South Branch Tavern & Grille (The Loop - Chicago) Reviews

Ate here with 2 colleagues and food was average at best. Service was actually pretty fast. The artichoke dip was terrible. We considered sending that pile of crud back. My sandwich was quite strange, but not horrible. The fish tacos were eaten by a colleague were actually quite good. The wrap of my other colleague was inedible. Overall a mixed experience.

the bar is situated between two office buildings, there is a big long bar and after work it is very festive. the dinner menu is small, but the food was pleasantly excellent. great friendly service also.

Went here for a team lunch and was impressed. The food is delicous and moderately priced. This is also a busy spot after work so get there a bit before 5 if you want to grab drinks.

Lunch for four was quite reasonable. Right on the river with great view. Able to conduct business easily.

This restaurant is nice looking and in a nice location along the river. Food was okay, nothing special. Had the pulled pork sandwich along with the fried cheese curds as an appy. It was okay, again nothing exciting. Way overpriced for the quality of food. Service was good though. Very trendy looking place.

Had a business lunch there yesterday with an important client. Table in a good location in restaurant was ready right at our scheduled time, and waitress was there immediately to take a drink order. She quickly gave us the specials and let us take our time afterwards to discuss business before she returned. This is a very busy, popular place for lunch in the financial district in Chicago, so I was pleased that she was attentive, but not pushing us through our meal. We both ordered the grilled fish tacos and I was not disappointed at all with the meal. The three soft shell tacos were served hot and were spicy as described. They came with a simple side of chips and salsa and was plenty of food for lunch. Our waitress was perfect for a one hour lunch: attentive, not intrusive, kept our drinks filled without asking and brought the check and closed us out in a timely fashion. Atmosphere was lively and overall was a great dining experience.

We had a nice lunch here while visiting Chicago around the holidays. We hadn't looked it up or anything in advance, just kind of chose a place near where we were. I was very happy with my meal, which was a delicious and filling salad. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food. It maybe wasn't the best place for kids. They had kids' options but no official kids' menu. I think they both just got grilled cheese, and they were fine. The waitress was really nice, and the food and drinks all seemed to come pretty quick. The location was nice too and looks like it would be really great in the summer when you can sit out on the patio looking over the river. Pleasant experience overall.

Burgers are the best ever! Service was super friendly! LOVE!! We came with a peanut allergy child and the staff was super careful. We are only here for 3 days but we'll be back here for sure!!

We arrived around 4:30 on a Thursday afternoon and wanted to sit outside. it was a 45-minute wait. We opted for an inside table where we were seated immediately. The server was attentive in taking our drink and appetizer orders. We tried the buffalo chicken rolls. the flavor was great, but the texture was odd. I do NOT recommend this dish for this reason. They were extremely cheesy! There were three of us who ordered a variety of dishes. My friend had the cream of carrot soup. It was served piping hot (without warning) and my friend scalded her mouth. Whereas you expect hot soup, it was unexpected to have it THAT hot. The $15 glass of wine (a mid-priced one) was okay, but I've certainly had better - especially considering the cost. My daughter had pickled watermelon radishes with her entree. They were an 'odd' flavor that my friend at the table REALLY enjoyed! The restaurant was EXTREMELY loud with both TV and music, as well as people talking. By the time we left at 6:00, the place was jam packed full. We likely wouldn't go back, but it might be good for after dinner drinks. It is extremely close to Union Station.

We walked over for dinner on a Friday night (they close to the public on Sat & Sun, FYI, for private events) and had a great time! We were sat at a booth that overlooks the river, and enjoyed some drinks, an appetizer and dinner. The beer is great, just like at all Bottleneck Management locations. We had a buffalo chicken appetizer thing, which was yum. I had the South Branch Burger, which was so delicious. It's hard to beat a good burger. The ambiance was really nice and we could've easily hung out all night. The couple downfalls - it was LOUD. They do a large happy hour business, which is great. But if you're looking for a quiet meal, this isn't the place. The only other (tiny) complaint is that the service was a little disappointing. Our server was friendly enough, but the service was not excellent. If staying in the area, we would definitely go back. And once the weather is better, we will definitely hit it up for the patio!

Great location. Sat on the very large outdoor patio and really enjoyed the beautiful Chicago weather right on the river. Was great to see the Sea Gulls flying around while dining. The Bang Bang Shrimp appetizer was excellent and I enjoyed my bowl of chowder and Steak Santa Fe wrap as well - loved that I could get sweet potato fries with the wrap.

Great place for after work drinks or a quick social gathering before the Metra. If you can grab a table that is. Appetizers come in a good portion and highly recommend the buffalo rolls.

We needed a fairly quick place to eat close to the train station where we could relax and have great food and drinks. This was the place for sure. The waitress was amazing - had great recommendations and was very pleasant. We had appetizers and drinks, and a pan fried cookie, ice cream dessert. It was all just simply great. We all loved it.

The head chef at South Branch was conscientious and incredibly aware. He visited our table to ask if I'd prefer his first shot at my veggie burger, as it was a new recipe, or if I'd prefer to wait for a perfect one. I opted to wait and was delighted with my choice; the veggie burger was hands-down the best I've ever had! Great experience. I'll be back soon.

Met a friend here for happy hour on a Friday. The outdoor area was great! Lots of people socializing, the staff was attentive, and the drinks were good. Close to the financial district/area of Chicago, so lots of suits and ties. Was a good time!

