The Lobby Reviews

As a treat, I took my adult daughter to the High Tea. It was wonderful - the ambience was lovely, the server was outstanding, the presentation of the food (and champagne) was just as one would imagine at the highest of teas - similar to the lovely tea I had in London. The food was delicious, and they were more than happy to replenish any we asked them to do (and offered without us asking). If you want a special event, with a price to go with it, this is a must. We also saw some moms and little girls who enjoyed it as well with a special menu for the girls, and a surprise treat of a stuffed animal at the end. BTW - if it is a special occasion (such as a birthday), make sure to tell them. They provide a lovely dessert in addition to the tea - their compliments.

I chose this location to celebrate my friend’s 70th birthday dinner. I could see that it was elegant and it did not disappoint for atmosphere. We had a lovely window view of the outside rink and the decorations in The Lobby are perfect. Our service was extremely slow, but I don’t think this is common. The prices are high, of course but the food was delicious. We did order a Caesar salad to share and they kindly split it. They did not tell us they were replacing the romaine lettuce with a spring mix. It was slightly disappointing but the dressing and croutons made up for it. The squash tortellini was sublime.

Exceptional venue, elegant, and welcoming. The staff of the hotel adds to the lobby experience at this fine hotel.

The Lobby Restaurant of the elegant Peninsula Hotel is a wonderful place for quiet, pleasant dining. The menu is more than adequate to satisfy your hunger pains and the service is impeccable.

I feel compelled to preface my very first TripAdvisor review, since it is about 5 months overdue. I have thought about this incredible meal at The Lobby for almost half a year now. When experiences like this keep coming back into frame and actually become the benchmark you compare other meals to, you know it's a special thing. Even at random times, I reminisce about courses and elements that we tasted that night, the impeccable service we experienced, the world tour of wines our incredible server Francisco paired with our courses, and the wonderland of desserts that were in arms reach at the end of our evening. Like the Salmon course, with the most beautifully cooked texture inside and perplexingly perfect crispy skin. I've never had the pleasure of knowing salmon like this, fresh looking skin with no trace of caramelization or browning, crispy and delicate from start to finish, never wilting. It added an incredible textural contrast to tender and flavorful salmon flesh, cooked so perfectly. You know the chef is paying attention to all the details. Crispy artichoke chips, fried artichoke hearts and a very memorable salmon bordelaise completed one of the greatest courses I've ever had. Like the super sweet seared scallops with caramelized cauliflower, fresh passionfruit, and vanilla undertones. The homemade squid ink pasta with charred tomatoes and fresh shucked uni (for an uni lover, you know fresh shucked uni when you have it!). The seared foie gras was amazing, with pistachios, homemade spice bread and chocolate sauce. The pork belly was otherworldly; perfectly tender but with the right texture and mouthfeel, fat rendered to deliciousness, and a sweet/savory lacquer that glazed this love nugget. Charred apricots, sunchoke chips, and fried sunchokes shrouded the juicy seared lamb course. The rendered duck breast course had the greatest fried rice flavor profile, but in place of rice was a blend of 4-5 whole grains. Rapini tops and figs adding dimensions of flavor and texture to this lovely course. The beef ribeye cap with black truffles and mushrooms capped off our savory courses with decadence. We finished by indulging in the chocolate dessert bar in the middle of the dining room, which felt like we had vip tickets to a chocolate theme park, and we were in control of all the rides. I've dined at the lobby a few times in the past, but this was hands down my favorite experience. We saw the Chef in the dining room, serving courses and talking with patrons. He even brought us our foie course and that's when I asked him a million questions about the greatest salmon dish I've ever had. He was very fun to talk with, friendly, genuine, and charming. Our server Francisco was such a delightful person too and made us feel like royalty. Thank you to the whole team at the Lobby! My wife and I have decided it's been long enough and it's time to return to the Lobby. We're looking forward to another special evening and we're interested to see what the Chef has in store now that spring is upon us.

The setting is stunning in The Lobby Restaurant with 20” ceilings and beautiful views of Michigan Avenue. We enjoyed such a delicious breakfast our first morning at The Peninsula. My husband selected classic eggs Benedict, I requested simple poached eggs with Greek yogurt and blueberries in the side. Our daughter is the one who found the treasured breakfast item!! The Belgian waffle was Beyond exquisite! It was light, perfectly golden crispy yet fluffy and buttery inside with a delicate sweetness in the batter that was perfectly delicious! The berries were an added treat, but truly, the three small Belgian waffles were treasures in their own!! Tomorrow morning, I already know what I will order!! It will be Belgian waffles for me!

I was staying at the hotel so I have a group of friends gather at the Lobby for dinner, couldn't have been better. Kudos to the staff

I was concerned that this would be a uncomfortable spot for breakfast but it’s light, airy, and not an uncomfortable space at all. I sat next to the window and enjoyed a creative quality breakfast. The staff is attentive but not obtrusive.

Afternoon tea at the Peninsula in Chicago is a delightfully delicious and relaxing experience. I felt like royalty because of the fabulous service. The tea was served in beautiful individual teapots. The savory finger sandwiches and quiches very tasty. The desserts we were served or mouthwatering. One dessert even had gold on it. It was my birthday and they brought me a lovely chocolate mousse dessert with a candle and happy birthday written and chocolate. We were there for almost 2 1/2 hours I cannot think of a lovelier setting for just relaxing and sipping tea.

Enjoyed a lovely afternoon tea with the gals at the Peninsula. They had a vegan menu for my friend which was a bonus. Scones, cuke sandwiches, zucchini fritters, and various sweets were on display for the tasting. Great way to while away a couple hours.

During our recent stay at The Peninsula-Chicago, we took advantage of both afternoon tea and dinner. First, the afternoon tea was divine. To this day, my daughter still talks about how much she enjoyed the cucumber sandwich and the gummy bear Shirley Temple. My wife still talks about the scones. And I still rave about the service and the overall experience. For dinner, in a word, WOW. It was amazingly upscale, definitely perfect for a five star hotel. The avocado crab toast was great, the halibut was spot-on, and King Ora Salmon was a hit, too. For dessert, we tried the souffle and the Meyer Lemon Cake and they were both great. Again, much like Shanghai Terrace or a stay at The Peninsula-Chicago; if you have an opportunity to enjoy dinner and/or afternoon tea at The Lobby, don't hesitate and Just Do It.

The name of the restaurant tells it all: The Lobby is a restaurant inside the Peninsula lobby and it's a very good place. I had both dinner and lunch there during my stay at the Peninsula hotel and I can say the food is at the top (rib-eye is a must have and take a look at the desserts buffet! delicious). The service is good and never annoying. very good place!

Expensive but worth it. We had breakfast here and it was delicious. The service was amazing and the food yummy! We knew the price was high and we were ok with that. Good portion on the fruit platter! We shared between 3 people.

Full disclosure, we only went for drinks and dessert. But the Obsession Chocolate Cake was divine! And the service impeccable. They are not very busy at this time, especially on a weeknight, so you can just stop in. Great view of their courtyard dining area as well.

Each time I go to the Lobby restaurant at the Peninsula Hotel (and I have been going there for at least 11 years), I walk away feeling I have experienced a magical trip that food can be. I went to the Peninsula for dinner this past weekend with my wife and a friend from Tucson, AZ. For starters, we shared the Tuna Tartare with avocado, rice crisps and Ponzu sauce with almond cream. The fresh, bright colored tuna combined with the almond cream and the rice crisps made for a wonderful starter. Our next appetizer was the lamb flatbread topped with Merguez lamb sausage, olives and Greek yogurt. Outstanding dish--highly recommended. For entrees my wife and guest had the lemon thyme risotto with shrimp. Wonderful combination of flavors and generous portion. I enjoyed the duck breast. Felt like I was eating a duck steak--thick and juicy and outstanding flavors. Great figs! We finished with the chocolate bar buffet. A "must" to experience if you still have room. The service was seamless and efficient. I understand there is a new chef--Jason Hedin--Bravo! Job well done! Can't wait for our next visit!

