel and entered the lobby-cum-restaurant for a sunny Sunday brunch. First of all, there was no maitre d' or host to be found and when a group of employees finally showed up it was impossible to get anyone's attention. They all seemed busy with something else and couldn't be bothered with checking us in at that moment ... this, despite the fact that there were other people seated and eating. It wasn't like we were early or anything.
When I finally got the attention of the host to check in, I gave him my name and he searched for the reservation. There was no reservation. My name, number, my special occasion were nowhere to be found in their system. Fortunately he could still seat us, but it soon became apparent that they were going to be full in no time and that the perimeter table (read "no man's land") was indeed the worst table in the room and that we were being punished for apparently not making a reservation.
We decided to have a glass of Champagne with brunch, but after I swilled mine, it became clear we should just have one of the servicepersons bring us the entire bottle. That request took forever. Maybe someone can explain to me how hard it is to bring a bottle of Champagne to two people perfectly willing to pay the $10 for each of the two glasses and for a whole new bottle. The waitperson could hardly believe anyone would be willing to do that which I found shocking! If I want to buy 3 bottles of Champagne you have no cause to question me.
The food, in general, was typically brunch-like, nothing special, nothing out of the ordinary though I will say that the chef's at the stations were very friendly and professional and willing to do their part to ensure you didn't leave with a bad taste in your mouth. But I still think the hotel brunch at the now-defunct Dining Room at The Ritz was light-years ahead of anything The Peninsula was offering.
The bottom line is that the service at a hotel known for service was appalling, even worse than the experience on the actual day was the promises made by the telephone representative who didn't even secure the reservation causing me embarrassment, suspicion and a bad table with even worse service. I can forgive mediocre food if the service is stellar, at the same time, even the most glorious meal can be marred by bad service. I'm officially taking away 4 of The Peninsula's 5 stars.
We had tea time in the afternoon for our baby shower and it was wonderful. Everyone gets their own beautiful pot of tea of choice (they use Mighty Leaf) and an assortment of sandwiches, sweets and scones with dips (yum) & cookies. They refil upon request and the atmosphere is very pleasant.
This is a wondeful place for a special event with an intimate crowd. They have either long or round tables.
Definitely something to try at least once.
Coming from a serious hotel enthusiast, it's easy to call The Peninsula in Chicago one of the best and finest in hospitality locales. They are one in a handful of lavish hotels striving to set the bar in what you've come to expect in world class luxury right here in the Midwest... luxe accommodations, warm service, top notch wellness facilities, sumptuous dining... and yes, of course, traditional afternoon high tea as well.
The Lobby at The Pen is the setting for weekend Sunday "Royal Tea" and you'll easily see why once you arrive. The room is positively grand... sky-high ceilings, soft carpet, buttery walls, gold and cream tones, sunlight streaming in through the amazing architecture outside the floor to ceiling windows.... needless to say, it makes an impression. Whether you're there with a girlfriend or hosting a small group out (baby shower... bridal shower... this is the perfect venue), you'll be delighted and feeling stylishly European in no time. Wondering where to wear your prada... or frauda (aka faux prada)? Add your own chic style soundtrack to the outing and don those Italian duds here!
Tea service includes your favorite standards like tea sandwiches - I was given a mix of veggie, salmon and chicken salad dainty bites - and of course the fabulous petit fours, pastries, scones, lemon curd, devonshire cream and jam. All magnificent, all decadent. The Pen also throws in a signature additional twist all their own; homemade mini souffles for each guest!! Mine was a blushing sour cherry and it was everything you'd ever want to write home about... ahhhmazing!! Thank God their pocket size, next time I'll wear bigger pants!
Even our server was every bit as delicious as the savories, he kept my champagne glass no less than half full throughout my meal - Atta Boy!!! The way to my heart must be written on my sleeve... bubbles ftw every time! Tea? What tea? Oh, yes... my vanilla rooibos was heavenly and served in the most beautiful Villeroy & Boch teapot... I wanna steal me one!
Tea at The Pen (or anything at The Pen) won't be cheap, but will be charming and fabulous, just like you - so splurge!
Came in for the evening chocolate buffet from 8-midnight on Friday and Saturday. They put out a very impressive assortment of different forms of chocolate delights, and turned the lights down low. Then a great jazz combo started up. Wonderful vocalist and band, fitting of the Peninsula.
