Business diners chow on casual American fare in a lovely rink-side setting at Millennium Park.
Classic American Cuisine
Kid's Menu
Online Reservations
Located in the heart of Chicago's world famous Millennium Park, Park Grill is the city?s ultimate room with a view.
Led by Executive Chef Bernie Laskowski, Park Grill features Classic American cuisine with an emphasis on local and seasonal ingredients. Park Grill also offers an extensive children?s menu, perfect for family meals and celebrations.
During the summer, Park Grill offers the city?s largest alfresco dining venue?The Plaza at Park Grill?with your favorite grilled foods and live music every Thursday. During the winter months, Park Grill offers the perfect spot to warm up after ice skating at The McCormick Tribune Ice Rink.
Call (312) 521-PARK today!
The Scene Looking out onto Millennium Park's skating rink and Michigan Avenue beyond, this room boasts great views and a welcoming atmosphere. Light floods in through front windows in the dining room, where ladies who lunch rub elbows with a corporate crowd at close tables and cozy booths. Fast, friendly servers keep things flowing.
The Food Fresh olive tapenade and warm, crusty bread start out meals on a high note, and Chef Bernie Laskowski (Bin 36) serves up contemporary classics like earthy, dark, French onion soup, zesty chili-spiced baby backs, and simple penne pasta with juicy stewed tomatoes. Burger fans will be in heaven: Not only is the thick sirloin patty perfectly cooked, it's nestled on a toasted sesame- and poppy seed-flecked bun and served with a big pile of skin-on fries dotted with parsley. For dessert, decide between warm, dreamy banana bread pudding and all-American miniature apple pie.
We visited the park cafe instead of the grilll. Most people standing in line were buying ice cream and that is what we bought as well.
There are not many varieties to choose from but very good and rich ice cream. I opted for one scoop on a waffle cone since you get more for your money.
It is in an incredible location, Millenium Park. So you can purchase your good and have a nice seat in or walk through the park!
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For the prices you are paying I would expect better2
My friend and I went to lunch here to catch up and relax. We heard it was a little upscale and we were prepared to enjoy it. We ordered a pizza as an appetizer and burgers for our main course. Then they both arrive right on top of one another - that is annoying. Then each topping on the burger costs $1.50 - I would prefer to just know I am overpaying for a burger and not get nickeled and dimed because I want more than lettuce and raw onions on it. Then towards the end the bussers got super rabid about taking away all the plates. I am the type of person to clean my plate and it is annoying to have someone put their hand on your plate and then look at you like - are you going to eat that last bite? Each of us had two beers, an appetizer and a burger and it came out to $35 a piece with tip. The food alone definitely did not justify that price tag for lunch and the service sealed the deal. I would not go back there again - in my opinion it is for suckers.
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Food is pretty average here, and too expensive for what you get. We ate in the outside area, called Park Grill on the Plaza, and the drinks are served in plastic cups, and the food in those annoying plastic trays that are really annoying to eat out of because the sides are too high. And then the paper underneath gets soggy and starts mixing with the food. Knife and fork is plastic too. How cheap can you get? The chips weren't even home made, but the Kettle brand, which is really the only choice (other than cole slaw) since they don't serve fries.
To really rub it in, we had an automatic 18% gratuity added even though we were only 4 people eating. When we enquired about it, they promptly took it off, but it seemed like they were just hoping people wouldn't notice or bother complaining about it.
PROS: Food's not bad
CONS: Shady looking waiters wearing sunglasses while they add their own gratuity
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Outstanding meal and service; pleasant outdoor experience too5
I have visited Millenium Park with family as well as business associates and have enjoyed several meals in both the inside Park Grill Restaurant and outdoor Park Cafe. The service and food have always been excellent and the menu choices are interesting and varied. It is great for business lunch or dinner and the people watching is great as they ice skate or just enjoy the ambiance of the park atmosphere. I highly recommend it.
PROS: Great food, service and atmosphere; Private room available.
CONS: Lower level parking costly but there are alternatives on the street.
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Latest reviews by Citysearch:
(read all 11 reviews
on Citysearch)
Park Cafe was outstanding!
By maryjatkinson
I ate here with friends during a visit to Chicago, and we chose to eat outside at the more casual "Park Cafe" (the outdoor portion of Park Grill, where the ice skating rink is during winter). The food and cocktails were excellent, and although it started to rain during our lunch, the service was also friendly, efficient, and helpful. They pulled the umbrellas over our table to ensure we wouldn't get wet, and made sure we got our food quickly since we were off to see "Jersey Boys" soon after. Try the mini burgers, fish tacos, or scallops, and the pear martini -- all GREAT!
Pros: Great view of the city (and the "bean"!), great food, and service! Cons: N/A
Posted 07/26/08
Best Burger in Chicago!!!!
By bertdvm
I think that they serve one of the best burgers in the world!
It was absolutely fabulous!
I very highly recommend this burger ... with cheese of course!
Pros: Cheeseburgers!!!! Cons: very noisy, service could be improved
Posted 02/25/08
Solid upscale casual
By fitz_skeets
Excellent burgers, great salads, decent wine list for an upscale casual restaurant. Opted for the cheese plate over a sweet dessert - very good. Wished more local product were evident. Would go there again - love the park location.
Pros: service
Posted 02/10/08
Great atmosphere
By neskwik
After researching many places in Chicago, I took my wife to the Park Grill. It was a Saturday evening and the restaurant was not full so we were seated right away. The atmosphere was awesome! The music not too loud and the temperature very comfortable. Our waitress was very attending and made excellent recommendations. We ordered the farmer's cheese platter as an appetizer. If you are a cheese lover, they are excellent. My wife ordered the ricotta ravioli because she wanted a light meal and I ordered the braised beef cheek with mushroom risotto. Both were excellent and well prepared. For dessert, I ordered the peanut butter tart and my wife ordered the cranberry tart. My wife did not really enjoy her dessert and the waitress was kind enough not to charge us for the dessert.
Overall, I really liked the environment, the food was well prepared and I felt very well attended by the staff.
Posted 02/10/08
Great Patio Dining
By sugarywitch
I've been to the park grill for lunch a number of times now. The service can range from just ok to quite bad, with some servers bordering on snooty and others being reasonably gracious but just not totally competent. They are almost always busy as well, so catching someone's attention is difficult, and the waiters are not very good about stopping by to inquire about needs. Understandably this is also a huge tourist draw which might be the reason the service is sometimes not great, I've noticed that mentioning you're a local is pretty helpful. That said, while the food isn't super creative it is usually well prepared and fresh. If you want to sit outside and watch the crowds in Millennium Park while enjoying a nice salad or burger (which they have so far managed never to overcook!) and glass of wine this is the place for you. Also if they have them, try the squash blossoms which were served with a very nice goat cheese sauce. If you don't have reservations and want outdoor seating show up a little early because the tables are in high demand.
Pros: Great Patio Dining during the summer Cons: Lazy service and Tourists abound