Dining in The Lobby of Chicago's Peninsula Hotel is about as ritzy and spiffy as you can get. No halter tops or shorts or bluejeans or flip-flops here. Located on the fifth floor at 108 East Superior, this is what deluxe, modern fine dining is all about. Stop for breakfast or brunch with a signature chocolate buffet or lunch or afternoon tea in an elegant setting that includes fresh flowers and 20-foot floor-to-ceiling windows that are flooded with sunlight. We took a shopping break on the nearby Magnificent Mile to enjoy lunch, which is served from 11 to 2 Monday through Saturday. We started with homestyle chicken noodle soup and Caesar salad and heirloom tomato soup and chicken cobb salad. For entrees, we chose jumbo prawns with green beans and fries and Ora King salmon with corn. For dessert, we shared a delicious concept, pineapple and coconut sorbet on Angel food cake. Add it all up: food, service and atmosphere and it's obvious why The Lobby is a popular destination for upscale diners.

Elegant setting. Great wine selections by the glass. I love the noodle soup; the market soup is not longer available. They have consolidated the menu. Great bread basket. Very good coffee. Pricey but worth it. They will modify any dish in the kitchen to your dietary requirements or taste. Recommend for both breakfast and lunch. Also elaborate buffet on Sundays (but make a reservation for that). Sadly, the late night dinner service is no longer available.

Visited with two friends for Afternoon High Tea. The hotel is very classy and every attention is paid to the detail in this open restaurant just off the lobby. The ambience and tea selection was very good. Salmon and cucumber sandwiches were good and most of the desserts were excellent. The service was excellent with attention to our needs. We were seated promptly and even though we had a reservation, it did not seem that one was needed for High Tea as they didn't ask for our name, and there were lots of empty seats. Downside is that it is a very nice place, but there is no dress code and you have people dressed nicely for a lovely afternoon out next to teenagers in slippers and sweats. One of my favorite things was the live music that was played during brunch and the evening. A beautiful, calm, upscale getaway from the hustle and bustle of the streets below.

My daughter and I visited Chicago for five days. We love afternoon tea and decided to visit the afternoon at the Lobby at this beautiful hotel. We have tried the tea in Paris and Hong kong at the same Peninsula Hotel. All were exceptional! I would say that the food in Paris was the best but this one stand out in term of services. Our server was attentive and cheerful, he bought us more sandwiches when he saw us finished it without charging us extra for it. If you are in Chicago, give it a try!

We had an outstanding experience here at afternoon tea. The service was outstanding and the tea selection was amazing. Both of us ordered the traditional afternoon tea which included 2 scones, 6 sweets, and 5 sandwiches per person. Also included was a pot of tea and a sorbet to finish the tea for each of us. Everything was super tasty and served at just the right pace. We were not rushed, and enjoyed the live string music played from the balcony. I loved every minute, and although this was costly-- $150 for the two of us with taxes and tip, it was worth every minute. Tax in the city is 10.2 percent. We were there almost 2 hours. I was allowed to change out a salmon tea sandwich for another, and also to have my tea made to a lesser strength which I greatly appreciated. I asked and it was taken care of by our very nice gentleman wait person.

Great setting Good selection on breakfast as well as informal lunches. Highly attentive service- refills of coffee offered.

Afternoon tea is done perfectly here! The tea, champagne service and food is all spectacular! They have two seatings one at 2 and one at 4. I would highly recommend the 2:00 pm, and be sure to book in advance it books up!

Went here for dinner and the staff, food, and ambiance was extremely special. For a place called The Lobby...there is no better restaurant in Chicago for your money. It can be a bit pricey but everything is worth it. If you like Lamb, Beef, Swordfish this place will not disappoint. The beat salad was a perfect appetizer. If you go on a Friday or Saturday feel free to try the Chocolate bar....yep a dessert of nothing but different foods done with Chocolate. It's an extra charge but if your a choco-holic you'll want to come again and again.

My husband and I went to Chicago to our son´s wedding and all of us had a wonderful time in Peninsula. We went a plenty of times to the big restaurant in the lobby and I found it a gorgeous place. I usually don´t write comments in these applications, but we liked so much that we took our family, and then our friends during our stay. The food is truly delicious, despite the meat not so good. We also had chinese food in the lobby from other restaurant in the hotel called Shangai, which was also delicious. The atmosphere is great and the staff were extraordinary kind and welcoming. Starting from the very sweet and educated smiling host, Martin, to the gentlemen servers, Francisco, Ray and other called Jose, all of them friendly and kind hearted genuine people. The servers gave me their explanations of the dishes lunch and dinners we had, as well the whole afternoon tea experience, always very perspective of what we wanted. And Martin made a lot of conversation with us, while he was steering majestically the rest of the restaurant. Good staff! The pianist is gorgeous as well, and my friends deeply appreciated too. We didn´t go to the brunch on the weekend but we were immensely impressed with the beautiful quartet playing intensively so well. After all, I wish there was also a Peninsula in Florida. I highly recommend this place, and perhaps in March we will be back. Thank you my dears.

Beautiful surroundings, great service, separate vegan and vegetarian afternoon tea menus and champagne. A great thing to do. So happy we found this place. We all had the vegan menu which was thoughtful and delicious. Thoroughly recommended.

Just a very professional dining room with staff that know their trade. Great food and tightly managed

My girlfriend and I had another amazing dinner yesterday evening at The Lobby. We had the Tuna Tartare appetizer and the Crisp Skin Ora King Salmon entree. The Tuna Tartare includes avocado and an amazing and very light Asian sauce. The salmon was served with the best roasted artichoke pieces that I've ever had. Both dishes were so good that we couldn't resist a second order of each. And as always, the service also was incomparably great.

Great variety of food including sushi, beef, chicken and a fabulous desert bar. They also have a quartet playing the entire time, serenity now!

Came here for breakfast, and it was awesome. Very pretty decor and view, highly recommend sitting by the window! The staff was very friendly and attentive. We got caviar and lobster benedict and rancheros, both were awesome. Highly recommend!

After seeing the matinee of Hamilton, eight of us were looking for a place for cocktails pre-dinner. This was the perfect place. Outstanding service, great drinks and we could talk to each other in a civil manner. They brought bowls of complimentary snacks to our table too. It was Kentucky Derby day so there were several tables of women dressed in hats enjoying desserts and drinks. They were actually selling beautiful hats there. And a fabulous dessert selection was available.

We visited the Peninsula for their Sunday brunch as we do every trip to Chicago. The food is of very good quality and the service is superb. It is a wonderful experience. One note - the offerings seem to have diminished a bit from last year - fewer tables of food, and as a result certain stations such as desserts and cheeses seemed to have less variety, although that could just be my impression. What remains though is of very good quality and a great way to spend a Sunday lunch time with family and friends.

What happened to the dessert bar? When we dined here in May, our spectacular dinner was topped off with an over-the-top dessert bar. In July, the food was less spectacular, service less attentive, and dessert ho hum. I know they lost their rock star chef, but don't know if the timing corresponds with our two very different experiences. Now that The Four Seasons in New York has closed, this may be the most beautiful restaurant setting in the US. The sparse crowd on a Saturday night should be more of a wake up call than this review.

I was lucky enough to be seated at Ray's section. This guy is amazing server! Super friendly, professional and efficient! I would come back just because of him! He is there when you need him, he gives you your space and cleans your plates at the right time. You definitely feel welcomed and not rushed. Smoked salmon presentation was beautiful and actual salmon quality was very high! I highly recommend this place while visiting Chicago! Don't be scared to try hotel restaurants! The service and food quality is very high and not that much more on the price compare to any other free standing restaurants.

I like the sound and ambience. I had several dinners and breakfasts. On arrival after a long plane journey, I had a meal and ordered off the menu. I needed some angel hair and seafood which was prepared with perfection. Service was immaculate. The experience here is so Peninsula, and can never be duplicated elsewhere except in Peninsula around the world.

Perfect for closing the deal still a classically appointed hotel rooms now a but substandard for my taste non the less if it's your thing go for it it's a five star!

Relaxing,calm great Tea time menu.nice place to eat at. Can have luch or dinner there too.Check in for the hotel located there. Recently rooms re-modled. Very upscale and relaxing. All Peninsula Hotels our different but the staff trained well.