The crowd was a bit tacky toward the end of the evening, not acknowledging the wonderful work of the artists, no polite applause...like it was Musak in the background (tacky tourists).
Anyway, the chocolate was fun, but only a couple choices were quality enough to remember. The mousse was tops. Overall, a wonderful experience for a low key evening in the lobby of the Peninsula Hotel.
Took my mom here for the afternoon tea on Sunday for her birthday. She was visiting from Ohio and I wanted to take her somewhere she couldn't go back home. The Lobby at the Peninsula was it!
We originally had plans to go on Saturday, which I maybe would have preferred because the dining area was pretty empty on Sunday. Still, since the Sunday tea is later (4:00-6:00pm), we did get to see the view in the day and all lit up at night (and they bring out candles for the tables when it gets darker).
We both got the traditional tea for $36. My biggest and practically only complaint (and the reason why I knocked off a star) is that they only offer TWO green tea selections (gunpowder and sencha) in their proprietary tea listing. The tea selection leaves quite a bit to be desired in my opinion. Both the teas we ordered were good, but with tea becoming the sensation it is, I can't believe I'm the only one who would like a larger pool to choose from.
Other than that, it was astounding. They brought out the selection of savories (curry chicken wrap, grilled veggie sandwich, smoked salmon sandwich, potato quiche) with the sweets (plate full of tiny, perfect deserts from mini key lime pie to cheesecake brownie) in a pretty tower of plates. You also get a basket of cookies and scones with the lemon curd, devonshire cream (swoon!) and a homemade jelly (good, but I couldn't lay off the lemon curd and cream). They also brought out a sour cherry souffle which was the best I've ever had. My mom got a special dessert to celebrate her birthday which I thought was a nice touch.
The service was incredible. I never felt rushed or over attended-to. I hate when servers hover. One employee saw my mom picking the cilantro out of her chicken curry wrap (she detests the stuff, but I love it) and immediately brought her another quiche to replace it along with two extra cucumber sandwiches. (I was so happy about this because what's high tea without cucumber sandwiches, right?)
All in all, it was a great time and I recommend it for any girly special occasion or celebration.
I went to this elegant hotel restaurant during the second Chicago restaurant week. The staff at the hotel were extremely friendly and the decor was fairly chic.
There was a 3 course price fixed option, however it was different from what was available on their website and I had to request a special menu for the price fixed option as it was not initially given to me.
First was the bread basket which came with delicious pretzel rolls, some flat bread and some spiced corn bread. The salad with bacon, prosciutto, dates and baby greens was exceptional... one of the best salads I have had in a while.
Unfortunately the main course left much to be desired. I had hand cut pasta with meat sauce. The pasta was good, but not exceptional, the meat sauce was lacking and the portion was pretty small especially for pasta.
I was hoping the dessert would redeem my impression.. but alas that hope was dashed. The platter came with 3 beautiful presented desserts- miniature versions of cheesecake, carrot cake and chocolate pastry. The cheesecake was so-so, the carrot cake was great, but the chocolate was very disappointing (it tasted dried out. For a place that boasts a chocolate buffet I would expect more.
The best thing there was the iced tea. probably the best ice tea I have ever had. The waitress said it was a black tea with rose, vanilla and another ingredient... but for $6 a glass... it should have been pretty damn good.
I might try The Lobby again, but for the price and quantity i would be hesitant to recommend it.
This place is a little too classy for my champagne taste and beer bottle pocket, but I checked it out anyway.
Sans my options trader manfriend, I won't lie and say that I stayed at one of their impeccably kept $550/night rooms (that's right, I asked the concierge!), but the next cad/lothario I swag-- I'm making sure we go for a romp in one of those rooms, replete with 800 ct. Thomas Lee sheets, champagne service, strawberries and cream, all the works.
I did have a drink at Avenues amongst all the early morning New Year's Day brunch diners. The brunch service was absolutely luxurious-- immaculate service and presentation. I could only envy anyone who could partake in the $90/head brunch. I took a pic and I'll post when I can.
Breakfast at Tiffany's- esque splendid.
We hosted an Afternoon Tea at the Lobby Restaurant to celebrate my sister-in-law's upcoming wedding. It was SPECTACULAR. My in-laws were so impressed with the room, the food, and the tea. My sister-in-law even requested that we host her baby shower there someday. It was all divine. My one complaint would be that they didn't inform us that the second glass of champagne that they offered to pour would be an additional charge of $9/glass. That added another $50 to our bill.
