We’ve been coming here for years. Over the past 5 years, food quality has declined; quantity is half of what most dishes once were, and prices have skyrocketed. Our calamari dish came out cold and so so small, crab/avacado salad ridiculously small, burger was lacking, french fries appeared to be fried in old grease , Ceasar salad again small.
This once was one of our favorite places to dine……. Not anymore. I’d pass on this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Mary Ann Grovak
Never disappoints! Filled with fun, style and a fantastic vibe of happiness!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Calamari \u0026 Rock Shrimp, Herb Breaded Veal Chop
Nancy Cavazos
I loved RL! The place to see and to be seen!
You have to make a reservation, otherwise the wait line could get quite long. We walked-in and requested a reservation for the following day, and we got it.
The service was excellent! The couple of food items are ordered were very tasty, the crab cake was devine!!!
My favourite part of my visit to RL, was the atmosphere and the awesome service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake
Julie Volkmann
Such a great visit- from the host to the servers! And the food was spectacular, we’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Derek Smith
RL Restaurant delivered exceptional hospitality from the moment we walked in. We arrived without a reservation—completely our mistake—and were told there was a four-hour wait for a table for two. We let the host know we were simply hoping to grab drinks and didn’t want to be a bother.
That’s when Dennis stepped in and made our night. Without hesitation, he smiled and said, “For drinks, I have the perfect table for you.” Even with a 40-minute time limit, he seated us right away, and we were absolutely over the moon.
Dennis’s warmth and professionalism turned what could have been a quick stop into a memorable experience. This is hospitality done right. We couldn’t have been happier and will absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
jim powell
Great food. Clubby room. Outstanding service (Spencer). Well below acceptable greeting and treatment from host stand. Nit welcoming and not helpful. Do better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer Winthurst
Its so cute and cozy! There is not a lot of tables or room in the restaurant. I would say super large parties need to check ahead of time, and in my opinion this is not a place for children. They do have signs on the table that say you can have the table up to 45 min. I went during Christmas time and the decorations were so festive. I got the gingerbread oat milk latte it was so good. They also offer Splenda.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
Josephine
We had the most lovely lunch! Jaafar was our server. Charlie was his assistant. We had an outstanding experience! The service was top notch, the ambiance was perfection and the food was absolutely delicious. A big thank you to both Jaafar and Charlie for all they did to make our time at RL so wonderful! We can not wait to come back to RL!
Sara
RL Restaurant will forever be one of my favorite Chicago memories, and honestly, one of my favorite meals anywhere. A couple of years ago, while I was at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, my husband slipped away and had dinner at RL on his own. It was June, warm outside, and he still chose to sit by the fireplace — because RL has that kind of charm. The staff made him feel completely at home, and he told me right then that the next time we were in Chicago, we had to go together. This trip, we finally did. And it was perfect. When we arrived, the staff not only remembered him, they let us have the very same table. It felt special before we even ordered a drink. We started with a glass of rosé bubbly, watching the room glow in that Ralph Lauren way — rich woods, soft light, understated glamour, the whole space humming in a way that makes you want to linger. And then the raw seafood tower arrived. Absolutely epic. The way they composed the crab salad was divine — light, bright, luxurious — the kind of dish you immediately start scheming to recreate for your own dinner parties. And because we were in full raw bar mode, we followed it with oysters after oysters after oysters. Each one pristine, perfectly chilled, and impossibly fresh. The martinis were exceptional — balanced, cold, crisp — the kind that encourage long, meandering conversation. And that's exactly what we did. For hours. Just sitting by the fire, sipping, laughing, and indulging in one of the best evenings of our trip. RL has that rare combination of impeccable service, timeless atmosphere, and food that feels both classic and indulgent. We left already planning our next visit. And we will definitely be back.
Lauren
This restaurant is amazing. The atmosphere is next level. The food amazing. The staff and the service...all top notch. The whole place is a vibe. We ate next to a fire and watch the Christmas tree being set up across the street. LAR
So elegant. Representation was on point. The store was attached—-3 floors. The set up immaculate. Leather seating.... Just SPECTACULAR. Definitely a sports club vibe with a hint of excellence
Tim
Es war ein großartiges Mittagessen! Toller Service, klasse Essen und sehr angenehmes Ambiente
mehran
i love the restaurant normally but this time felt mediocre. The shrimp cocktail was Whole Foods quality at best. The steak overcooked. and no more bread baskets which is a shame. I'd rather then bring it and pay for it than give some cheap bread for free. Lobster bisque was good. Coconut cake a delight as always. Bill of about 250 no drinks a bit too much. Should have just ordered the burger which still looks good. Service good. People including the host and hostess real nice. will still go back.
Patrick
Excellent meal all around. Pigs in a blanket and shrimp cocktail to start, followed by the dover sole and lake perch. The diver sole was light but perfectly prepared, and Meyer lemon sauce was both flavorful and complimentary. The lake perch was surprisingly light. Ricardo's service was top notch. He was attentive, personable and entertaining.