Great atmosphere and food- god views of the river and buildings without the hyped up prices. We will go back

Short walk from Union station, and available paid parking close by if driving. Offers reasonably priced burgers, and quite a choice in drinks. Impossible burger available for those looking for meatless options. Outdoor seating under an umbrella next to the river on a beautiful sunny day was perfect. They also have ample indoor seating if that is your preference. Great service. This place is crazy busy @ lunch, but at 2 pm, great choice of seating, and no wait. They also take reservations.

it's a great place to go to for lunch and or happy hour! just need a rsvp. I love their buffalo egg rolls.

Visited South Branch today for a business lunch. Although I work in the same building, I had not gone before today. I have to say, the service and food were quite good. I was also impressed with the number of light, fresh options. I ordered the pan fried tilapia which came with lightly sauteed spinach and a generous portion of mashed potatoes. Everything was done very well. The light caper cream sauce that was drizzled over one side of the fish was tasty and added to the dish. My fellow diners had the salmon salad, a chicken salad, and fish tacos. Everyone enjoyed their meals. I will definitely return.

Stopped in for lunch while waiting for our train on a Friday as soon as they opened. We were surprised when they asked if we had reservations but it didn't take long to see why- they were packed within 25 minutes of opening! Our waitress Carly M. was very courteous and attentive. We didn't have to ask for anything! Do try the kale and artichoke dip- a welcome change from the ordinary spinach dip everyone makes. The salmon special and the tuna wrap were also excellent choices. We loved that the sweet pitato fries were neither greasy nor loaded with seasonong- thank you! The waitress also recommended the flourless chocolate cake which was sinfully good! Even the coffee was great! We had a great experience on an otherwise dreary day and look forward to our next trip already.

I went in with business folks. I was not happy with the service and it was so bad we all left the establishment. Don't waste your time or money.

We had lunch and it was very nice. The food was great and no issues with my special request to alter items in salad. It's a bit noisy so confidential conversation may be difficult. Also, it's in the back of the building (front is a bank) so had to ask guard to point us in the right direction.

I stopped here after a meeting with a couple of colleagues before we went to the airport. The stop was trendy (in a good way) and the views were amazing looking at the Chicago river. The service was good, not great, but wasn't too much of an issue as we were not in any hurry. If you are looking for a place if you're close by for a beer or a glass of wine (we didn't eat anything but the food did look good), I would recommend you stop by, if anything for a drink and a view of the river.

Tasty bang bang shrimp. Good wine choices. Had the fish taco. Not much fish in each but tasty and they give you three so it still was enough food. Very good service.

I was recently at a training session about a block away from South Branch and I never like cafeteria food so I decided to check this place out. The first day, I had a Spicy Chicken Rigatoni dish that was out of this world. My favorite dish there and quite possibly one of the best pasta dishes I've ever had. I liked this place so much, I went back to second day and had a Truffle Chicken Salad sandwich. Nice flavoring and a good portion. The third day, I wanted to try something different. There are a ton of food trucks around the corner from South Branch and I was going to give them a shot. The lines were so deep, I figured I would just go back to South Branch. I'm glad I did. I had the Grilled Mahi Mahi and it was very good. This place gets very, very busy each and every day (at least at lunch time). They have a bar area that is first come, first serve and if you want a table, either make a reservation or get there by 11:45am otherwise you will wait 30-45 minutes for a table. The bar area turns their table fairly fast but you can still end up with a 15 minute wait. This place is worth trying. I spent $20, $18, $24 each day. That is with a soda, tax and tip.

The view at lunch and the outdoor seating is great..Stops there. The waiter had a the personality of a pet rock. The food is frozen and undesireable they are obviously living off of location and not quality. I had the fish tacos and they were thrown together. My buddy had the fish tacos with Tilapia.. Which shows you the quality of the product. Tilapia!! I asked about the Halibut.. Frozen... go for drinks.

Fantastic decor; great outdoor bar; great view of the Chicago River/Loop - but that is it. The food is very poor. I ordered Chicken Waldorf Salad - a dried up piece of grilled chicken on top of spinach???? Do they even know what Waldorf salad is supposed to be? The chef should consider Google'ing the recipe. No worries - I had Chicken Tortilla soup .... can't mess that up! Wrong. How did they come up with a bland chicken tortilla soup? ....and they served it with Oyster Crackers on the side? They really should consider an investment in an executive chef (with some name recognition) .... it is a shame to waste such a nice location and view.

A former co-worker who had relocated back to Chicago suggested this restaurant, given its proximity to Union Station. We had a chance for an early dinner to catch up before I had to catch a train back home. It was Monday night, so there were business people congregated at the bar (our booth was adjacent to the bar). Since I was focused on our conversation, I didn't really notice whether the surrounding volume was loud or not. The patio area was packed, given that it was about 90 degrees that day. Perfect weather for sitting outside. We both had missed lunch, so we were very hungry. I ordered the Cobb salad. He had a salmon sandwich with tater tots. Once he heard that option, he opted for the tater tots instead of fries. He enjoyed his choice. My salad was fine. For dessert, I tried the ice cream sandwich. It was made with a cookie, so it was a little hard to cut.