I was very appreciative of the Lobby hostess, Stephanie. I dropped off our menus and party favors the day before our event. Stephanie had the items laid out at each place setting when we arrived. My in-laws loved it.
I was pretty skeptical about coming to here for the chocolate bar. I'm not a fan of buffets but I must say it was a lovely evening. My husband and I enjoyed the night with the live jazz band and delicious chocolates. My favorite is the banana eclair and my husband's is the white chocolate mousse. Beautiful lobby with fabulous jazz music. The service was exceptional!
They also have a wide selection of fresh tea. It' a must-try. We had the Green Tea called Sencha from Japan. Very relaxing!
female jazz singer w/ excellent trio (friday and saturday nights)
the Tea,
& the Chocolate Buffet
=
my favorite place in Chicago.
SERIOUSLY, I am not understanding the people who say they cannot eat $30 worth of delectable chocolates. Oh my, I thought I had died & gone to heaven--or at least one of my versions of heaven. Some girlfriends treated me to the chocolate bar at the peninsula for my birthday & lets just say it was one of the best b-day treats EVER!!
The ambiance is warm & romantic (this would be perfect for a date night), the wait staff were fantastic, the live music (jazz) was a nice touch, and the CHOCOLATE was YUMMY. They had a wide variety of sweets--dark, white, & milk chocolate. My favorite was of course the ganache treat--but you should go & discover your favorite.
We've been here for High Tea before, which I'd also recommend, but on Saturday went in for "Dessert" read: drinks.
(They do have a 'Chocolate Bar' every Saturday but I don't think I could eat $30 worth of chocolate and don't really want to try)
I'm here almost every Saturday as I have an invested interest in the jazz quartet that plays (bon Soir babies!), but took my mom in this weekend for an after dinner cocktail. I ordered a Chocolate Martini, which was a real treat and beautifully displayed and my mom ordered, (don't laugh) a Hummer.
Basically it's an ice cream drink with Kahlua and Rum but we couldn't remember the Rum part. Our *guest services ambassador* (I can't bear to call him a Waiter or Server because these guys carry themselves with way too much poise and purpose to be labeled as such) didn't know how to make the drink but was hell-bent on getting it right. I don't think it was actually a Hummer, but it was a yummy substitute and for a place that has no other ice cream drinks, a generous move to accommodate our wishes.
Price tag was a little steep, ($27 for two drinks) but you don't walk into the Peninsula Hotel expecting $1 beers or shot specials and for a special night, it was completely worth it :)
I recently had the pleasure of joining four of my friends for Royal Tea at The Lobby restaurant in The Peninsula. After having a cup of tea after dinner during my stay at the hotel in 2001 and enjoying informal tea with a friend just last year, my expectations were high. I guaranteed my friends a memorable experience and, to their credit, The Lobby delivered.
Afternoon tea started, ironically, with a glass of champagne--Laurent-Perrier, Cuvée Grand Siècle Brut. The first course was truffled scrambled eggs in eggshell cups, which were very delicious. The eggs were accompanied by their own little ivory spoons, not unlike the flat wooden spoons that come with ice cream cups.
If my memory is correct, tea came after the first course. I had the genmaicha, which was a first for me. It was very good, with the rice balancing out the green tea which, at least in my opinion, can too easily become overpowering. Some of the other teas that were served included Orchid Oolong, Orange Jasmine, Mandarin Rose Petal, and (I think) African Amber. Everyone had positive things to say about their teas. On that note, each person is served their tea in his or her own pot, about the right size for one person to accompany--what you will see--turns out to be a fairly large meal. The staff was more than happy to add hot water or make adjustments to the teapots as necessary as the meal went on.
The main course featured a three-tiered tray of various finger-sized items. On the top tier were chocolate and cherry scones that were separately accompanied by curds, jellies, preserves, and Devonshire cream. Definitely go after the scones first while they are still warm. Along with the scones were confetti shortbread cookies with dried fruits halfway dipped in chocolate. On the second tier were long-stem strawberries dipped in Manjari chocolate and accented with edible gold leaf; ginger madeleines; a fruit tart; and an incredibly sweet tea cake. The fruit tart was probably the weakest link on the whole menu, but I suppose some unlucky item had to take that position. The tea cake, while very sweet, was just the perfect size so that the sweetness really was not a bother to deal with. Anything bigger would have been too much. On the bottom tier were the heavier items: Chive blini with American caviar and crème fraîche; smoked salmon terrine and leek marmalade on brioche; warm baby artichokes with camembert cheese and roasted pepper; and, finally, parma ham and fig pinwheels with sauternes and mint gelee on pumpernickel. I was not a big fan of the ham and fig pinwheels, but the other items on the bottom tier were each fantastic.
