Chicago Chop House

312-787-7100

60 West Ontario Street Chicago, IL 60610

www.chicagochophouse.com

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Nothing says "Chicago" like a slab of meat at this nostalgic, clubby local favorite.

Categories:

Restaurants

Details:

$$$$, Business Dining, Date Spot, Fine Dining, Group Dining, Local Favorite, Lunch Spot, Notable Wine List, Online Reservations, Private Rooms, Romantic Dining, Special Occasion Dining, Open 7 Days

Insiders:

amanda a. Emily L. Ashley B. H. R. Photo
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Mon-Thu 11:30am-11pm Fri 11:30am-11:30pm Sat 4pm-11:30pm Sun 4pm-11pm

Message from Chicago Chop House

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Located in an immaculately restored Victorian brownstone, in the popular River North neighborhood, visiting Chicago Chop House is like visiting the city's colorful past. Chicago Chop House offers the taste of true Chicago. The awe-inspiring 64oz porterhouse, 16 and 24oz New York Strips and 24oz prime rib are served charred and bursting with prime-aged flavor. Only USDA Prime steaks that are hand-cut on the premises are served. The international wine list features over 650 selections, including over 30 wines by the glass, and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence 1994-2003, Best of Award of Excellence since 2004 and, in 2005, received the Award of Distinction from Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Chicago Chop House also features an elegant piano bar with live music nightly. Whether you come for dinner or a private party, Chicago Chop House is sure you'll come back again!

Editorial by

The old-boy network is alive and well at Chicago Chop House, a conservative steak joint with a country-club feel and a corporate, mostly male, clientele. Brass railings, hunter-green walls and wood accents make up the decor; framed black-and-white photographs of Chicago gangsters, mayors and meat packers past lend an old-time Chicago feel. No surprises, just high-quality steakhouse standards like lightly fried calamari, creamy oysters Rockefeller, basic salads and plenty of red meat. Servers push the New York strip, and for good reason--this thick, juicy cut is smoky, tender and flavorful. Daily surf-and-turf specials are worth trying, too: One pairs a melt-away 10-ounce filet with a five-ounce lobster tail. The lunch menu's gourmet burger is a 10-ouncer studded with bits of onion and green pepper.

High Marks
"...each bite seemed to melt in my mouth, and the steak was so tender that you could cut it easily with a butter knife..." (tribalalien, Citysearch user)

"Bar none, the best tasting steak with a phenomenal wine list!" (pcduff, Citysearch user)

"Appetizers are fantastic, desserts are "to die for" and service was first-rate!" (dfaccas, Citysearch user)

Low Marks
"
The 3rd floor was really stuffy and humid for a nice restaurant like this."(gourmetseeker, Citysearch user)

"...there was no place to wait, they need to at least add some type of lounge..." (lofford, Citysearch user)

"It's a bit small, and crowded and reservations for a weekend tend to be tough to obtain." (jlanza29, Citysearch user)

Key Points

  • Award Winning Wine List
  • Private Dining Room Available
  • Elegant Piano Bar

The Inside Scoop

  1. When to Go - From 5pm to 11pm weeknights and 6pm to 11pm weekends, a piano man plays and sings for your pleasure.
  2. Know Before You Go - The restaurant's dress code is business casual: no T-shirts, baseball caps or short shorts.
  3. What to Drink - The award-winning wine list features 550 selections from around the world, with a focus on Bordeaux and California varietals.
  4. The Extras - The Chop House offers a dozen cigars ($8-$20), but you'll have to sit at the main bar downstairs to smoke.

Reviews for Chicago Chop House

Ratings_icons food

amanda a. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 7,274

The food here is really good. the environment here is really nice. it has a very clubbing environment. the crowd is nice. prices are good. i recommend this place.

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Ratings_icons Best Filet Mignon!

Emily L. | insider_expert Insider Expert | Rank: 3,812

This is hands down the best Steakhouse in Chicago! The Filet Mignon was amazing! It was so tender and juicy! The ambiance was also amazing! There were pictures on the walls of its history and it is a perfect place for any occasion! I highly recommend Chicago Chop House!

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Ratings_icons Excellent!

Ashley B.

I went to Chicago Chop House for my anniversary with my husband and it was wonderful. I had the steak and lobster combination, which was to die for. The atmosphere was really nice and we even saw Francis Ford Coppola there drinking his own wine! The service was great. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

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Ratings_icons Steak Melt!

H. R. | top100 Top100 | Rank: 78

One of the best Steaks I have had in Chicago. It melted in your mouth from the beginning to the end. This is a very classy restaurant with good service. The decor is a piece of Art! They are kind of expensive for the entire family, you are looking to spend around spend 30-50 dollars per meal for the steak. If this is does not to expensive for you, then you should check them out!