My husband and I had drinks and a snack in the lobby lounge....I had the Cosmo champagne cocktail while he had the maple bourbon, and raved about the generous pour. We also ordered the cheese plate and it was generously presented with 5 different cheeses and accoutrements. A string duo was playing in the balcony above and with the large Christmas tree and other festive decorations, it's a lovely holiday stop.

The service was lovely. The space quite nice however there were very few people and we felt very alone! We asked for coffee and it was not warm at all. Maybe that was wrong to ask for coffee at a high tea.They did bring some warm coffee. I have had high tea at two hotels in London, the Langham and the Ritz. The Peninsula was disappointing. The bread on several of the sandwiches was dry ,The presentation very plain, the plates plain white. We will not be back and will not be recommending the high tea. Thank you

This is total old world luxury and delicious food! The service is elegant and so polite. There is a great variety of foods and desserts are not to be believed! There is even a kids area - which I love! Outstanding in every way!

Excellent service and the food was superb. There is nothing that the staff will not do to ensure your experience is amazing. The atmosphere is pure elegance and luxury - a must if you are staying there.

Plan on High Tea or even Sunday brunch in this stunning part of the hotel and connected to the lobby.

The atmosphere made this place quiet unique with its high ceilings and decor. The menu items seemed a bit standard from what you might find elsewhere but it was the service that sets them apart. As a guest at this hotel it would have been nice if the tablet included a copy of the menu.

Very pricey unless you're staying at the hotel and then its well worth it. Delicious, luxurious, fancy and with big portions

Reserved a table for 4 for Sunday brunch. Two young professionals new to Chicago + two parents visiting. The ambiance was lovely. Attentive service. String quartet playing from a balcony. Food variety and quality superb. We are not huge eaters, so we tried small bites of most everything. Liked the spacing of the food stations around the restaurant - no lines as a result. Raw oysters and Asian station both excellent. Great coffee and tea selections. Dessert station was outstanding! I have been to several brunches world-wide, and this was one of the best. Glad to see the Peninsula in the US!

I've been here for tea but this was my first time coming for dinner. Our group was served by Francisco. He was delightful: warm and friendly and attentive all night! I had the king salmon, which was cooked perfectly with a crispy skin. We also enjoyed the octopus as an appetizer and it was incredible! Hats off to Chef John and Chef Brandon for the food. I had the chocolate bar for dessert... so many delicious options for a sweet treat with a glass of port. The topper was the band playing music all night, singing standards and adding such an air of fun. This was a splurge compared to my usual haunts, but I'm happy the team and food delivered on all points. I look forward to coming back.

We were invited and enjoyed the very good service, excellent food, good wines and the ambience including good acoustics.

My family went to the Sunday Brunch for my birthday and I have to say that the food and the variety were amazing! There was certainly something for everyone and it was beautifully presented! My disappointment was that once an item was gone, it wasn't replaced, which seemed ridiculous for the cost of the brunch. We got there well before the end of the buffet, and I was surprised that they stopped replenishing the buffet.

I dined here as a party of 3 on a Thursday evening at 5:30 p.m. to celebrate a Birthday. Atmosphere just lovely and service was wonderful. The Lobby is a restaurant located in the Peninsula Hotel. We had ordered cocktails while perusing the menu. Appetizers were the Chef special Steak Tartare, and Baby Iceburg Salad. Entrees were the Foie Gras Terrine, roasted Sea Scallops, and a 1/2 order of Three Cheese Agnolotti. All prepared perfectly and tasted great. Lovely atmosphere, wonderful service and Great food was a making of a very nice Birthday celebration.

The entire hotel is spectacular. The Lobby is architecturally beautiful and well appointed. Great food and great wait staff.

This is one of our favorite restaurants in Chicago and anywhere. The great experience starts at the front desk where you are greeted with a great smile. The food is excellent and the waitstaff is exceptionally nice. Thank you for everything.

Went here for the chocolate buffet on our girls trip in November and it wasn't disappointing! We had read about this experience and knew it was for us. Who doesn't love chocolate and champagne. Great way to start off our Friday evening. There was a hot chocolate station, soon many chocolates and cakes and sweets. Pace yourself! There are too many good things not to be missed. Yum!

Atmosphere aristocratic, serene and elegant but not intimidating. Food prepared and served with style, excellent in flavors. Must haves: Chilean sea bass, Tandoori chicken. Desserts wonderful too. The only room for improvement is frankly their wine list: short and bland, absolutely not at the level of the delicious food.

The Lobby has a new dinner menu (that is not yet on its website). The new menu items that we had, along with long time favorites and the always incomparable service, took my dining experience yesterday evening to a new high. Both the excellence and the range of the dishes were amazing. Asian, Mediterranean, Vegetarian, Italian, and American comfort -- each excellent and all in one meal! We had: -- The Soy Cured Salmon, an excellent appetizer that seems to get better every time. -- The Ahi Tuna TarTare, an appetizer that with its subtle Asian flavor continues to be the best tuna dish I've ever had at any restaurant. -- The Crisp Skin "Ora King" Salmon main course. The salmon portion of this dish is excellent, but its the Mediterranean flavored artichokes that make it particularly special. -- A new and even better version of the Seasonal Vegetarian Flat Bread, with its wonderful combination of spices and sweet and savory flavors -- the best flat bread I've ever had. -- A new summer squash side dish with Italian spices was the best squash dish I've ever had. -- A new cauliflower side dish with a different combination of spices was the best cauliflower dish I've ever had. -- A risotto in an open faced pumpkin. I generally don't care much for risotto (anywhere), but if you like pumpkin, I promise that you'll love at least the pumpkin portion of this dish, which is most of the dish and is spiced to exotic perfection. -- A new Vindaloo Beluga lentil appetizer -- a wonderful Indian flavored vegetarian dish. Finally, a piece of decadently good chocolate layer cake.

This was our second trip to the Chocolate Bar and I recommend it to everyone. We were there on a Friday night and there was excellent live music. I could have listened to them all night. The chocolate desserts and martinis were, of course, amazing as always. We were celebrating and the servers brought us a complimentary dessert that we ended up taking to go. It was still awesome the next day. Our servers, Juan and Francisco, were just phenomenal. So professional and some of the best service we've ever experienced anywhere. I can't say enough about the two of them. All employees were top notch. We also went upstairs to check out Z Bar but didn't stay because we were so full. It looked really fun and would be worth trying next time. This is one of our favorite places in Chicago!

Had breakfast there today with cappuccino and omelette. Omelette was very good and definitely worth a try. I would have preferred a latte though. If you want to find a place for a quiet breakfast this is a must!

What an experience to try at least once in every few years ;) It was definitely an enjoyable experience and service was great. The sandwiches and desserts were delicious (not all but most). Ambiance was very nice - beautiful set up, very good music, not too loud but loud enough to shield your conversation from other tables. The attire is smart casual which some people still managed to wear shorts and sandals, but I guess it’s all good. I will definitely go back here again but will need to try other hotels for their afternoon tea as well.

Visiting Chicago in many ways is always a new adventure. For my daughters’ 15th birthday we decided to reserve a table for afternoon tea. We commend our hostess and especially the fabulous server Ubaldo. Ubaldo allowed for an amazing experience. I can not sufficiently describe the tasty scones, sandwiches: lobster shrimp, cucumber, smoked salmon, chicken salad and roasted butternut squash. Our desserts were also fabulous. As was the tea! Compliments to the chef for the beautiful desert he sent out to my daughter. We will return as not only is the atmosphere beautiful it is also comfortable!

There is a lot to say about this Afternoon Tea. The space reminded me of being in a warm resort atmosphere. The color tones were light, and the ambiance was quite comforting. The tea also had a string quartet playing throughout the time. There are a lot of varieties for tea in four major categories. I had black while the rest of the ladies had a variation of scented black tea. The food was better than what I expected. We received everything at the same time, not spaced out in sections. The biggest surprise was receiving additional helpings from our experience. I have never been asked that and it was appreciated because there were some selections that were totally worth a second "bite". The scones were excellent and the lemon curd and jam were the best compliments. Order additional helpings of the chicken sandwich and the pistachio dessert. Lastly, the service was stellar. Our server, Ray, was very attentive and made sure we were taken care of. If you want to spend an afternoon for tea in downtown Chicago, you will not be disappointed in The Lobby at The Peninsula.