They serve good food, not brilliant, but yes good. Staff is very friendly, helpfull, without being too pushy. Location is great, although crowded, and the Huge TV screens don't add value, only distract. But still a great place for a (rather noisy) dinner

Attended a conference happy hour at this location. The appetizers were quite good (burger and chicken sliders; sweet and spicy shrimp; guacamole and chips; veggies). The food did not come out as quickly as everyone expected at first, but there was sufficient food for all attendees. One problem with the separate room we were in (next to the wine cellar) was that the room was uncomfortably warm for the first hour or so. Some members were sweating and wiping their brows and others left early. However, the individual that made this event worthwhile was our server, Jen!! She took orders for well over 30 people in the span of a few hours and was quick, efficient and above all, friendly and attentive. Bri took over during the last hour and also did a fine job. This is a good place for a function gathering, but I recommend no more than 15 or so people assigned to this separate room given the confining space and air conditioning issue.

Came here by myself for dinner. The outdoor seating is quite nice. The food was decent, portions were great. My waitress was lovely, attentive but not rushing me as I was just trying to enjoy the evening with my meal and a book.

We were here today on business when the weather was perfect. The outdoor seating was really nice. The waitress was friendly and attentive but not overbearing. I had the baja fish tacos and they were great. The side for them was chips and salsa and those were really great as well. I had a Texan Mule to drink. It was a good drink but I should have paid more attention to the prices because the drink was $13! So the combo of the two went over my allotment for corporate expense per meal. That was on me. The view is GREAT. It's right on a river and at night there are a lot of lights and you can watch the boats go by. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because a mule with 1.5oz of alcohol should not be $13. If the drinks were a bit more reasonably priced I would take the group back tomorrow!

Great location on the river at the loop. The food is good! I had a fantastic hummus salad which was very fresh and tasty. Than I had an excellent yellow fin grilled tuna. All this served with good chilled Chardonnay from California. Nice food, nice place, service bit hasty and cold.

Came here with friends, one of whom is vegetarian. Lots of salad options (she also eats fish). I eat meat but really love the Wicked Garden sandwich. All 4 of us were happy with our meals, wine, and beer. It was crowded, and for a minute I thought it was going to be a see-and-be-seen place that would be snotty. I think there are definitely a few people there to see and be seen but not most. Once we were seated, we had a really nice waitress and good food and an overall good time. It's not cheap, but it's better than you can do for the price in most other downtown establishments.

Lively, fun place for drinks and/or dinner. Sat outside on a beautiful evening, which helped the overall impression. Both entrees were good. Mine was a special for the day only so the chef may have gotten creative. It was a little spicy for my taste so if you also are not the "spicy guy" you might want to ask the server.

The location is the real winner here...if the weather is good the patio is the place to sit at ...right along the river with great ambience! The food (lamb meatballs) was ok ...tasty but a bit cold ...would have expected better. The place is extremely crowded so can be difficult to enjoy a leisurely lunch !

I was there on Wednesday night for happy hour. While it seems to draw a steady, loyal, after-work crowd, I can't imagine why anyone would go there. I was with one friend who sat across from me and I had to shout at the top of my lungs the whole time to be heard. There was a lot of "what?" and "sorry I cant' hear you"...while trying to have a conversation. I literally had to yell at my loudest level to try to be heard...which just wore me out and was so annoying. The only places louder are dance clubs with music but at least there you don't have to talk. If you want to have a nice conversation with your friends, do not go here, you'll be screaming the whole time. There are plenty other places where you can talk to each other, this is not it. The only reason I gave it two stars and not zero is because the desserts are fabulous and the wait staff is friendly and attentive. But even that doesn't make it worth going back for. The acoustics in there are just SO BAD that it's the loudest restaurant I've ever been in. Stay away if you're wanting to have an enjoyable conversation.

There are only a handful of places on the river that I would recommend, and this is for certain one of them! I think the menu is wonderful, and everybody I've taken there agrees. The outside seating is large and always ridiculosly packed during the nice days (they added some extra seating along the river front this year). The beer menu is also pretty great...they always have some local microbrews which is great. I've never had any issues with the service...everybody is always incredibly friendly around when you need them. I had a company meeting there one day, and we were there from 9am until 5pm and they took care of us the entire day...I was rather impressed with the service throughout the day. I wouldn't have normally considered them for this type of event, but it worked out perfectly (it was a meeting of 8 people). No matter if you are there with friends or co-workers, stop by South Branch for some food or just a cocktail...you won't regret it!

I met a friend here for lunch, her recommendation. It was a beautiful day in Chicago and I was happy to see they had outside dining. We ate a later lunch, around 1:15, so there was not a wait to be seated. Our server was friendly and our food arrived quickly. The buffalo roll appetizer was delish. We each ordered a salad as a main entre. My salad was average, nothing bad about it. I would suggest this place as a great lunch stop if you're in the financial district or making your way to Union Station.

My friend booked us here yesterday for a quick lunch out of the office to catch up. The restaurant is very nice with a great view of the river. It also had a nice private room with a sliding glass door that I will recommend for my work to use at our next dinner meeting. I ordered the Ahi Tuna Wrap. It was good - but could have had more Tuna inside. The flavors were nice. It was a lot of food, especially considering the reasonable prices. With the side salad my large plate was full and I only managed to eat about half of it. I would come back, especially when its warmer and can sit riverside on the patio.

The menu is definitely good, but if you don't get there early you won't get a seat. Lunch is crowded but they have carry out. After work the bar is the main attraction and the place is always packed. If you want to sit and talk in a quiet bar, this is not the place.