For the final course, each person had a small trio of crème brulèe--Tahitian vanilla bean, Jivara milk chocolate, and passion fruit. Sadly, by that point in the meal, having gone through no less than twelve other items, it was really hard to get full enjoyment of the crème brulèe.
As for the non-food aspects of the meal, the space at The Lobby is very nice. The fact the restaurant is in the lobby of the hotel lends itself to a certain serene openness. Service was solid, although the timing in between courses seemed to be a little off. To say there was a lack of attentiveness would be far too harsh, but, considering the level The Peninsula is aspiring to, I think improvements could be made. I did appreciate, however, that the staff made a quick adjustment to the menus early on, removing the price from the menus before the others arrived. And, as for that price, it runs $95 per person. In its defense, however, the amount of food served for this mid-afternoon tea nearly spoiled my appetite for my late dinner reservations at 10:00pm.
Love! Love! To start this place is stunning! The epitemy of high end luxury. My friends and I came here for the chocolate buffet for some after dinner dessert and also cause I've been obsessing over this place since I heard of it. The chocolate buffett was awesome! OMG the chocolate goodness could have been overwhelming to anyone else but being the chocoholic that I am it wasnt. High quality chocolate, fruits, cakes, nuts, etc. They even had pretty innovative desserts like chocolate pops made with pop rocks! How cool! Passionfruit infused marshmallows. Awesome. Anyway, this place is definitely as good as it gets. A must go!
I had one little day to enjoy Chicago while in the area for my cousin's wedding. I decided that I would finally try High Tea at the Peninsula --unfortunately, we do not have any lovely hotels that offer high tea in Jax! So with my good friend S and sister in tow, we spent a lovely Sunday afternoon at The Lobby. The ambiance is very elegant. The service is terrific and unobtrusive. The food was a wonderful mix of sweets and savories. The chicken salad was divine (just like Yelpers said it would be!) but I especially loved the Baguetts with herbed cheese, edamame, and grape tomatoes. The tea itself as delicious and served beautifully.
All in all, a wonderful way to spend a Sunday in the city!
This review is for my many high tea experiences at the Peninsula. I know what you're thinking, this bowler enjoys high tea? Indeed! It is a Christmastime tradition to enjoy high tea here. I've had high tea elsewhere, but I think this one is by far the best.
The tea selection is top notch and the sandwiches and desserts are always fabulous. And it never hurts to begin your tea experience with a souffle. Just delightful. The servers are always attentive and I've never felt rushed, even after sitting for almost three hours.
Got $65 (not including tax and gratuity) burning a hole in your pocket? Then hit the Sunday brunch at the Peninsula. The Peninsula is the ultimate in brunch opulence. Want lobster? Yes! An omelet with sushi? Got it. A plate with brioche French toast on one side, and prime rib on the other? Done. Truffled herb-roasted chicken and petit fours for dessert? No problem.
Seriously, though, this is a hell of a brunch. The variety and quality of the food is mindblowing. It is perfect for impressing the in-laws when they're visiting from Cleveland, or if you don't have in-laws, it will work just as well as your mom or that Gold Coast debutante that you're trying to win over. The Lobby restaurant is approachably elegant, with soaring ceilings and spectacular views of the Magnificant Mile. The service, as is typical of the Peninsula, is flawless.
Live jazz + unlimited amounts of chocolate + beautiful decor + dancing with a charming guy = bliss.
I am in love with this hotel. Everything about it is beautiful and the service is excellent. The decor is elegant and traditional, but not on that stuffy Ritz Carlton type of way. After a few glasses of wine, I kept touching the place settings because they were so beautiful... need to find out where they are from.
We came to see Stephanie Browning perform this past Saturday. I was surprised to see so many people there. The crowd is very diverse - older couples celebrating a night on the town, groups of people perhaps guests of the hotel, young couples scoping out the chocolate bar, and regulars dancing the night away.
I have not tried the chocolate bar, but would probably die of sensory overload if I did. However, we did have the chocolate tart, which was very good. Comes with a scoop of espresso ice cream that is out of this world yummy. Chocolate martini's are strong!
