Mike Ditka's Restaurant

Order a Bloody Mary, and you'll get complimentary beer sidecar and a fresh shrimp skewer. Bonus on a Sunday morning!

I really like this place. The steaks are d' bomb! but what I really have come to enjoy is the music by John Vincent. He really transforms the space. His Sinatra songs are the best. He always has a smile on his face! I always make a reservation and am seated quickly. The wait staff is professional and knows what they are talking about!....Oh I have seen da' coach there last christmas time. He was mobbed with crazy fans!
You got to hear this man sing! Great!

Ditka's is definitely is a places that will leave you with some type of fantastic memory. First off, the staff is one of the best that I have seen and have been served by. They always make sure that you are well taken care of without missing a beat. The drinks a moderately priced but worth it....I had a hard time stopping from ordering the Chocolate Martini's they're unbelievable. The upstairs bar has a singer-Mr. John Vincent, that will make you think Frank Sinatra is there in himself...he sounds exactly like the guy...He's Amazing!!! Plus, he throws in some Johnny Cash and Louis Armstrong to boot. John Vincent is worth just hanging out at the bar and taking in his show every night if you can swing it. You'll feel like you are at a Sinatra concert listening to him perform all the hits...Chicago, Strangers in the Night, The Lady is a Tramp, That's Life, ect. It's a blast and it's free!!!! The food itself is fantastic- but a word of warning...the portions are HUGE!!! So, if you go on a date you might want to split something on your first time there so you have room for dessert. I have taken a number of friends out for dinner and a night of Mr. John Vincents singing, only to be left with a smile on my face. There is not a person that I have taken there, who has not had a great time. It is not surprising that sometimes Mike Ditka himself will be in the upstairs bar area, having dinner and listening to Mr. Vincent sing. If you do see Iron Mike there, go ahead and ask him for an autograph if he isn't eating...chances are that you will leave with a smile on your face and story to tell. The downstairs is mainly a restaurant and a big bar. It is great if you are looking for a fantastic dinning experience. But if you want to see John Vincent you will have to go upstairs...that is always where the fun tends to be...oh and almost forgot, because Mr. Vincent is such a great singer...there are CD's of his to purchase if you wish. Enjoy the night if you go...

Saving Ditka's as our last meal on our week long stay in Chicago was a big mistake. Apparently the staff was far more tired than we were! We ordered the bone in filet and the new york strip. Both were good, but not great. The creamed spinach was good, but not great. What turned what otherwise would have been a good dining experience into a below average one was the absolutely terrible service we received. There is just no excuse for having to wave down a busboy to see if your waiter has quit or gone home for the night. Three times we had to find our waiter to get steak knives (the steak was good, but not good enough for butter knives alone!) and have our drinks refilled. It's a shame that a waiter can be so inattentive to completely ruin a what would otherwise had been a good, but not great, meal.

Visit Chicago 2 or 3 times a year... always stop at Ditka's for dinner or at least a drink. The food is fantastic and the customer service even better! Our favorite time to visit is Thanksgving Day.... Ditka's turducken is amazing!!!