We were in the area of the Willis Tower for sightseeing, and looking for dinner. We chose this place more or less by random on Google Maps. We were very happy with this choice. Food was fantastic. My adolescent son is hard to please, but he was very impressed with the pretzel bits appetizer. The sandwiches we ordered were good but our choices were not special. Dessert was a cookie skillet that was truly special. We'd be happy to return next time we visit!

We have been to South Branch a number of times, but will never go back after our most recent experience. We walked in on a weekday, mid-afternoon. Our intent was simply to have a beer before heading home. We sat at the bar for more than 5 minutes before someone came to serve us. The first thing he said (we didn’t even get a “hello”) was “we aren’t serving food at this bar; you have to go to the other one”. We replied that we didn’t want food, just a drink, and asked if we could get that where we were sitting. He nodded his head and walked away without another word. We looked at the taps, which were not more than 10 feet across from us, but couldn’t quite see them all. When the bartender finally appeared again – after several more minutes – we asked him to identify the couple we couldn’t see. His response was to shove a QR code at us and he said “look them up using this” – and he walked away again. At that point we had had enough, so we left. We went across the street to another establishment where we were greeted warmly and promptly, told what was available, and had a nice conversation with the bartender. I know things are tough in the restaurant business right now, and we certainly make allowances for that, but the rudeness of the bartender at South Branch was unacceptable.

Big..the place is big they have 2 bars w tv's and a lot of seating. I only had drinks after work & before a bulls game. The drinks were fine..they have a lot of beer, avg wine list/by the glass & interesting cocktails.

Come here often. If you can get outdoors, you are one lucky dog. Hold work events here and the staff is so accommodating. They will block off space for large/mid-size parties. Wonderful beer selection(Daisy Cutter) and Moscow Mules. Apps and fish tacos are great. Keep up the great work!

Great location...less than five min walk from Union Station. A big fan of the buffalo chicken wrap with sweet potato fries. They take reservations for lunch so it can be a risk for a spur-of-the moment lunch but usually you can get a bar seat and have lunch there.

Once I discovered I keep returning. I'll arrive early to make sure I secure a table for lunch for whoever I'm meeting. Outstanding food. Friendly hostess and wait staff. Worth battling the bit of crowd that surges in each afternoon.

Has a business lunch, 4 people. The food was presented well and everyone liked it. I had the lobster mac & cheese and it was good. We sat outside which was nice.

We had lunch outdoor at South Branch on a very nice, sunny day. The view from the restaurant was great. The tilapia was very tasty with the spinach & mashed potatoes. Food was delivered in a timely manner. Service was good, but not great. Would go back especially if outdoor seating is an option.

Casual but classy! View of the river. This is where I come for lunch after I land in Chicago. The chef does great things here. We had the Reuben and the shepherd's pie. WOW! Both were fabulous. They even managed to keep the bottom of the Reuben from getting soggy and that is a feat!

This is great spot for lunch in downtown chicago, especially if you'd like to eat outdoors! Their patio is huge and shaded, right along the river. The food come out quickly, and everyone in our party enjoyed their meals. We will be back!

I had a long wait between Amtrak trains and stumbled upon this gem of a restaurant. Excellent menu, good scenery, nice decor, excellent drink selection, attentive staff. A good place to hang out for an afternoon. I can not report any negatives other the expected downtown prices that come with restaurants in the area. It definitely beats the Union Station food court.

Great place to go to for drinks after work before hopping on the train home or for dinner with colleagues. Gluten Free options available upon request for beverages and food. It's not on the menu, but just ask the waiter/waitress. The staff I encountered so far have been knowledgeable. This place is usually pretty packed, but they do have a very open space for patrons. Service and food are always good (chicken cowboy salad, chopped salad, good sandwiches and burgers). Staff is attentive!

We stopped for dinner and while the restaurant wasn’t that full it was very loud. They had only 1/2 of the seating area open. That was pretty busy. Our food was good but not earth shattering.

This is a great location on the river. Nice menu too. But the staff is not friendly. We asked for a picture - rolled his eyes. Kinda expensive too.

South Branch was an excellent choice for our pre-opera dinner. Is about a block away. Easy to make reservations, prompt service, good food at reasonable prices. We tried 3 different chicken sandwiches and wraps. Mahi-mahi fish tacos were also very good. Great beer selection. Fairly good view of river. Would recommend and will visit again. Thank you for a great start to our evening!

I brought clients for lunch and everyone enjoyed their meal. We ordered bang bang shrimp, calamari, cheese curds and buffalo rolls for appetizers. Plenty to go around and tasty. The meals ranged from burgers to salads to wraps. I also had the clam chowder, which I recommend.

The Bang Bang Shrimp was really good. The pork belly special was decent. I think I prefer my pork belly crispier. In this case the fat wasn't crispy enough for me, so I didn't love it. The lunch atmosphere here is probably a little more high maintenance for the type/quality of the food I experienced. The reservation for my friend and I was originally for 11:15 a.m. via Open Table, but I was possibly going to be delayed. So my friend called the restaurant directly to advise that it may be closer to 11:30 a.m. when we arrived, and they agreed it was fine. I ended up arriving at 11:12 a.m. The hostess advised that I would need to wait until the party was complete, which was fine. My friend arrived at 11:16 a.m. Although the restaurant was virtually empty, the host advised that she would sit us closer to 11:30 a.m. because the 11:15 a.m.; 11:20 a.m.; and 11:25 a.m. reservations should be placed at tables prior to my party. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ At that point was asked for a manager and then the host promptly had us seated. A little too much drama for average food in the Chicago Loop.