And the skating rink is open and just outside if you have time. Exceptional decor, service and food. If you're looking for fine dining, it's great.

The elegant atmosphere was just what we expected! We celebrated my moms 80th birthday with their Sunday brunch. The food offerings were lovely and tasty. The brunch was from 11-2pm so we made our reservations for 1 pm thinking they just wouldn’t take any more seatings after 2pm. Boy did we make a mistake! We had a party of 17 and we were so rushed to down our food and try and get to dessert before they shut down at 2! We spent a fortune and didn’t get to enjoy all the food or the experience. They really should say last seating at noon if they are going to start breaking it down promptly at 2. Also, for $75 per head you would think a mimosa would be included- nope! 20 dollars extra! Nice, but it definitely wasn’t worth the price for a hectic one hour! We didn’t even make it to all the stations! If you go, go at 11am so you can enjoy yourself and take it easy!

I looked over their menu and was surprised they didn't offer at tasting menu. The menu wasn't particularly creative. I ordered three appetizers. The first was a chilled asparagus soup. It was quite good. The second was a foie gras terrine. It was tasty but terrine never has the flavor of seared foie gras. The third was a truffle risotto. It was undercooked and underseasoned. The truffles were summer truffles, which don't have as much flavor as black or white truffles. The service was lackluster. My meal was OK but I understand why they lost their Michelin star.

The ambiance is wonderful for afternoon tea and the service was impeccable by the kind gentlemen. Sandwiches and pastries were what you would wish for and of course well made. Tea was delicious and so was the champagne selection. Small annoyances: bread of the egg sandwich felt stale, obvious globs of napkins under table leg to stabilize (Peninsula should have a nicer solution), and if you sit at a table by the window, the air-conditioning blows hard on you from above.

I've had my best meals at The Lobby, so when I went there for dinner yesterday evening with my girlfriend and one of our favorite couples, I had very high expectations. Our dinner surpassed them. The service was incomparable. The atmosphere, quiet enough for great conversation at a four person table, yet accompanied by excellent live music, was wonderful. But the food was the true star. With four of us, we had all of my favorites: -- The Seasonal Vegetarian Flat Bread, custom made without cheese to meet dietary restrictions, and even better that way because the absence of cheese further emphasized the wonderful spices, stone fruit, and tomatoes and other vegetables. -- The Ahi Tuna Tartare appetizer, with its perfect subtle soy flavor. -- The Avocado Crab Toast appetizer, custom made without mayonnaise to meet dietary restrictions (and, again, even better this way). -- The Soy Cured Salmon appetizer, better than ever. -- The Diver Scallops entree. -- The Crisp Skin Ora King Salmon, better than ever, and with those amazing grilled artichokes. -- The Alaskan Halibut. And dessert was great too!

My girlfriend and I had dinner at The Lobby on February 11 and again on March 11, 2017. The first time was fantastic. The second time was the best meal I've ever had. The Lobby has great atmosphere: very elegant, yet not intimidating. At least on the two Saturday evenings that we were there, there was live music. The service also is as good as I've ever experienced. But it's the food that made these meals so memorable for us. Over the course of the two dinners, we had all (or perhaps all but one) of the fish and seafood entrees and appetizers. All were amazing. The Crisp Skin Ora King Salmon was my favorite, but the tuna tartare appetizer and the scallop appetizer were close contenders. While our meals were mostly focused on fish and seafood, this review would not be complete without discussion of the Seasonal Vegetarian Flat Bread. Absolutely, completely fantastic! Had I not exercised a little self-restraint, I would have eaten the entire (quite large) flat bread by myself as a one-dish meal -- and would have been delighted. If you have the opportunity to dine at the Lobby, don't miss it!

Yes its worth visiting, but enjoy by participating. Have breakfast, enjoy tea, and fresh fruit. Great ambience. Service exceptional.

This hotel has the best of everything! I loved all the staff and we were treated royally! It is very expensive but worth it if you have the money. My grandson attended a cooking school and it was amazing. Everything in this hotel is 5 star plus!!

What a joy to dine in such a knockout setting. Menu is typical hotel fare, but all tasty with fine service, Expensive, but once in awhile an extravegent meal is worth its weight in atmosphere.

We booked afternoon tea for 2. At $70++totaling $85 pp you would expect the best of the best right? For starters when we came in my chair had crumbs over all it. Both our tea spoons were filthy with the previous persons coffee and sugar stains- we tested this by wiping a bit off and it came off easily so it seems they picked them from the dirty pile instead of the clean pile. My sister tea plate had dirty coffee stains on too. The champagne glass on table was really dirty with the previous persons mimosa stains. Cleanliness 1/5 The savoury food options for vegan high tea were very underwhelming. Cucumber and bread, beet root and bread and something they referred to as a 'tart' was melted and dried up vegan cheese with a little tomato cut in half...hardly anything tart like about that??? And a vegan cheese and vegan meat sandwhich both processed that i could have bought from the shops myself. Its so embarrassing from a 5 star hotel reatautant. They should be more creative and make food in house, think outside the box. The desserts were on point though kudos to the dessert chef who knows what they are doing. There was no 5* service the hostess lacked enthusiasm and freindliness. The server did not check on us once i had to wave him over and ask for butter for the scone. He said "we dont have and vegan butter" i asked what was on the sandwhich it looked like butter and tasted like butter so he bought me a spread that had some herbs in it... makes me worry they put non vegan butter on the sandwiches. Also the server assistant came over and re filled our tea with hot water which was nice of him but we didnt ask for him to do that and he didnt ask if that was ok for him to do so now we just have waterey herbal tea. The manager came over and talked to us and we tried to nicely explain how we felt but with a list this long we hate being rude and making a scene.

While staying at the Peninsula we had breakfast in the Lobby restaurant. This is an airy, light filled room with a very pleasant but not stuffy atmosphere. When we arrived for breakfast they asked our name and took us to a lovely table by the window with a view of the city. The waiter who served us then came over and called us by name which is always a nice touch. The Peninsula breakfast is quite substantial and for this quality hotel fairly reasonably priced. That doesn't mean it was cheap. It means that for the amount of food and the quality of the food it was an excellent value.

We loved this restaurant. The food, drinks, decor, and service were all wonderful. We had the Flatbread and Lobster Cobb which were both superb. The restaurant is just beautiful. I would definitely recommend this restaurant.

Fabulous for an upscale, laid back, comfortable Sunday brunch. The dress was anything from shorts to jackets, but mostly just comfortable dining. Each separate item on the buffet would be able to stand alone as a meal. The carving station was perfectly seasoned prime rib, small fancy deserts, a kids buffet, sushi and a few other Asian dishes. Huge selection

You can use a lot of adjectives to describe The Lobby dining room in Chicago's Peninsula Hotel but understated isn't one of them. Try upscale or deluxe or modern or elegant or swanky and plush or posh. Located on the second floor of one of the world's finest hotels, located at 108 East Superior, steps off Chicago's Magnificent Mile. The Lobby hosts breakfast from 7 to 11 daily. On Saturdays only, it also hosts one of the best buffet breakfasts in town. The Lobby also hosts afternoon tea, brunch, lunch and dinner in a grand, airy setting with 20-foot floor to ceiling windows that flood the room with sunlight and overlook an expansive terrace. At The Lobby, breakfast is a luxurious dining experience. My wife had Belgian waffles with berries, maple syrup and thick-cut bacon. I started with a bowl of steel cut Irish oatmeal with dried fruit, mixed nuts and steamed milk and finished with a plate of Classic Eggs Benedict with an English muffin, two poached eggs, Canadian bacon and hollandaise sauce. It's hard to pass up the Saturday buffet. Choose from steak and eggs, fried chicken and waffles, smoked salmon, Nueske ham, creamless tomato soup, Classic Caesar salad, kale salad, beignets, sticky buns, cinnamon rolls, deviled eggs, green chili, applewood smoked bacon, fresh fruit, house-roasted turkey, buttermilk waffles, cornmeal fritters, mashed potatoes, poached eggs and goat cheese. Wash it all down with coffee, a mimosa, Bloody Mary, smoothie or any one of a half-dozen juices.

I had breakfast and dinner in The Lobby. The food was delicious, the staff provided exceptional service, and the Christmas decorations were beautiful.

