The Cherry Circle Room at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel offers a quality breakfast experience in a unique atmosphere with distinctive ceiling lighting (very James Turrell-esque). While the pricing is somewhat premium, the straightforward yet satisfying food and good coffee make it a worthwhile morning option if you're staying at or near the hotel.
The Van Doozer breakfast was well-executed and enjoyable. Nothing overly fancy, but a solid, satisfying breakfast option that delivers what you'd expect. Though slightly on the pricier side, the quality justifies a return visit for the reliable morning start.
The coffee served was good quality, hitting that perfect breakfast companion note without being exceptional. It gave me my necessary morning boost.
What truly sets this space apart is the stunning James Turell-esque lighting on the ceiling, creating a distinctive and memorable atmosphere that goes above and beyond just another hotel breakfast spot.
One important note for first-time visitors; the main entrance can be tricky to locate, as it's accessed through the Game Room and positioned at the very back. If you're not looking carefully, it's easy to miss, so keep an eye out when navigating to the restaurant.
If you visit the Cherry Circle Room for breakfast, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Bijan Pounaki
Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype
I visited Cherry Circle Room last night expecting an upscale dining experience, but unfortunately, it fell far short. While the ambiance and focaccia appetizer were nice, everything else—especially the service and main courses—was a major letdown.
Our server, Francisco, seemed disinterested from the start. He repeatedly took our wine bottle away from the table, forcing us to rely on him for refills instead of simply leaving it with us. When he asked how the meal was, I was honest and said it was "just okay." His response? A shrug and walking away—no acknowledgment, no effort to address the issues, nothing.
The food itself was wildly inconsistent. The steak special was one of the worst steaks I’ve had in a long time—tough, lukewarm, and oddly seasoned. The mushroom side dish was completely cold, making the texture unappetizing. The mashed potatoes were decent, but not enough to redeem the meal. Given the high prices, I expected far better execution.
On top of that, the service overall was sloppy. I noticed servers casually placing dirty wine glasses and bills on the tops of booths in the center of the restaurant—something you wouldn’t expect at a place that markets itself as refined.
For the price, this restaurant is absolutely not worth it for dinner. Perhaps it would be okay for drinks and an appetizer, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a full meal. I’d give the restaurant a 2-star rating overall, with a 1-star rating for the service.
Save your money and dine elsewhere—there are far better options in Chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Enkhtuul Tsogtbaatar
Found a fish bone in their Lamb Sugo Fettucini and their food menu was incredibly limited. They attempted to process my payments twice - one of them was successful, yet they called me, claiming my card was declined. I called AmEx and confirmed that the payment was successful. Never going back to this place!!!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Eaton Twotts
Overrated, overpriced, hipster trash. Strong drinks though. Chicago has about 200 better restaurants to spend $400+ on a dinner for two. Service was polite, but painfully slow.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
Patrick Ozner
To spend so much money on dinner and sit on booths like this is unacceptable. Service was slow and uninterested. Food was just ok.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
Cameron
I made reservations for what I thought was Sunday brunch (at 10:45am). When we arrived, we were informed they no longer serve brunch, were closing in 15 minutes, so we needed to order right away. The website has the wrong hours and menus, indicating they do still serve brunch, so beware.
The food was fine, and the room remains nice. But I have never experienced anything like the service, especially at that price point, where they were blatantly rushing us. They dropped the check while we were still eating and before we'd even been there 40 minutes, wouldn't make a Shirley Temple for my kid because there was no bartender, tried to clear plates while we were still eating, and when I ordered a second coffee, gave it to me in a paper to-go cup. I don't really blame the servers, though they definitely were less than hospitable or professional. but why does the restaurant take reservations right before they close and then rush people so unpleasantly?
When it first opened, the Cherry Circle Room had a bit of buzz as a destination for locals. Now it's definitely just a tired hotel restaurant, where it feels like the only customers are hotel guests are there out of convenience. Should have realized when it was possible to get a reservation right before Christmas on a Sunday at 10:45, when every decent restaurant around was fully booked. Never again!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Gaia Palliere
Sincerely questioning the overall rating this place has. We came for a group dinner and the waiter, although super kind, had very little understanding of the drinks menu.