This place is crazy busy after work with the young professional crowd! That being said, it's a great place to see and be seen! They have a great craft beer menu, the food was delicious and fresh (pro-tip: save your time and just get the fish tacos!), and the service was friendly and prompt-considering how busy it was! The atmosphere is chill and urban and if it was 1000 degrees when I was there, we likely would have sat outside. I didn't pay for the meal, so I'm not sure what the value is like, but it's downtown Chicago, budget accordingly! All in all, it's a great, hip place for an after-work cocktail, casual business dinner or even a date along the canal!

We frequent this location with co-workers. The outdoor patio in the summer is great and even though it is busy, the patio always has decent service. The drinks are good and the food is good to. I haven't had a full meal here so can't comment on that but I highly recommend it for group happy hours.

We had a wonderful meal next to the water in comfortable seating and a beautiful view. Both the restaurant and the view were really beautiful. The food was also good. The only down side: 1) it closes earlier than I'd imagine a restaurant/bar to close. The chairs were being stacked and kitchen closed as our meal wrapped up (reservations were at 7:45). 2) the menu was the same or almost the same as their sister restaurant, Sweet Water which we happened to have visited the day before. Overall, it was great and I'd go again. I also liked being able to reserve through OpenTable.com

Tasty selection of meal salads which my business partners and I enjoyed. Very good service, nice view. Great place for a business lunch!

Went here for a corporate dinner in the back room. The acoustics were awful and everyone had to yell. The table size is awful and way too wide, which limits conversations. Avocados delivered with the tuna were at the same time unripe and grainy old. The patio looked nice, but this isn't the place for small groups looking to actually converse.

Food quality was very good. Prices were surprisingly reasonable for this downtown location. Outdoor patio overlooks active Chicago River with many party boats gliding past.

Location is amazing! Food was really good. Great service as well. The shrimp similar to bang bang shrimp was awesome. Great to have a place with great location, great food, and great views. Bartender was on point as well. Great for date night or a business dinner. Can't wait to go back

The burger was pretty good, but nothing special - I had hoped for something better as it was advertised as meat from grass fed cattle. Sweet potato fries were excellent, and they were not shy about giving you enough. We also had the cookie and ice cream desert, which was delicious. We went there based on getting a GrouponNow $40 for $25, and it was worth it.

The view and the ambience is awesome. The food was good... The buffalo chicken wrap was bland mostly lettuce, the presto chicken wrap was very tasty and wonderful. They do have a beautiful selection of beer and spirits.

Reserved an outdoor booth. Weather was great -- sunny July day, but not too hot. Sitting by the water we enjoyed dinner and drinks. Food was good, but not great and the service was a little inatentive, but over-all a very nice experience.

South Branch is a decent looking place with good food and service, and a great view of the Chicago river. It’s a place that’s mostly visited by corporate types and has prices to match. The main purpose of this review is to protest the fact that they sell a bacon cheeseburger for $19.50, and it comes with only one piece of bacon. How incredibly lame that is. I’ve been all over the country and have never witnessed such a cheap move. Even dive bars load on the bacon.

Beautiful views over the Chicago river and perfectly located for lunch. We tried calling all morning to get a table but they seem to not want to answer their phones. We showed up anyway and sat in the raised half table s facing the windows which was fine. I had the Memphis sandwhich - bbq pulled pork with fried onions and it was good, fries were not crunchy. Service was ok but not too attentive since we werent in the area with real tables.

The restaurant was lovely and the staff was friendly, but If you are a vegan or pescatarian, don’t waste your time going there. They had nothing for me to eat except a plain Caesar salad (a plain Caesar was not even on the menu. The one on the menu contained chicken. I had to ask them to please leave the chicken out). I couldn’t even order soup (it was 12° outside and I wanted soup to warm up) because that too had meat in it. I chose that restaurant because it was close to Union Station and I had to catch a train. I will make a note to myself to avoid that restaurant the next time I have a layover in Chicago.

This was my third business lunch at this restaurant. Ultimately my favorite! With resrvations seating came easily. We sat right next to the window so we ad a nice view. I like fish and I am drawn to try a new item each time. I have not been disappointed yet which is pretty impressive!! We passed appetizers spinach artichoke and calmari are always favorites. I ordered the salmon on this visit. Beautifully cooked and presented on spinich. I brought it home as apps filled me up. Tried the alcoholic beverage French which I thoroughly enjoyed. It packs a late punch so caution 3 may be more than plenty. As this was an after work event we stayed for several hours. Staff was accommodating, excellent service. One of my favorite Chicago restaurants.

Loved our time here. We were here for a cocktail party for our company. We were outside in the courtyard for the evening. The service was great, atmosphere fun and food tasty. The most memorable appetizers were the sliders. There was chicken with a nice sweet pickle and a little spicy aioli. There was a beef slide which was delicious. It had bacon and onion jam on it. The wine selection was great. I love a dry rose and loved the fact that they also had a sparkling dry rose!!! All in all, a great evening.