+++++++++++++
My bf and I had afternoon tea at the Lobby over the weekend. It was excellent! The selection of Peninsula collection teas and premium teas were fantastic - we both had a hard time deciding which one to enjoy. I had the orange jasmine and he had the chamomile. Though the chamomile was very nice, I definitely picked the better one :P The tea sandwiches, scones, pastries and cakes were all very delicious and we were even surprised by a complimentary blackberry souffle! Amazing! Service was flawless - attentive, timely and very courteous. Tea at the Peninsula is a great way to spend an afternoon with your significant other or girlfriends. It is also a great place to bring your mother!
We took breakfast here not too long ago with a fellow Yelper and her beau. It was divine. The Peninsula is a delightful locale on its own, but our experience at The Lobby was pure gastronomical lust.
Though the egg white frittata was perfect with its inclusion of asparagus, spinach, leeks, Portobello mushrooms and tomatoes, my accommodated request to add aged white cheddar kicked it up a notch to Sin City. My spouse had the almond ricotta hot cakes with a Grand Marnier sauce, and had to continually swat us away from his platter. Ridiculously beautiful Kellan allowed us to sample her stuffed French Toast, which was lovely but a bit too sweet for my taste.
Attentive service was complemented by breathtaking surroundings, including our occasional pause to take in the Michigan Avenue view. By the time we were done with all this and mimosas, the rest of the day was icing.
There's no way to go wrong here. We'll certainly return.
This was a very luxurious night out. I came for the chocolate buffet and tea and it was spectacular. The tea was incredible and served in a traditional tea set high class. The desert was so delicious the chocolate was so fresh and the display was impressive. The entertainment consisted of a pianist cello and singer performing in the lobby. When we were standing outside waiting for the valet Cindy Crawford came out of a limo and we were lucky enough to have a photo taken with her. If supermodels come here you know this is the place to be. I cant wait to come here again.
Jacky and I hit The Lobby last night after some evening shopping, and for the first time - decided to do dinner here...interestingly, I see that nobody has mentioned the amazing dinner menu!?
We come here every Christmas for Tea, and that is a five star experience, no question. No further details needed...it's Chicago's 'tea in the big city at a fancy hotel' experience (better than The Drake...sorry, native Chicagoans).
SO -- dinner last night -- Jacky got our rezz because of the Chocolate Bar, and we did dinner beforehand: WHAT A MENU!!! Phenomenal selection...
First, there were some great froofy drinks to go along with the normal hotel fare: strawberry, champagne and campari cordials, etc. etc. -- Asian influence throughout: try 'The Tryst' - you won't be sorry!
Then -- we got some 'savouries,' and all of them looked good: cheese plate, homemade tortilla chips, sushi/sashimi, duck rolls, etc. We got the sushi and sashimi, and it was unbelievable fresh and beautiful: ebi, unagi, hamachi, california roll, salmon, spicy tuna roll, octopus salad -- very satisfied.
For entrees, Jacky was torn between the Szechwan Prawns (their signature dish), or a special diver scallop and fava bean cassoulet that sounded incredible. She opted for the Prawns and was in heaven -- she loved it. For me -- who eats everything -- I was torn...Osso Bucco, Steaks, the scallops, Vietnamese Market noodles with Kobe beef, chicken and shrimp -- augh! But Iris, our server who is here from Hong Kong for a one year internship guided me well...to the Kobe Burger served with aged stilton with sweet potato fries and a white truffle aioli....best. burger. ever.
I'm not kidding -- Moody's, Monk's, In 'N Out, forget it...competition over. This burger was one of the best things I have ever eaten. Now -- HUGE disclaimer...huge. It was $28. Yeah, yeah, I know, I know...grotesque. That's too much for anything that has 'burger' in the title. But folks: it was worth every penny. I can't rave about this enough.
Then, we moved to the chocolate bar.
meh.
The theme for May (different chocolate theme each month) was "flowers." yech! So everything had some flower element associated with it...as in, half of the pieces on the decadent table tasted like dish soap. Verbena, violets, lavender, capsicum, petunias, blah blah...decorations? Yes. In my mousse, apple strudel, creme brulee or tart? No. So thumbs down for May's floral rendition of choco-fest from me.