Ok, will get this out of the way right off: this is not cheap eats. But if you are looking for a very nice setting to go for Sunday brunch, special occasion, etc., this is a real nice option. They are just west of Michigan Avenue and all of the bus lines, or you can valet in front and head upstairs to The Lobby for a good meal with great service in a very nice setting. Attire can be anywhere from suits or dresses, to khakis/jeans and an untucked shirt. There are individuals, couples, large groups, families, all ages. We usually go with the buffet options because there is so much to choose from: a prime rib (or other roast) carving station and other entree type dishes, a table with vegetables and salad stuff, a sushi station, an omelet station, a kids-style table of items, and the dessert table. So many good things, hard to know where to start sometimes! Bloody Mary's and mimosas are both welcome options along with the meal. Service is very good, very professional, but they are also quite friendly too. From a small balcony overlooking the dining room, a string quartet plays rock and pop songs in a classical style.

The Lobby is definitely a place to enjoy a sumptous breakfast or brunch. A great selection of American, Continental or Chinese breakfast. If you enjoy brunch, go no where because the selection is so wide and fresh. Last but not least, the service is beyond and above anyone's expectation. Mr. Jose who is one of the "pillars" of The Lobby knows how to make you feel special.

Everything from the atmosphere to the food to the service feels so refined, classy and elegant and at the same time, very inviting, relaxed and welcoming. We came here on a Monday since that was the day our anniversary fell on and we chose this place particularly because it is the only restaurant we found that has live music EVERY single night. It set the tone beautifully as the pianist came up with a romantic and versatile playlist set to our special dinner (we recognized several modern songs as well as international music being played in such a beautiful, classical fashion). The chef gave us complimentary samplers, wine and dessert which made our night all the more special. Each portion tasted exquisite and very delicately prepared; If you are a foodie you will definitely appreciate as they are very detailed in preparation, asking what dietary limitations we have and further describing the food once prepared and presented. The staff was extremely attentive, kind, professional and even gave us a souvenir (mini chef plush) as a gift. We truly felt special and elated at how wonderful our night out went as we had not initially mentioned it was our anniversary. Though on the higher end money-wise, you do not waste a single dime during your time here as that is how we felt coming to The Lobby at the Peninsula--it's an experience!! One you wouldn't soon forget!

Widely-spaced tables, soaring ceilings, elegant columns and fresh daylight from tall windows make The Lobby quite a pleasant place to eat. The breakfast seemed far too pricey but the experience of the old-school service and the spectacular surroundings made the price very nearly worth it.

My girlfriend and I had another amazing dinner at The Lobby yesterday evening. Both the service and the food were beyond excellent. We had most of our favorite items on the menu -- the Vegetarian Flat Bread, the Crisp Skin Ora King Salmon, and the scallops dish -- and some excellent new additions -- a halibut entree, a seven grain salad, a white asparagus risotto, and a white asparagus and egg yolk dish, the latter with a particularly wonderful mushroom sauce. We ate so much fantastic food, indeed, that we didn't have room for one of the very best items on the menu: the tuna tartare. Next time! The Lobby is like Tina Turner: "simply the best, better than all of the rest."

Our family of four visited the Lobby this past Sunday for tea. The hotel and restaurant are lovely, and all the staff is beyond professional while remaining warm and inviting. Our server was Ray, and he was a attentive to my husband and myself as he was to our 10 year old son and 12 year old daughter. My daughter and I had the traditional afternoon tea, which was delicious and elegant. My son had the children's tea which can with a pot of hot chocolate. My husband is allergic to daily and he was able to order the vegan tea option. The vegan tea was plentiful and delicious. We will go back to The Lobby for tea the next time we are in Chicago.

My daughter and I ordered the champagne tea and it did not disappoint. I ordered the GF menu and was skeptical about what would arrive but I was pleasantly surprised. My sandwiches looked exactly like my daughter's and they were quite tasty. The desserts were a little dry but were pretty and well presented. The GF scones were great. Our server was very attentive and made sure we had everything we needed. I would go back to The Lobby for tea.

My friend and I had tea in the Lobby two weeks before Christmas. The hostess was lovely and our waiter was very nice, but it took forever for him to come and take our order, and then we waited quite a while to be served. (The waiter was professional and solicitous when present - perhaps he had too many tables to cover?) Since our reservation was for tea, it cannot have surprised anyone that we ordered the tea, and no food had to be specially prepared -- so why not fling the sandwiches and pastries onto the server and bring 'em out. No milk was provided for the tea and it took a while to flag down the waiter to ask for milk. At this point we mentioned to him that the room was dark (winter afternoon in Chicago) and might we have a candle or some source of light. He said they put out the candles at five. So we sat in the murky gloom and yakked away until well after five. Candles had not appeared anywhere before we left. Sadly, I must say that the high standards evident when the Peninsula opened are no more. (And where are the gorgeous Barovier floor lamps? I had always intended to abscond with one, but others seem to have beaten me to the punch.)

Had a few drinks at the Peninsula Lobby during high tea. It was simply lovely. Two musicians discretely played classical music while Ruben and German served us. These two seasoned waiters provided excellent service. Congratulations to the Peninsula for this lovely experience.

The best Sunday Brunch I have ever had. Everything was magical. The service is great and the food to die for.

Great brunch with many choices including light dishes, as well as different kinds of meats. There is also a station for Chinese food with dumplings, and Pekin duck. The Brunch includes drinks such as coffee and juices in addition to alcoholic drinks. There is also a good choice of desserts served. The setting is beautiful and spacious. The food is very high quality and beautifully presented. Would go back.

Lobby for Breakfast was exactly what you would expect from the Peninsula , I had an egg White Omelette and my wife had the Lobster Benedict . Food was solid and service was perfect , but the space was so elegant it was relaxing just being there. I wish they had Oat Milk but not gonna ding them for that . Expensive but well worth the experience.

High priced but a very good High Tea in the afternoon. Not sure about the rest of the menu but I've done High Tea several times to take a load off after shopping. Be aware the lobby is not on the ground floor. 8 floors up.

The Lobby restaurant is located at The Peninsula hotel, on the upper part of the hotel lobby, and it is nowadays lavishly and colorfully decorated for the holiday season. The restaurant is very spacious, with very high ceilings, beautiful large windows, facing the distant skyline of the city. The decorations of the dining area are very attractive and quite stunning. The restaurant complies with all current sanitation regulations, staff were wearing masks, dining tables were placed distantly. The Lobby, as the hotel itself, is a 5-star luxury establishment, excelling in fine dining, and offering the choice of high-quality meals from the menu. King Salmon I had was delicious, as well as black rice, broccoli and clam cream. The size of the meal was perfect -- just plenty to enjoy, without feeling stuffed. A pot of high-quality tea with honey and lemon was also up to the classy standards of The Lobby. With all my satisfaction with the tasty meal and with the very festive ambiance of the restaurant, I can't give it the highest rating. It was the service -- spaced out, indifferent, and even snappy -- that tainted the whole experience. The food was served barely warm, and it took a while to serve it. Upon my request, it was immediately warmed up, but not by the server: he was busy elsewhere. This is not what you expect of a 5-star, high-priced restaurant. I would like to extend my thanks to the two managers of the restaurant -- In Room Dining & The Lobby Operations Manager, and especially Food and Beverage Tournant Manager, who did their utmost to improve the situation; they also apologized, assuring me that they would talk and work with that server, and politely and most friendly invited me to visit The Lobby again in the future. Thank you, I probably will -- it's a very nice place, the menu looks very enticing to try something else. Happy Holidays & Happy New Year!

We arrived late to check into our hotel and didn't want to brave the cold for dinner so we decided to stay at the hotel and eat dinner here. Our waiter was kind, attentive, very helpful with recommendations and spot on when the food came! The atmosphere was calm, room was beautiful and the menu had plenty of options for everyone. They also had a really fun dessert bar where you could sample all kinds of different delicacies hand made that very day!

My adult son and I traveled to Chicago for a long weekend. This was one of the places he really wanted me to see, and to experience their tea. The building and area is beautiful, with floor to ceiling windows. We ordered tea and some of their food selections, which included an assortment of finger sandwiches and desserts. While we were there, two musicians played the cello and violin to provide an extra element of elegance and sophistication. If you have ever enjoyed tea in London, you'll enjoy this!