Love the location along the river. Very light and bright. Busy place but still good service. All the staff was pleasant. The people watching was good. Went for happy hour drinks, but didn't try any of the food.

I was here for lunch. The turkey burger was delicious and I also love the tater tots for my side. Our server was attentive and friendly. We sat next to a window, which was a but chilly but a great view of the river. One of our favorite places for a nice lunch.

Everything was great at this cool restaurant located right on the river. The outdoors was packed due to great weather but inside was also nice. Great vibe, mostly young professionals at lunch. Fast and friendly service. Fish tacos were excellent and salad was delicious. This would be a great place for after work cocktails and tasty casual dinner. Lunch is highly recommended too.

We stopped here for a dinner with friends. The location is great as it is next to the major train stations. The atmosphere and attire is more business than casual, even after hours, but I did enjoy that the noise level was lower than most other more casual restaurants and bars. For appetizers we had the Tuna Poke Nachos, Bang Bang Shrimp, and the Cheese Curds. Definitely recommend the nachos. The shrimp were good too but breaded unlike Bonefish Grill, in case that’s not your thing. For mains we had the Poke Protein Bowl and the Chicken Tina Tacos. They also had mocktails available. I had a Paloma but I wouldn’t get it again. However we would visit again as the food was good and we enjoyed our experience.

I met up with colleagues here on a warm, sunny day. The patio was happening, primarily filled with local business people catching an early jump on a Friday happy hour, but there were some well-behaved tourists there too. It's located right on the river, and the view is terrific. Didn't order any food, but can attest the bevvies were excellent. I will be back.... tomorrow!

While in town for business, we enjoyed joyed lunch right on the river. The portions were good, the servers were attentive and the expansive menu offered good quality options.

Great variety, fast service for lunch, excellent food!

Don't come here for the food...come here for the ambiance and outdoor patio in the summer. It is the go to place for business lunches, and their closed off room is perfect for larger team meetings.

Lively bar scene - lots of spaces for private parties. Got a reservation pre-Opera and was in and out in a lot less time than expected - which was very helpful. They make a good dirty martini at the bar. The Skirt Steak was good - could have done with a different accompaniment. The salad entrees are also filling. On good weather days, there is probably a nice patio to enjoy.

Service was pleasant and courteous. Was very good the food was not good at all given the value and the price Seem like the food is left over from the after-work crowd

Great place to meet friends/co-workers during/after work. Food is average and service can be slow at times, but for middle of the Loop, you can't beat the view outside on a nice Summer day.

My wife and I went here for dinner recently. It was too hot and humid to sit outside, so we ate inside. Service was decent, but not great. Food was hot and fresh, but nothing too memorable. I had mahi mahi tacos, which had deep fried fish. I got 3 large tacos, so no issues with quantity. My wife had the poke bowl. She said it tasted fine but the rice was over cooked and soggy. Cost with a beer and one glass of wine was $95 with tax, not including the tip.

We recently visited here when Chicago was featuring some of its best weather its had in October - 75 degrees on a sunny day on the patio - which is expansive and has a great backdrop of the river, too. The service was attentive and the food is pretty good for bar food - the cheese curds are wonderful and a great value - as they come in a heaping dish that was overflowing. The hummus plate is average and so was the artichoke dip. The restaurant area was interesting - as they had a private dining event - two actually, set up right in the middle of the walkway. This was a very odd set-up and I would have been disappointed if I were those two parties - not to mention how it felt like you were walking right through their event if you had to use the restroom. Overall, though this is a good place for drinks after work and for patio dining on a nice day.

Mildly pricey, excellent beer selection, the only problem is it may be too popular, especially on nice days! Will certainly be back.

The food options at this restaurant were excellent. I opted for one of the daily specials - pulled pork sandwich with peach and havartia on an onion bun - messy, but delicious. My wife had a chop salad with blue cheese and chicken breast and really enjoyed it. My kids split a plate of fried chicken sliders (which they deconstructed for them given my kids' pickiness for toppings!). Our waitress was very kind and accommodating - overall an excellent meal!

I won't go into too many details as I'd consume all available character space in this field. You'll have to experience SB for yourselves. Great drinks, food, service, atmosphere, customers. I haven't had anything on the menu yet that wasn't perfect. Great selections to choose from and there's something for everybody. One of the top spots downtown. 'Nuf said.

Great atmosphere and variety of drinks. Both the indoor and outdoor service were quick-paced. Definitely a place to see and be seen!

Had the south branch burger (with fries) very tasty including the avacado. The bang bang shrip is very good too. A little noisy for lunch inside but otherwise service was fine.

I had dinner here on Friday night and really enjoyed it. I sat at the bar and had quick/friendly service from the bar staff. Excellent beer selection... local beers like Revolution and Goose Island on tap plus a ton of bottles to choose from. I had the Sunnyside Up burger (subbed the normal patty with a turkey burger... no hassle from the staff and it was tasty) with a side of Tots... love having Tots as a side instead of normal fries. Bar was pretty full for a Friday night in the west Loop... loud music playing, modern seating/lighting, and TVs tuned to sports. A great setup... highly recommend. Given it's winter, the outdoor patio wasn't open... but looking forward to trying it out with friends this summer. Especially given their beer list... This is a sister restaurant to Sweetwater (across the Loop on Michigan/Lake). If you like one of these, you'll enjoy the other.