But overall, a five star experience. It ain't a cheap date, but it was well worth the extravagant setting, the gorgeous jazz (don't forget the live jazz...they were tremendous...), the amazing dinner and ambience.
I've been to high tea in the Peninsula twice now, and couldn't imagine a more wonderful experience.
The tea is phenomenal, and they have so many choices, including caffeine free. The food is also yummy, from the little sandwiches to the scones and tiny little chocolate cake.
Service is of course, impeccable. We had twenty for tea and asked to bring some of the extra food back for some coworkers that couldn't join us, and they gave us ALL of the extra food.
Beautiful ambience and nice live music too.
I love the Peninsula! And I love coming to The Lobby....it's so beautiful with floor to ceiling windows overlooking Michigan Avenue.
My favorite is coming for afternoon tea. It's such a great and relaxing experience. If you have never been you must go! They serve you the cutest sandwiches, scones and pastries, and they all taste wonderful. The experience is definitely worth the $28 per person.
They also have a chocolate bar (buffet) friday and saturday nights. However, I was unimpressed by the selections at the chocolate bar. I was not wowed by the buffet selection. All the selections were just o.k. and did not satisfy my sweet tooth. There was not a single dessert where I had the feeling of being in chocolate nirvana. The buffet also had various selections of hot cocoa...the only problem was none of them were hot, but luke warm at the best. I would have been much happier going to one of my favorite dessert places and getting a fabulous piece of chocolate cake. My three friends I was with had the same opinion. Besides, you feel really sick after eating that much chocolate......trust me.
Another great experience at The Lobby is the Sunday Brunch. It's so unbelievable. Everything you could ever want to eat is at this brunch, and it is all fabulous. The brunch costs $55 and is worth every penny. They also have special holiday brunches.....I would recommend taking your mom for Mother's Day or going for Easter.
The table was covered with desserts. Adorable tiny desserts. Adorable tiny chocolate desserts. I was in heaven. I was at the chocolate bar at the Peninsula.
I can only give 4 stars because I'm a dark chocolate kind of girl, and the dark chocolate options were actually quite limited. But there was a delicious white chocolate mousse cup with raspberries. And a teeny tiny chocolate creme brulee. And juicy, perfectly ripe chocolate-covered strawberries. Chocolate-drizzled soft pretzels provided a little break in the chocolate intensity. There were cream puffs and lollipops and little bitty chocolate cakes. As I said - heaven.
My chocolate martini was as decadent as the desserts, and the wait staff was really nice and attentive - it's the kind of place where they fold your napkin for you when you go to the bathroom to purge so you can make another buffet run. In other words, an awesome birthday retreat from the ordinary.
Imagine Willy Wonka shacking up in a French colonial plantation and you get the gist of the weekend choco-rama at the Peninsula.
Nevertheless, service lacks and can be spacey, which could be excusable at any place but here. During visits at peak times the lack of staff slowed service which noticeably hindered my alcohol imbibing. Once the service was so horrid that I left the smallest tip ever ($6 tip on a $114 tab).
However like a tweaking meth junkie, I just can't say no to the Peninsula's intoxicating, gilded opulence and chocolate decadence.
+6 for the chocolate, ambiance, entertainment and enough space so that you won't be bothered by poseurs;
-2 for the unpredictable service and liberal guilt for spending so much money on nothing but alcohol and chocolate;
-2 for failing to meet the higher standard to which the Peninsula should be held. Visit the original or Bangkok Peninsula and you'll understand.
Can't wait til the Shangri-La and the Mandarin Oriental open.
I went to the Lobby at the Peninsula to celebrate my birthday and I was not disappointed. We just wanted to have lunch since we were with a baby and it's hard to find a nice place to have dinner where a baby would be welcome. The Lobby was bright and airy , had plenty of room to park a baby stroller next to the table and was not nearly as snooty as I would have expected. Most of the people at our table ordered high tea but a few ordered from the regular lunch menu, which is a nice option for those who crave something more traditional like a huge, juicy burger. (I had a bite of that huge, juicy burger and it was tasty)
The high tea was excellent although the service was a little confusing as at least four different people took care of our table at some point. Also, at times it was hard to flag someone down to order something but the food and overall experience far outweighs any inconvenience caused by that.
