Republic Pan Asian Restaurant & Lounge

This restaurant has a great downtown location and terrific food! We took our family visiting from out of town to this spot and had a great time. Each of our dishes had a wonderful, unique flavor. Our maki rolls were excellent as were the Pad Thai and Ginger Beef. Our server was very nice and friendly, although a bit awkward as a formal server at times. We still enjoyed him, and he took good care of us.
After about two hours, we were nearly ready to go when a hostess RUDELY approached our table and asked us to leave. This was the only part of the evening that soured our experience. I just don't think when you buy dinner for six - all courses - and two bottles of wine that it is an appropriate environment to ask a customer to leave so the next reservation can sit down. I also don't think two hours at a table is excessive, particularly as it was obvious we were getting ready to go.

A couple friends and I had a girls night out last weekend. We were referred by hotels concierge. Although, we were not expecting to be treated as visiting royalty, our dinning experience was beyond expectation. The service was literally PERFECT. Drinks were fantastic. I especially liked Lychee Fizz martini. The Sesame Calamari appetizer still makes my mouth watery when I think about it. The entrees were spectacular.
Sorry to those people that had a bad time there. It sounds like it wasnt the food, but the service. Regarding the service, the server was as attentive as we wanted it to be. We went there to enjoy a nice meal and each others company and we had the opportunity to do so. I definitely plan to return.

Check it out! Looking for Asian cuisine, this is the place that you dont want to miss.
The atmosphere was charming and magnet. The lighting is spectacular. Despite all the accessories, the most impressed was incredibly prepared delicious food. Signature Shiro Miso Glazed Salmon was superb. I found the ambiance to be romantic. By far, one of the best Asian cuisines that I have ever had.

We had quite the evening here, and not in a good way. We eat out quite a bit-everywhere from Tempo to Alinea have never, ever been treated this poorly in a restaurant before.

After waiting over 20 minutes to even have our orders even taken, the restaurant manged to bring my food out with the appetizers (which were wrong), bring my friend the completely wrong dish (and try to convince her that it was what she ordered) and delay bringing our husbands' food for 50 minutes after that (the belief is that the order was never put in). And throughout this time we were completely ignored (had to request to speak with a manager 4 or 5 times). The manager wasn't even apologetic. She just kept making lame excuses and when we asked that the food be removed from our bill she argued with us and said she would only take off 15% (I might also add that she was extremely rude). We asked for more off, and she started bargaining with us! Then told us that she couldn't take it off the bill because the cost of the food was so expensive that it would put the restaurant in debt. Uh, if one table will put your restaurant under, you have a bigger problem than just us.

We asked for the bill 2 1/2 hours after we first sat for our reservation. It was wrong-not only did they barely take anything off the menu, but they charged us TWICE for our husbands' food. We asked to get it fixed. 10 minutes go by and still our new bill had not been brought. We asked again. 10 more minutes go by and finally we calculated in our heads what the correct bill should read, left some cash on the table and walked out.

Inexcusable. Too bad, because the food isn't half bad. Clearly we wont be going back, and I advise you to stay away.

Then come to Republic and try out the Hong Kong Steak ($28). Get it rare, medium...whatever, it all comes out well done. An ex-friend of mine recommended this restaurant to me for Restaurant Week, and I was excited to enjoy some high class Pan-Asian cuisine in the heart of downtown Chicago! I wish I had read the previous reviewers comments, because they were so right!

One bit of advice, watch out for the random toothpicks/wood chips holding your Tempura ($10) together. They are completely embedded in the food to keep the fried onions in one piece. Good luck finding it!

Ahh well, if I helped convince one person to avoid this place, then our $250 (for a small group) plus parking was worth it.