Great spot with good beverage and meal selections. Staff was very friendly and prompt, food was good. I was looking for a casual burger and beer and the venue exceeded expectations on both.

The house was packed for lunch on a Friday, so my experience must not be universal. I ordered an Ahi tuna wrap and got what amounted to a tortilla full of cabbage with a very few pieces of diced tuna. It was disappointing considering the price. A coworker ordered the turkey burger and though the portion was sufficient, she did not like the taste. The menu looked very promising do perhaps we just ordered poorly, but with all the options in the area, we would choose someplace different the next time.

Nice bar down on the river. Indoor and outdoor. Good to chill out and watch the world go by. Staff were friendly.

I ate at SB for the 1st time today and the food was really great. The Clam Chowder is awesome. I ordered the Ranch Chicken sandwich and it was very tasty. You must order the tater tots! There is outdoor seating here which gives awesome views of the river! I'd return for sure!!

Perfect service and food. We had ahi tuna and the April featured dessert - chocolate mousse with crushed pretzels and peanut butter. Wonderful combination.

Have eaten here perhaps a half dozen times. The food is very good and the service respectable. Great bar also. But the star of the show is the ambiance. Super gathering place right on the Chicago River. This place is extremely popular and fills up within minutes of opening with young executives from surrounding buildings. Highly suggest making reservations. You won't be disappointed with this quality, high energy establishment!

This place is fabulous! My first visit, and I definitely will return next time I'm in Chicago. It was hard to choose a selection, but I am so glad I decided on the Nola salad. Everything in it was to perfection.

Came here for lunch. Place was quite busy, but we were seated quickly at the bar. Had a great steak salad. Strip loin was juicy and perfectly grilled. veggies were fresh and the blue cheese dressing was perfectly balanced. Recommended.

Great salmon, service. Pricey. Right near Union Station. Vegetables too oily. Caters to downtown business crowd.

Took full advantage of a sunny early fall afternoon by sitting outside on the edge of the river. Great views to enjoy. Service was prompt without feeling like you were being rushed. Food options were good, though nothing mind blowing. Nice selection of craft beers.

I visited South Branch Tavern & Grille for Lunch yesterday and ordered a South Branch Burger with Fries. The food was delicious, the employees were polite, and the dining atmosphere was great! Highly Recommended! Cheers! 🍔

The room is beautiful and the view is great. We asked for pre-meal bread and got sliced slider rolls. Our lunch was average.

Our group met for an early dinner (5 p.m.) and had a window seat and an excellent server. The decor of the dining area and quality of the service are positives. The menu offerings are varied and two of us enjoyed our well-presented and tasty salads. One of us liked the Philly cheese sandwich, but the fourth in our party ordered from the "specials" list. The meal was pre-cooked chicken pieces from the freezer with sauce poured on top. The flavors of the sauce didn't cover up the fact the meat was not freshly cooked. All in all this is a convenient spot for meeting in the downtown area. Very close to public transportation and nice river views.

Four friends who haven't gotten together since before the pandemic finally met for an enjoyable al fresco lunch on the large outdoor patio. We arrived a little early but did not have to wait for a table to become available. We were seated under an umbrella so it was shaded. Although most tables were occupied, it was easy to converse. The menu is extensive and prices are reasonable. Two of us ordered salads and two had sandwiches with fries. The food came promptly. The salad ingredients were fresh; the dressing came in a small cup on the side (I could have used a second one). The sandwiches came on ciabatta bread, so it was a big amount of thick bread to consume. We did not have room for dessert. Lunch for 4, with tax but before tip, was around $90.

Went for lunch. Less than 5 mins from Willis (Sears) tower. Tried the pesto chicken wrap, spicy chicken rigatoni & sweet potato fries. Yummy food. Our waitress was super friendly. Nice view with our table on the river.

I went to South Branch for a team outing and celebration on a Tuesday evening. We had about a dozen people, more than originally planned, but they were able to accommodate the change. We had appetizers and drinks while waiting for everyone to arrive. The place was really busy for a weeknight, and was pretty loud. Our server was friendly and explained the menu very well. Our vegetarians and other special menu needs were accommodated as well. Beers were reasonably priced, and there was a reasonable selection, but the wines by the glass felt too expensive at $10-14 per glass for many of the choices. I had the NOLA salad, which was a blackened salmon filet on top of greens and a lime dressing. This was really tasty, and not overwhelmingly large like many entrée salads. We skipped dessert, as we were running late for another event. I would go back on another visit to Chicago, and would like to go when I could enjoy the outdoor view of the river. It's not the kind of place to go for a really special event, but it's good for getting a group together for a happy hour or evening party.

Location is great, we were heading out on a late train and popped in here for dinner. Hostess estimated 15mins for an inside table, which was fine. In the amount of time it took to order a drink, she found us a table outside! Inside was pretty noisy, so that was great for us. Had the special tomato basil soup which was excellent, good flavor and not watery. The couscous salad w chicken also very good. Hubby had a burger, not overdone, yeah!

The Metropolitan lounge for Amtrak is nice, but we had the urge to escape. South Branch is a short walk and food and service are excellent. Our waitress, Bri, was always nearby and knowledgeable to assure that we were served whatever we wanted

First visit on a late Friday afternoon - delightful (although it's hidden from street view ... when you get to the building 100 S Wacker, head towards the River and you'll find the door). We shared the Burrata, Brussel Sprouts and Bang Bang Shrimp - all were excellent. My friend had wine and I managed to drink two "Luxe Old Fashioned". We sat at the bar and our Server, Magda, couldn't have been kinder or more efficient. We'll return and imagine it's lovely in Summer, riverside!