Brigette
I loved everything about this place .. Superb 😍.. definitely will return when I'm in Chicago again
We’ve been coming here for years. Over the past 5 years, food quality has declined; quantity is half of what most dishes once were, and prices have skyrocketed. Our calamari dish came out cold and so so small, crab/avacado salad ridiculously small, burger was lacking, french fries appeared to be fried in old grease , Ceasar salad again small.
This once was one of our favorite places to dine……. Not anymore. I’d pass on this restaurant.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 3
Never disappoints! Filled with fun, style and a fantastic vibe of happiness!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crispy Calamari \u0026 Rock Shrimp, Herb Breaded Veal Chop
I loved RL! The place to see and to be seen!
You have to make a reservation, otherwise the wait line could get quite long. We walked-in and requested a reservation for the following day, and we got it.
The service was excellent! The couple of food items are ordered were very tasty, the crab cake was devine!!!
My favourite part of my visit to RL, was the atmosphere and the awesome service!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Crab Cake
Such a great visit- from the host to the servers! And the food was spectacular, we’ll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
RL Restaurant delivered exceptional hospitality from the moment we walked in. We arrived without a reservation—completely our mistake—and were told there was a four-hour wait for a table for two. We let the host know we were simply hoping to grab drinks and didn’t want to be a bother.
That’s when Dennis stepped in and made our night. Without hesitation, he smiled and said, “For drinks, I have the perfect table for you.” Even with a 40-minute time limit, he seated us right away, and we were absolutely over the moon.
Dennis’s warmth and professionalism turned what could have been a quick stop into a memorable experience. This is hospitality done right. We couldn’t have been happier and will absolutely be back.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food. Clubby room. Outstanding service (Spencer). Well below acceptable greeting and treatment from host stand. Nit welcoming and not helpful. Do better.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Its so cute and cozy! There is not a lot of tables or room in the restaurant. I would say super large parties need to check ahead of time, and in my opinion this is not a place for children. They do have signs on the table that say you can have the table up to 45 min. I went during Christmas time and the decorations were so festive. I got the gingerbread oat milk latte it was so good. They also offer Splenda.
Atmosphere: 5
Service: 5
We had the most lovely lunch! Jaafar was our server. Charlie was his assistant. We had an outstanding experience! The service was top notch, the ambiance was perfection and the food was absolutely delicious. A big thank you to both Jaafar and Charlie for all they did to make our time at RL so wonderful! We can not wait to come back to RL!
RL Restaurant will forever be one of my favorite Chicago memories, and honestly, one of my favorite meals anywhere. A couple of years ago, while I was at the Taylor Swift Eras Tour, my husband slipped away and had dinner at RL on his own. It was June, warm outside, and he still chose to sit by the fireplace — because RL has that kind of charm. The staff made him feel completely at home, and he told me right then that the next time we were in Chicago, we had to go together. This trip, we finally did. And it was perfect. When we arrived, the staff not only remembered him, they let us have the very same table. It felt special before we even ordered a drink. We started with a glass of rosé bubbly, watching the room glow in that Ralph Lauren way — rich woods, soft light, understated glamour, the whole space humming in a way that makes you want to linger. And then the raw seafood tower arrived. Absolutely epic. The way they composed the crab salad was divine — light, bright, luxurious — the kind of dish you immediately start scheming to recreate for your own dinner parties. And because we were in full raw bar mode, we followed it with oysters after oysters after oysters. Each one pristine, perfectly chilled, and impossibly fresh. The martinis were exceptional — balanced, cold, crisp — the kind that encourage long, meandering conversation. And that's exactly what we did. For hours. Just sitting by the fire, sipping, laughing, and indulging in one of the best evenings of our trip. RL has that rare combination of impeccable service, timeless atmosphere, and food that feels both classic and indulgent. We left already planning our next visit. And we will definitely be back.
This restaurant is amazing. The atmosphere is next level. The food amazing. The staff and the service...all top notch. The whole place is a vibe. We ate next to a fire and watch the Christmas tree being set up across the street. LAR
Restaurantji Recommends
So elegant. Representation was on point. The store was attached—-3 floors. The set up immaculate. Leather seating.... Just SPECTACULAR. Definitely a sports club vibe with a hint of excellence
Es war ein großartiges Mittagessen! Toller Service, klasse Essen und sehr angenehmes Ambiente
i love the restaurant normally but this time felt mediocre. The shrimp cocktail was Whole Foods quality at best. The steak overcooked. and no more bread baskets which is a shame. I'd rather then bring it and pay for it than give some cheap bread for free. Lobster bisque was good. Coconut cake a delight as always. Bill of about 250 no drinks a bit too much. Should have just ordered the burger which still looks good. Service good. People including the host and hostess real nice. will still go back.
Excellent meal all around. Pigs in a blanket and shrimp cocktail to start, followed by the dover sole and lake perch. The diver sole was light but perfectly prepared, and Meyer lemon sauce was both flavorful and complimentary. The lake perch was surprisingly light. Ricardo's service was top notch. He was attentive, personable and entertaining.
I loved everything about this place .. Superb 😍.. definitely will return when I'm in Chicago again
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