With high tea, you of course get to choose your tea from an extensive list. Then you are served a tiered platter of bite-sized sweet and savory things or to put it elegantly, "snackies." I believe the variety is always similar so here is what I can recall that was on our plates: bottom plate- beef wraps with vegetables, quiches, salmon and cream cheese sandwiches with caviar; middle plate - chocolate cheesecake, apricot crumble, chocolate covered cake w/raspberry, mango cream tart; top platter - macaroon, assorted scones. There are a handful of things I can't remember but let me assure you everything was DELICIOUS. Those mango cream tarts still call out to me in my dreams.
The best part is that you can request to have more of anything on your platter, so it is really an all-you-can-eat affair lest you're afraid that dainty sandwiches and desserts aren't going to fill you up. Let's just say I waddled out of there clutching my distended stomach.
To sum up this monster of a review , I loved the high tea at The Lobby. I'd recommend it for anyone celebrating a special occasion or to anyone who has $28 burning a hole in their pocket. I recommend reservations, especially because they ask you if you're celebrating something special and if you are they'll surprise you with something special at the end. I guess this is also a decent place to spot whatever celebrity may be in town, my mom saw the brother from "Everybody Loves Raymond" in the elevator if that's any incentive.
A few girlfriends and I had high tea and we all enjoyed it. The service was prompt and friendly. We did order the least expensive option but we were still treated like good costumers. One friend is a veg head and our waiter was very willing to create some delicious veggie options for her. As our waiter walked passed and heard me praise a specific type of cookie, he returned with a plate full.
I very much enjoyed my time here and I recommend it highly!
My mom, husband and I decided to enjoy a lovely Saturday afternoon at The Peninsula for High Team. Staying at the hotel is not accessible for me, but it's good to see how the other half lives and feel like a queen for a couple hours while eating some of the most fantastic finger foods ever. Such care and precision went in to each and every edible it was an honor to eat. Truly! The teas were delicious (my husband is a connoisseur) and we really enjoyed ourselves. It was a delightful experience and though not cheap, well worth it for creating fantastic memories.
We dropped in on a Saturday night, rather early, and were able to get a table without much ado. The food was excellent -- my lamb was perfectly done, quite rare and incredibly tender. My companions each enjoyed their salmon and baby roast chicken; don't miss the brussels sprouts ... I'm not usually a big fan, but they prepare them with bacon, and how can you miss with that?
The service was very pleasant, although a bit uneven; occasionally we were left adrift. They were so kind as to bring us (unsolicited) a small selection of tiny lovely bites from the chocolate buffet, which was unexpected and delightful. And need I mention tasty.The live jazz on Saturday was nice also.
On the whole, totally worth a trip: pricey, but delicious; in a big open space so not particularly intimate or romantic, but well-appointed and not, to my mind, particularly snobby or intimidating as some fancy pants hotel restaurants can seem.
If you know someone who really enjoys sweets, they will appreciate being taken to the dessert buffet. Cheap, it isn't but well worth it for special occasions. The ambiance is spectacular with the opulent lobby, live music, and everyone dressed to the 9s. Great fancy date place as any girl will surely be impressed.
I've been to the Lobby for the Chocolate Bar, an ongoing event here at the Lobby on Friday and Saturday nights.
Live jazz - a trio and a singer - and a wonderful selection of drinks and chocolate desserts and drinks. There is a small dance floor for dancing, and the trio will play most jazz standards. They also take requests (within reason, no Titanic theme!). You will enjoy the singer's lovely borrowed diamonds. Making Elizabeth Taylor green with envy!
The Lobby itself has a wonderful atmosphere and a superb staff. So attentive to your needs! The waiter always came over to hold my chair and napkin for me whenever I'd come back to sit down.
The menu seems to always be changing. I have been there twice and the desserts have been completely different each time. The most recent time, the theme was floral. Chocolates and flower petals! Divine. There were two choices for chocolate drinks at the Bar, an iced tea chocolate drink and a dark chocolate drink.
The Chocolate Bar by itself is $32 per person.
There is a selection of Chocolate Martinis that are $14 each. Also there is another selection of drinks and appetizers. I had a Bellini last time which was wonderful, and was $18.50.
Reservations are highly, highly recommended. The Chocolate Bar at the Lobby is from 8:30 to 11 pm on Friday and Saturday nights.
Special
Chicago, IL
Pre-Thanks Giving MoleMadness…
Neighborhood: Pilsen
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Tea Rooms
Neighborhood: Streeterville
Category: Bars
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Chocolatiers and Shops
Neighborhood: Near North Side
Category: Coffee & Tea
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