Enjoyed the atmosphere with the outdoor seating on the canal. Ordered new appetizer of WI fried cheese curds, which was tasty and a surprisingly large portion. My guest and I also has dinner which included a root beer braised shirt rib (outstanding) and burger and fries (good). Drinks were WAY overpriced. The food made up for it, which is why we rate it 4 stars instead of 3.

Have been to South Branch a dozen times or so. It's a very good place to grab a drink with friends. But there are 4 distinct places to sit. The best is in the booth section of the bar on the south side - you have a nice view of the bar and restaurant, and it's comfortable, if you want that. The tables on the south side are fine. The bar on the north side is smaller, and better for space. The tables on the north side are somewhat isolated. The drinks are good. There are always weekly specials. The banging shrimp are spicy; fried, and very tasty. There are no wings.

I had the fish tacos and they were just so, so. I also had the Pear Cooler because the waitress highly recommended it but it wasn't all that great either. Maybe I just ordered the wrong things.

We were downtown Chicago for the afternoon and planned to meet some friends and they recommended the South Branch. We had a little trouble finding the place as it looks like a bank from the outside and not your typical bar/grill front to it but a plendid building for sure We were greeted by a hostess and brought down to a booth and were able to look down on the river and across at Union Station - it's a great people watching location as you see the world pass by as people finish work The front area of the building seems to be set aside for a bar and sports viewing, then the booth area and a larger, more elaborate dining area at the back. The decor is classy and the whole experience has a premium feel to it and the bar seems to be a great post work choice for the well healed, banker type people... some folks like that clientele, some folks don't We ordered some appetisers and they were real nice and the staff were excellent and attentive but not overly friendly. You will pay a little more for being downtown and in these surroundings but it is what it is. We enjoyed it, it's well worth a look!

Business lunch. Ordered off the menu. Had the boss sandwich. Best steak sandwich I have had. Cooked perfectly. Service is fast (especially because it is a large place). I did notice no bread for other people who could have used it. Prices are moderate.

Probably what knocked it down from 4 dots to 3. Service was great and friendly. Atmosphere cool, but really, really loud (6:30pm). Food took a little too long to arrive but was very tasty when it did. Nice presentation - but no bread with dinner, which seemed odd, so I asked for some. It was terrible, looked like the same buns they were using for the sliders. KFC has better bread. Then I got the bill, and they charged me for it!! Well, that was odd. I wouldn't have minded the charge for some nice soft rolls or sourdough, but these were dense little pucks of dough. So - don't order the bread and other than that you should have some good food and service.

We used South Branch for our wedding on August 15, 2015. Jennifer Williams and her team are completely amazing. The entire event was flawless, from the ceremony, to dinner, to the reception afterwards. Throughout the planning process, it was a pleasure to work with Jennifer to finalize any and all details before the big day. I met with her 3-4 times throughout the past year for walk-throughs, food tastings, and pre-event meetings. She always had an answer for any of my questions. One of the reasons we picked South Branch as our venue was due to her confidence, calm demeanor, and organizational skills. She assured us that everything would go perfectly on our big day and she was exactly right. Our guests commented that the food was outstanding, the service was excellent, and even the security guards were friendly. We made a last-minute decision to extend our event from 11pm to midnight and her whole team graciously accommodated our request. Compared to other venues in downtown Chicago, South Branch is relatively affordable for an outdoor, Chicago Loop wedding. The value of the event compared to the cost was on point. We cannot say enough good things about the events team at South Branch.

I had the blackened salmon salad and it was excellent. I've only eaten there once, but would definitely go back based on the food and experience.

Called in for a couple of drinks on a sunny afternoon and sat outside. It's a lovely spot in the heart of the city, but away from the real hustle and bustle. Good drinks menu with some interesting craft beers. Great service.

This restaurant came recommended by the employees of our Chicago office and after my meal I understood why. Had an excellent dinner of Parmesan crusted sole which was perfectly cooked and very flavorful. Prices were very reasonable and the server was attentive without hovering. Would not hesitate to dine here again.

So this place gives you the look and feel of Miami which is a great thing ...the only bad thing here is that the prices are similar. The food here is pretty good but the drinks were a bit disappointing; I wouldn't mind going back on someone else's dime but Chicago is a huge place if they want to stay afloat they need to improve the drinks

South Branch is great place for a business meeting or a casual lunch. The food was excellent (I ate the Peppercorn hamburger), service spot on, and atmosphere top notch. Our server was Fawn who more than capably delivered. Manager Sean (Shawn?) came out afterward to say hello so we felt well cared for by both. My friend ordered the chowder and he said it was excellent. My wife ate the steak salad and said the meat was cooked perfectly and the green fresh and tasty. We both thought, however, the steak portion was not particularly generous, esp. for $17. Ditto for my burger, on the small'ish side. The food presentation was top notch, Chef more than delivered an appetizing and attractive looking lunch. I don't have pictures to share but the food "look" was excellent!! While we didn't get to spend time afterward, they do have an outdoor bar. We chose to sit inside but either would be a wonderful option. The team did a great job and we thank them for their hospitality and tasty food!