The service in The Lobby is excellent. We were there for breakfast and lunch and the service was impeccable at each. The breakfast menu (too early for brunch) is fairly small, but all of the basics were covered. I found the lunch offerings to be a little better. Either way, both meals were excellent. They also had a good children's menu- my daughter has voted them the best pancakes ever!

Has eclipsed the Drake for the best high tea service in Chicago, wonderful finger sandwiches and sweets paired with delicious champagne in a beautiful environment.

We only had dessert but happened upon their weekend "chocolate buffet"--fabulous! $40 will enable you eat desserts until you drop! Or you can order one or two desserts of your choice for less $. One station had a chef making a chocolate drink of your choice.

A great place to take a break and rest your feet after the Michigan Ave. shopping. Delicious finger food, tea and cocktails.

Always a welcoming spot. Service is fantastic. The food is great. Add the fact that it's in the Peninsula only makes it better.

They put hundreds of delicious fancy desserts out at night. Don't miss it!!! It closes at 10pm, so plan on taking a few plates of gourmet chocolates, candies and cookies with you upstairs. Even if you don't partake, it's a must-see.

This was my first visit to the Peninsula Hotel and Lobby Restaurant. I had a wonderful meal - beautifully prepared, not rushed, great attention to detail. This is a restaurant that I will visit again on my next trip to Chicago.

Expert staff, beautiful surroundings. We stopped in for cocktails and the experience was great. In fact, we plan to stay there next time.

This review is for the Lobby restaurant. We love Shanghai Terrace and it never disappoints. Today we met friends who were guests in the hotel for lunch in the Lobby restaurant. This was easily one of the worst, overpriced meals I've ever eaten. There were 7 of us and drinks orders were taken. Then, after we gave our order we waited, and waited. 40 minutes later the food arrived, well half the food arrived. I opted for the "Chinese breakfast" The fried noodles were cold and rubbery. I sent them back and they were replaced with a hot serving, The Congee with lobster was totally without any flavor whatsoever. Just watery grey gruel. and the dumplings and Bao sat in containers at the wait station til I had to ask for them, by which time they were cold. Our host ordered two poached eggs on whole wheat toast. When they arrived, they were hard boiled. The toast on the side was cold. They had to be sent back twice. COME ON PENINSULA!! Do better. For what you charge, that food needs to be cooked perfectly and served hot. Our server was very sweet and did her best but she was let down by the kitchen today. It wasn't even busy. Very very annoyed.

Had lunch there and the food was excellent, and the setting very good for a quiet business visit. The choices were good, and every dish was very good.

I went to Sunday Brunch in the Lobby at the Peninsula Chicago. Every Sunday from11:00 to 2:00, they serve the Sunday brunch. The service was great, and every food is fresh and great with good quality. I highly recommend the Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel.

Top notch Sunday brunch--very pricy. They accidently cleared our table when we were up getting seconds and then comped us one breakfast and one drink!! Nice music as well.

The selections include traditional brunch choices as well as sushi, seafood and a kid-sized buffet table as well. All the food was tasty and the service was spectacular!

The Lobby restaurant is stunning with huge ceilings, plenty of space and has a European feeling to it. We enjoyed breakfast with good service and constant refills of hot really good coffee. There is a buffet on weekends, however the a la carte menu has just about anything you want. We also dined here at dinner. We were one of four tables and opted to eat here instead of going out since we were at the bar and just wanted to be lazy. There are two other restaurants but thinking this was the all day place, food had to be American and good. Alas it was the introduction of their Spring menu and certainly the chef is trying to be too creative. Wild salmon was OK with grilled asparagus but not worthy of the price. Quinoa salad was too sweet and off balance. The Mediterranean platter was surprisingly good. Certainly the best bet is to come here for breakfast.

We were staying at the Peninsula Hotel and had lunch and breakfast here. No detail left unnoticed, the service was great and the food came exactly as you ordered. Seems silly to say that last comment--but necessary. How often have you order your eggs a special way and your request is ignored. Wonderful atmosphere, wonderful service, wonderful food.

Stayed in a Peninsula hotel and lunch with my friend . Wonderful service, great selection of food and alcohol.

We chose the Lobby Restaurant at the Peninsula for an annual Holiday Luncheon with dear old friends. The experience was a total disaster. The Service was appalling. Our table was not approached for 10 minutes after arrival. The menu was totally disappointing...not only very expensive but very ordinary. The order took an extremely long time to arrive...and dessert was never offered. The worst part was that there was a Jackhammer booming above us on the next floor throughout the entire meal. No one could hear the conversations. The Peninsula should be ashamed of this performance. We would never return.

The Lobby Bar is pure elegance with impeccable service. Comfortable sofa settings for group conversations and cozy nooks for more intimate encounters. Televisions and an excellent appetizer menu with unique offerings. Great old-school cocktails. I will return.

My wife and I had a great evening at the Lobby and it was probably our best meal in Chicago. We both had the tuna option along with the Chocolate Bar. The Chocolate Bar was the reason for the visit and we tried a little of everything across the tables. The tuna bowl was definitely bigger than we both expected and was delicious. Our server Francisco was great the whole evening and our water would barely get halfway down before a refill. The chocolate drink options too were a highlight of the bar dessert. We had a table by the window for a nice view and enjoyed the music played during our meal too

Peninsula breakfast was excellent, included cappuccino and fresh carrot juice. Chinese breakfast (which I also have had at Peninsula Paris) was unique and excellent. Best shrimp dumplings; pork bun; lobster scallop congee; Shanghai noodles; a pot of long jing green tea. Love the Chinese boat chopstick holders and the silver tea service. Leo (Leonardo) gave us the best accommodating service.

Had an outstanding dinner here after arriving late from the airport. Staff was very friendly. Food was delicious. Lots of choices, even for health conscious diners. The view over the terrace garden is nice as well. Definitely give it a try if you are staying at the hotel.

My boyfriend and I have eaten at The Lobby in February and March of this year. Every time we have gone the food has remained consistent and absolutely delicious. We arrived for our 7pm reservation and were greeted by a lovely hostess. I had requested a table by the window which they accommodated. I also requested Reuben as our server-and they accommodated us again. Where do I begin with regard to the food? We started with a decadent order of scallops with cauliflower puree and it melted in our mouths. Never have I experienced eating scallops like this. We also had the tuna Tartar- WOW. I wanted to order it again but held back so that we may enjoy other dishes. Such as the Crisp Skin Ora Salmon. The skin alone was delicious and added spectaculars flavors to the dish. My boyfriend enjoyed the vegetarian flatbread so much that he told me- he'd come in just for that dish alone. There was this onion puree on top of the flatbread which was just divine. Having such a wonderful dining experience I must give a round of applause to Chef Jason Hedin. His creative ideas are displayed in every dish we had. He is an extremely talented Chef with so much passion that it translates into his food. My boyfriend and I will be heading back sometime in May.

We had to book it for Sunday brunch in advance. The branch was great. Atmosphere is very inviting with live classical music. Food was very good quality and service was great! I would compare it to Disney cruise line service where everybody are so nice and polite and food is great!

My first trip to Chicago so it was recommended that we come here for a visit so started out by trying breakfast. I ordered the fancy eggs Benedict with lobster, truffles & caviar. Oh my what a treat. Great service by Luis and I cannot say enough about this hotel and restaurant

High tea for six during the holidays -- a very busy time, we realize -- but for $ 75 per person, we came away with an experience falling short of our expectations. The essential elements were all in place -- an outstanding setting in one of the city's fine hotel room, and all the basics -- finger sandwiches and scones and a range of sweets, and a broad choice of excellent teas. The challenges were with the small stuff -- we asked for flat water, and wound up charged for bottled; bare tables rather than table cloths are not the mark of best-quality settings; most importantly, we were pressed by the servers' pacing when "slow and gracious" should have been the tone. Reactions to these details would depend on one's standards. We've enjoyed high tea in fine hotels around the world -- as the Peninsula aspires to fit in that category, its aim at a bar that high falls a step or two short.

We looked at different vegan breakfast options in Chicago downtown area, The lobby had some options. We tried vegan breakfast and vegan waffles. Both were very good. Beautiful décor, great staff!!