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Latest reviews from Citysearch.

Ratings_icons Not Worth It

noles2009

Went there last night with some friends from out of town, The waitress was very rude and overbearing. There were ten of us and the following occured:
3 steaks ordered with crab meat and bernaise sauce arrive with cold crab and sauce. When we asked for them to be heated we were tiold that the sauce is supposed to be cold. When we still asked for them to be heated we were acutally told by our waitress, Blanch, that heating them would ruin the sauce. Not accepting this as an answer we finally made her take them back to be reheated. When they arrived we had no idea whose steak was whose.
1 steak was totally overdone and when we complaned the waitress, Blanch, actually had the nerve to tell us that it was not overdone. This must occur often because she actually had a flahlight to check the steak.
The other steaks were not very hot when they arrived either but those 4 were ok to eat.
I would NEVER recommend this place to anyone. Not with all of the other quality steak houses in town.

Pros: None

Cons: Bad Service, Poor Food

Ratings_icons Best Steak of my Life!!!!

trvlaround

I was in Chicago last week and was sent to the Chicago chophouse based on a recommoendation from the concierge at my hotel. What a treat! I had a bone-in strip that added 2 inches to my waistline after I was through. Hands down it was the best steak I've ever eaten! The server was very knowledgable and attentive and I never once had to ask for anything. The restaurant was filled with great pictures of Chicago and people who have made their mark on the city. I could have spent hours just looking at all of the stuff on the walls. This place is a must do for anyone who loves steak!

Pros: Food/ Piano Bar/ Service

Ratings_icons Rude service, poor quality food, indifferent management.........

chicagosuburbs

Rude service, Over cooked food, poor management??..We paid $160. for two people which included tax but no tip, I didn?t leave one. For $160 you get 2 glasses of wine,( the cheapest on the menu are $12 a piece), two appetizers, two entrees , which come with a baked potato only and two deserts. I have no problem paying premium prices. However, at these prices you can eat just about anywhere in Chicago.
Upon our arrival we were informed there is no piano bar, the pianist was?sick?. There was no music in the restaurant at all. Overall the space feels loud and very cramped.
When my appetizer of Oysters Rockafeller came it had obviously been under the heat lamps for a good 45 minutes. The oysters were tough and the spinach dried out without any sauce. After about 20 minutes the waiter appeared to ask us about the meal I mentioned the problem. There were no apologies, no ?I will remove it from your bill ?, or explanations, just a lecture that I should have sent it back. We rarely saw him the rest of the meal. When my entree came, there was the same problem with the potato, very dried out. When we left I mentioned my concerns to the management. Again, he just listen then showed me the door, he made no comment what so ever.
Please don?t make the same mistake we did, choose a newer place that doesn?t feed off the tourist business. I have lived in Chicago for over 30 years and this is probably the worst meal I?ve ever experienced.

Cons: Overpriced attitude, poor management

Ratings_icons 100% Prime Steaks! Kobe too!

jd162

I had a chance to dine at the Chicago Chop House upon a recomendation from a friend. Located in the River North area on Ontario.It was really easy to find the victorian style, former townhome. The place was steeped in Chicago History. But atmosphere aside, I wanted to go there because I heard they had some of the best steaks in Chicago, a city known for it's steakhouses. On the regular menu the Chop House boasts 100% Prime Wet Aged Steaks. I know a lot of places say they have prime steaks or have it most of the time but, this place has prime all the time. While the steaks on the menu all seemed fantastic, I actually ended up getting one of the steaks the Chef was featuring that evening. It was huge bone-in American Kobe Ribeye! This was seriously the most flavorful steak I think I've ever had. I was really excited by the fact that they had Kobe in the first place and a few dry-aged selections. These options just aren't available everywhere. They also had a Kobe filet but, I wanted something with great flavor. The waiter was extremely helpful in pairing our meal with a great wine from their expansive list. If you're looking for unique steaks and amazing wine, this is the place to go.

Pros: Great Steak, Great Wine Great Service, Valet, Location

Ratings_icons JUICY TENDER STEAKS!

LTnTK

The 24 oz. ribeye rubbed in the cajun rub was great!! I ordered it well done, and to my surprise it was not over cooked and was still juicy and tender. The meals are ala carte so that makes them a little more expensive, but over all it was a good place to eat. Also, the setting gave you the Chicago old town feeling and was very nice. In addition to all of that, the service was also Excellent! However, I do recommend adding a sauce, such as the cajun rub, because the seasoning may be light to the tasting.

Pros: GOOD STEAK

Cons: PARKING, ALA CARTE

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