Fine, but after my partner had a martini served in a broken glass and our ‘roasted’ carrot salad come completely raw,,,, we knew this was not the resto for us. The burger with gluten free bread was just random white bread— the bottom slice completely soaked
Also the sommelier kindly recommended a wine by glass after talking down on the place we’re dropping a cheqqque at
All in all, overrated. It would’ve been better simply a nice bar
Edward J. Eberwine III
Post covid / all downhill… Used to be my go-to in town b4 theater / business dinners, bdays, but just a disaster since covid. Service is lacking, inattentive, rude, they just dont know and they dont care. These are not professionals. 3rd bad experience, and never again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Andrew Brown
Kitchen slow. Food expensive. Food over-thought. Staff not well trained. We won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Natallia Basava
Never can see anything you eat it's so dark in there. One of the host person was beyond rude. Natallia on the other end made is feel very welcomed as well as our server (sorry don't remember the name)
Atmosphere was amazing and great service. The breakfast was ordinary at best. Had better at half the price. Sausage was a flat party, bacon was lacking. Granted, I am picky when it comes to breakfast
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
Donovan Beeson
A personal favorite, but things were a bit rundown seeming the last time I visited. The upholstery on the booths really needs repair.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
Thomas Braden Mabry
This place is a must in Chicago. The hotel, game room and all are very cool. The vibes are dark, lounge, chill. The food is upscale. The staff are friendly and attentive.
Get the mashed potatoes yoshi style.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jonathan Wong
Totally love this somewhat hidden gem in Chicago. We have been here multiple times, but it had been a couple years since our last trip. The team here was great and the service phenomenal- our waiter Hunter and the Som led us to some new great wines. My wife loves her steak well done, and when she says well, I mean that 99.9 percent of the population would complain it was burnt. The chef actually managed to get it to perfection and now she expects me to grill her steak to this level which will take a miracle to replicate. Thank you all and we look forward to dining with you all again!
Dietary restrictions: They do a wonderful job of checking both dietary preferences and allergies, to the point that they impressed a medical provider on their allergy checks.
The Cherry Circle Room at the Chicago Athletic Association hotel offers a quality breakfast experience in a unique atmosphere with distinctive ceiling lighting (very James Turrell-esque). While the pricing is somewhat premium, the straightforward yet satisfying food and good coffee make it a worthwhile morning option if you're staying at or near the hotel.
The Van Doozer breakfast was well-executed and enjoyable. Nothing overly fancy, but a solid, satisfying breakfast option that delivers what you'd expect. Though slightly on the pricier side, the quality justifies a return visit for the reliable morning start.
The coffee served was good quality, hitting that perfect breakfast companion note without being exceptional. It gave me my necessary morning boost.
What truly sets this space apart is the stunning James Turell-esque lighting on the ceiling, creating a distinctive and memorable atmosphere that goes above and beyond just another hotel breakfast spot.
One important note for first-time visitors; the main entrance can be tricky to locate, as it's accessed through the Game Room and positioned at the very back. If you're not looking carefully, it's easy to miss, so keep an eye out when navigating to the restaurant.
If you visit the Cherry Circle Room for breakfast, I hope you enjoy it as much as I did!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Disappointing Experience – Not Worth the Hype
I visited Cherry Circle Room last night expecting an upscale dining experience, but unfortunately, it fell far short. While the ambiance and focaccia appetizer were nice, everything else—especially the service and main courses—was a major letdown.
Our server, Francisco, seemed disinterested from the start. He repeatedly took our wine bottle away from the table, forcing us to rely on him for refills instead of simply leaving it with us. When he asked how the meal was, I was honest and said it was "just okay." His response? A shrug and walking away—no acknowledgment, no effort to address the issues, nothing.
The food itself was wildly inconsistent. The steak special was one of the worst steaks I’ve had in a long time—tough, lukewarm, and oddly seasoned. The mushroom side dish was completely cold, making the texture unappetizing. The mashed potatoes were decent, but not enough to redeem the meal. Given the high prices, I expected far better execution.
On top of that, the service overall was sloppy. I noticed servers casually placing dirty wine glasses and bills on the tops of booths in the center of the restaurant—something you wouldn’t expect at a place that markets itself as refined.