The ambiance, lunch and service were excellent. The price was too high. It is a good place for a casual lunch.

We had the most wonderful Sunday brunch at The Lobby restaurant. I couldn't believe the variety and the quality of the food. Unbelievable. My favorite spot was the oriental section (peking duck was great and so was the salmon sashimi) but I had to have oysters, smoked salmon, shrimp, lobster, gnocchi with seafood, waffles, bacon, eggs benedict. Everything was exceptional. I can't say enough about the dessert section. They had my favorite--French macaroons. They also had chocolate covered hazelnuts, chocolate covered macadamia nuts, mango papaya caramels, tiramisu, crème brulee, key lime pie, panna cotta, chocolate dome, and so much more. All in small portions so you can try them all. If you have children, they had a section for them that was lower to the floor and had their favorites. Our waiter, Ray, was the best and made it a very special meal. It is my new favorite place for brunch.

One of our favorites places in Chicago especially during winter. It's a lovely place we love to have a tea in one of those cold afternoons delicious pastries, everything fancy clean !! Very nice people working there. I'm speechless about this restaurant it's just an amazing place !

this is perhaps the finest hotel and restaurant experience in Chicago. It reminds me alot of the restaurant in the Plaza Hotel in New York . Very chique. The night we were there, Jimmy Buffet was there as well. Its the place to be seen in chicago. Great food , Great service. You feel important.

This room is exquisite to say the least. The service is excellent and the Tea Service is enchanting.

We had a wonderful brunch at the Lobby, something for which it's well known. Most offerings were prepared beautifully, but others were mediocre. For example, the truffled Eggs Benedict featured a beautifully prepared and seasoned egg on an overcooked slice of Canadian Bacon and very tough English Muffin. Raw oysters were marvelous, as were the shrimp, but accompanied by over-cooked crab legs and soggy crab claws. The layout, display, and musical accompaniment were lovely and the service cordial and constant. But it did not justify the $75 fare. I would recommend a reduction in price.

Upon arrival to the hotel where we were staying 4 days, we went down to grab a bite. We were told they would have to seat us at a sofa outside the restaurant area since we had no reservation. Instead we went to the adjoining French bistro on the corner (had to go outside to get there) had al ovely meal, and returned to see the restaurant was STILL mostly empty. Thereafter, we chose to avoid them for the rest of our stay. We happily found there are many, much more welcoming options in Chicago.

I love the Lobby and historically came once a month for their Lobby brunch buffet (but I suppose buffets are a thing of the past until we get COVID under control / vaccinated). I visited this past weekend and it was excellent. Albeit, we did have to wait 40 minutes for a table even though about 10 were open and it wasn't busy around 9:45 AM - I believe they reserve tables until 10:30 AM (for hotel guests). We walked around the gold coast area to kill some time. Service was excellent! (waters were proactively refilled without asking, and we were checked on at least 6 times during the brunch). I ordered the Lobster and Scallop congee, noodles, and dimsum set which included a fresh squeezed OJ and Hot Green Tea. My guest ordered the Turkey Club (as it was getting close to Lunch time too). All in all, the Lobby did a great job with the food quality, the service, and the ambiance.

We always eat here and it is a treat. Service is always very good. Wait staff is friendly and informed. It is cozy and quiet.

We have been to the afternoon tea service twice now, and it’s become an annual tradition for us. The experience is like no other. The staff is so attentive, and so welcoming to my young daughter. The kids tea menu is just adorable! For the adults, the sandwiches and desserts are absolutely delicious. And we’ve left stuffed each time! Every detail from the decor of the restaurant, the plates, the silverware, and the violinists(!) is just incredible. It’s definitely a splurge, but an experience you will always remember.

This is a high dollar breakfast, that being said this was the best huevos rancheros I have ever had. Service was great, just what you would expect at a high end restaurant

The Lobby is a restaurant located inside of the Hotel Peninsula. I strongly recommend it! Please try the The "Pen-edict" it’s a whole lobster tail, caviar, toasted croissant, truffle hollandaise, poached eggs, shaved truffle. It’s in a category all by itself! My husband had the spa breakfast. Atichat our server and great personality and service made our breakfast extra special.

We are staying at the hotel so have had breakfast and 2 dinners in The Lobby. All meals were superb. The ingredients are very high quality. The presentation is beautiful. The dining room elegant with space between tables so you can talk. They are very cautious with allergies and make special adjustments so that you are unaware they have removed dairy and gluten but not all the flavor. My husband adored the short ribs. Melt in your mouth flavors. I had the salmon and it was probably the most perfectly cooked fish I have had. Even the dessert options were special despite dietary restrictions. I had strawberry and elderflower soup with almond custard, coconut granola and strawberry sorbet. It was amazing. My husband had the banana exotic. It is expensive but worth it.

What an amazing experience. I have been to tea at other places during the holidays but NOTHING compares to the PH. Food was amazing & service could not have been better. I will def be going back. You can also ice skate after. What a treat. Locals & travelers should stop by for tea at the PH!!

So nice to be able to chill in such lovely surroundings The service is faultless as you would expect for a 5 star location Great location

My friend and I was in Chicago for NYE. We decided to spend the last Sunday of the 2017, at the brunch of The Peninsula. I don’t have enough words to describe it. Everything was perfect, impeccable, beautiful, classy, fancy, exquisite, delightful... The salon is amazing, with a huge floor to ceiling windows. Still with holiday decor. Service is outstanding and impeccable. The cherry on top was the marvelous live violinists from a balcony that overlooks the salon. It was very emotional, the perfect moment in the perfect place. The Peninsula hotels seems happy to indulge us.

Fantabulous! Excellent food , service impeccable! I expected nothing less from this beautiful hotel .

My mom and I decided to have a nice dinner here which included the chocolate buffet. We made reservations weeks beforehand. The staff was so nice and helpful. One waiter gave me a peninsula teddy bear when we told him that this is my last mother daughter trip before going to college. The view and the setting is incredible. We were able to watch the skyline go from sunset to night. Our experience was unforgettable.

Excellent evening spent at the Chocolate Bar for our Anniversary! Truly spoiled ourselves with divine chocolate specialties...beautiful creations! A special event to be tried! The tea is also fantastic and wonderful wait staff!

Visited here for afternoon tea on a Saturday. The stand-out aspect was the service. Everyone that spoke to me was very attentive and I was served by a great waiter who did a stellar job. The lobby itself is fairly grand, with a gorgeous ceiling although I have the feeling the tables and chairs could have used a touch more glamour. The food was fine if not spectacular - sandwiches were good, the scones were a little small and I'm not much of a desert person. They were kind enough to offer more sandwiches which I appreciated. The tea was ok, but the loose leaves were too small and kept getting into my cup and not sinking. I've been challenged to find a good afternoon tea in USA so comparing to other options here in the states this was pretty good.

It was an easy rainy morning. I was looking forward to a nice cozy lovely morning sipping my favorite tea and indulging in a delicious pastries, fruits, cheese , bagels and brioche. It was a wonderful experience to start my day on my way back to the airport for another traveling adventure. Peninsula sets the tone to make you feel good, It was unforgettable. I would be coming back. I love the suite we stayed in and the wonderful service. Every staff are so attentive.

We had tea at the first seating at 2:30. The tea was excellent with the waiter offering us more sweets, scones and sandwiches. Our only issue was having to wait 15 minutes to be seated despite arriving early before the crowds arrived to be seated. We brought this to the attention of the assistant manager who reassured us that he would discuss with the host.

Beautiful lobby that provides a nice respite from the tour of the day. Service was exceptional and food was delicious. We were able to savor our tea and scones and sandwiches and sweets without being rushed. We lingered for a while and enjoyed the ambiance. While food was delicious, it wasn't enough for the price you pay.

The high ceiling and elegance of The Lobby greatly contributed to our enjoyment of our lunch. Our entrees were beautifully presented and tasted great. The only drawback was the food took a while to arrive. Our waiter was attentive and our water cups were always filled. We would love to lunch at The Lobby again!

stayed here about a total of 20 nights in 2018 Each trip was flawless. The only true luxury choice in Chicago.