For the price, this restaurant is absolutely not worth it for dinner. Perhaps it would be okay for drinks and an appetizer, but I wouldn’t recommend it for a full meal. I’d give the restaurant a 2-star rating overall, with a 1-star rating for the service.
Save your money and dine elsewhere—there are far better options in Chicago.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 1
Found a fish bone in their Lamb Sugo Fettucini and their food menu was incredibly limited. They attempted to process my payments twice - one of them was successful, yet they called me, claiming my card was declined. I called AmEx and confirmed that the payment was successful. Never going back to this place!!!!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 3
Overrated, overpriced, hipster trash. Strong drinks though. Chicago has about 200 better restaurants to spend $400+ on a dinner for two. Service was polite, but painfully slow.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 3
To spend so much money on dinner and sit on booths like this is unacceptable. Service was slow and uninterested. Food was just ok.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 2
Service: 1
I made reservations for what I thought was Sunday brunch (at 10:45am). When we arrived, we were informed they no longer serve brunch, were closing in 15 minutes, so we needed to order right away. The website has the wrong hours and menus, indicating they do still serve brunch, so beware.
The food was fine, and the room remains nice. But I have never experienced anything like the service, especially at that price point, where they were blatantly rushing us. They dropped the check while we were still eating and before we'd even been there 40 minutes, wouldn't make a Shirley Temple for my kid because there was no bartender, tried to clear plates while we were still eating, and when I ordered a second coffee, gave it to me in a paper to-go cup. I don't really blame the servers, though they definitely were less than hospitable or professional. but why does the restaurant take reservations right before they close and then rush people so unpleasantly?
When it first opened, the Cherry Circle Room had a bit of buzz as a destination for locals. Now it's definitely just a tired hotel restaurant, where it feels like the only customers are hotel guests are there out of convenience. Should have realized when it was possible to get a reservation right before Christmas on a Sunday at 10:45, when every decent restaurant around was fully booked. Never again!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 3
Service: 2
Sincerely questioning the overall rating this place has. We came for a group dinner and the waiter, although super kind, had very little understanding of the drinks menu.
Fine, but after my partner had a martini served in a broken glass and our ‘roasted’ carrot salad come completely raw,,,, we knew this was not the resto for us. The burger with gluten free bread was just random white bread— the bottom slice completely soaked
Also the sommelier kindly recommended a wine by glass after talking down on the place we’re dropping a cheqqque at
All in all, overrated. It would’ve been better simply a nice bar
Post covid / all downhill… Used to be my go-to in town b4 theater / business dinners, bdays, but just a disaster since covid. Service is lacking, inattentive, rude, they just dont know and they dont care. These are not professionals. 3rd bad experience, and never again.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Kitchen slow. Food expensive. Food over-thought. Staff not well trained. We won’t be back.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 2
Never can see anything you eat it's so dark in there. One of the host person was beyond rude.
Natallia on the other end made is feel very welcomed as well as our server (sorry don't remember the name)
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 3
Service: 4
Restaurantji Recommends
Atmosphere was amazing and great service. The breakfast was ordinary at best. Had better at half the price. Sausage was a flat party, bacon was lacking. Granted, I am picky when it comes to breakfast
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 4
A personal favorite, but things were a bit rundown seeming the last time I visited. The upholstery on the booths really needs repair.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 4
This place is a must in Chicago. The hotel, game room and all are very cool. The vibes are dark, lounge, chill. The food is upscale. The staff are friendly and attentive.
Get the mashed potatoes yoshi style.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Totally love this somewhat hidden gem in Chicago. We have been here multiple times, but it had been a couple years since our last trip. The team here was great and the service phenomenal- our waiter Hunter and the Som led us to some new great wines. My wife loves her steak well done, and when she says well, I mean that 99.9 percent of the population would complain it was burnt. The chef actually managed to get it to perfection and now she expects me to grill her steak to this level which will take a miracle to replicate. Thank you all and we look forward to dining with you all again!
Dietary restrictions: They do a wonderful job of checking both dietary preferences and allergies, to the point that they impressed a medical provider on their allergy checks.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Elegant and refined setting.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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