We dined at the Lobby Restaurant in the Peninsula while it was decorated for Christmas. After seeing this beautiful room, I was certain the food would be incredible as well. What a gorgeous place to enjoy a quite meal. The room was not very crowded on this Monday evening but I imagine that it is important to make reservations well in advance. The menu is varied and selections that are sure to please everyone. The house white wine is especially good. We started with the roasted shrimp cocktail -- six huge shrimp that were very tasty. My husband had the black Truffle Risotto with shaved parmigiana-reggiano and I had the slowly cooked Ora King Salmon with glazed carrots, baby bok choy, macadamia crunch (unusual and very good), and ginger-carrot white soy emulsion. Both dishes were exceptional. We also shared a side dish of Truffle Mac and Cheese, just to try it. For dessert we ordered the molten chocolate cake -- this was the only disappointment. We were told that it broke apart and was substituted with a chocolate layer cake. This was done without even asking us if we wanted the chocolate cake. An error on the part of our waiter. I did enjoy the Peninsula Coffee -- peninsula blend, godiva chocolate, and grand marnier. Aside from this error, the meal and surroundings were spectacular. We'll definitely visit again. The clients were varied. It appeared that several of the groups of people were those staying in the hotel. Therefore, several children were in the dining room. Several tables were filled with couples.

My mother and I ate in the Lobby restaurant on our first night after our arrival and an afternoon of sightseeing. The dining room is elegantly appointed and I loved the string ensemble that played from a balcony high above the room. In daytime, it is bright an airy. My kale salad and chicken roulade were delicious and well presented, but my mother was a little underwhelmed by her pasta dish compared to its impressive description (hand rolled cavatelli - which included beef short rib, caramelized onions, jus, smoked yogurt and bulgur wheat). The dessert and chocolate table was quite eye-catching and beautifully presented, but the selection at the ice cream table (staffed by a very personable young woman) concentrated on candy toppings and featured just one type of vanilla ice cream. I might have expected a little more unusual toppings, a couple more choices of homemade ice cream or garnishes to warrant its own separate presentation table. However, all in all the service was very friendly and attentive, the music added to the pleasant experience, and it was a lovely setting even if a couple of the dishes could have been more inspired.

Awesome food, awesome ambiance and great service. Try the Tuna and the filet--both are outstanding. Window seat overlooking the skating rink during the holidays is fun. Clean, well priced and delicious. A repeat for sure!

I visited the lobby on the thanks giving day. The stuff where great. The food was delicious. The selection of Tea and coffee were good.

Made a reservation at 'The Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel' for lunch at 1 pm on Saturday 4/10/16, and we thought that this would be nice for a special occasion with an out of town guest who was visiting. We had previously been to this restaurant several times before for various occasions and had never been disappointed with either the food or service. This time however, was different. As usual, the ambience was pleasant and the service was crisp, but the food was well below what we have come to expect. Instead of a true lunch menu, we were presented with a 'brunch' menu with seriously limited options. If we had been told in advance that lunch would not have been available at 1 PM, then we would have gone elsewhere, but the hotel was not up front about this. My wife and I have eaten in restaurants all over the world (including at competitors of the Peninsula like the Mandarin Oriental in Hong Kong and Las Vegas, and the Setai in Miami Beach) and we can honestly say that the burger ($24) and steak and eggs ($28) meals that we were served were by far the worse that we have eaten in any major hotel establishment. We did not want to be disagreeable in front of our guest, but the chef should be ashamed of serving such poor quality of food - how can you not know how to do good steak and burgers in the mid-west? We were also truly perplexed with the hotel's decision not to have a true lunch menu available and not to make this clear to us either at the time of booking or in their confirmatory email - at best this is incompetence and at worse it is misleading your guests. I definitely will not be back and I will not be recommending to any of my friends.

Went just for the chocolate bar and we were not disappointed! Desserts were so beautiful, you almost don't want to eat them. Glad we did because they were so delicious. The setting is beautiful and well worth it. Also, great chocolate adult beverages- so glad we tried a few.

My friend and I had previously come to the Lobby at The Peninsula Chicago for the dinner menu 2 months ago. The experience was beyond amazing. The environment of the restaurant, the presentations of the food, the taste of each dish totally met the expectations of a 5 star restaurant. We were so satisfied with the food and the service received. Since then, we have been wanting to try the afternoon tea and snack menu, so we decided to come back today. Chef Jason personally welcomed us and introduced the afternoon menu for us. Instead of the afternoon set menu, we picked a few dishes from the snack menu, including lamb flat bread, peekytoe crab tartine, soy cured salmon, kona kampachi, Peninsula sushi and sashimi combination, and a tasty chocolate cake. My taste buds were experiencing a 5 star spa, and all we wanted was just more and more. My favorite was the peekytoe crab tartine, which has mustard-lime aioli, radish, and pickled mustard seed. Chef Jason came out a few times to make sure everything was great, and of course, everything was just fantastic as expected. I highly recommend the Lobby at The Peninsula to anyone who wants to experience fine dining.

Celebrating a birthday- brunch with friends. Had such a great time all of the food items are impressive, had different stations, cold seafood, sushi, cheeses, pastas so much more! The desserts you must save room for! We will return! Cheers!

From the minute i looked into making a reservation to the minute my food was served the level of service was excellent. I made an enquiry into having dinner in the lobby and Gabriela kindly managed all my dietary requirements along with my chocolate at the pen experience. The service on the day was perfect, food was great and the chocolate bar experience was exceptional. If you are a foodie and love your desserts, you must try Chocolate at the Pen!

Sort of an odd title, but it's because I had high expectations and was disappointed, even though it was probably one of the better teas I've had. Given that it's The Peninsula, I wanted to be blown away and I wasn't. I love afternoon tea and have indulged often, around the world. Some have been surprisingly awful (Fortnum and Mason's in London) and some were surprisingly good (Glenlo Abbey in Ireland) but most have been average and this was among them. The other teas we've had were way too much food for one person so we decided to share this one, especially given the exorbitant price, $65. We each had a glass of champagne (an additional $30 each) and we ordered a second pot of tea so we'd each have our own. The champagne was very good - Canard-Duchene Cuvee Leonie Brut Rose - as was the tea, and I was pleased to see they offered several organic selections. The food, though, was average. There were two scones, one traditional and one Lisbon lemon but I couldn't taste a difference between them. They were good, but they were cold, and I've had better. They were served with butter, jam and whipped (not clotted) cream. For "sandwiches" there was a smoked salmon eclair that was delicious, and a sweet corn quiche that my sister loved. The cucumber sandwich was good, as was the egg salad, but neither was outstanding, and the crab brioche was dry and very fishy. The desserts were also average - none of them had us oohing and aahing. They were: almond custard with apricot gelee, caramel brownie, vanilla financier, strawberry basil macaroon, and rhubarb tart. I honestly can’t remember any of them. In comparison, we had pastry at the French Market the day before and it was to die for. Why weren’t these desserts at least that good? The room is gorgeous and service was attentive but...bottom line for me is that it wasn't worth it. We had eaten an early lunch, and were planning dinner as well, so it wasn't the amount of food that disappointed us (although it was less than we expected) it was the quality. The scones should have been warm, the brioche should have been fresh, and everything should else should have had more pizazz. When we’ve had tea elsewhere, the room has been buzzing, but there was only one other table having tea with us that day. Perhaps that’s why everything seemed a bit stale – they don’t have enough turnover.

The lobby is THE place to escape from busy Chicago and have a snack or coffee in a luxurious environment with incredible artwork

This was my favourite meal of three nights out in Chicago. I can't remember what I ate and the place was totally deserted which would make you think it was not enjoyable. But after the hustle and bustle of other restaurants on other nights, it was lovely to get the peace here. The loos were luxurious too.

The Peninsula offers a special treat, burgers and bubbly, which is a hamburger, fries, and champagne. The food is very good and reasonably priced. The atmosphere is lovely and the dining room is comfortable. This is worth ordering when the restaurant offers it.

Superb offerings and service. Beautiful, ample, architectural masterpiece with very good views. Well lit. The flower arrangements that adorn it every day set the tone!

Ate here for breakfast only, but was extremely impressed by the level of service and care. Food was very good.

Very pleasant, impressive, fabulous king salmon. Worth it, and would go back again. Wonderful service, and for dessert we ordered the passion souffle. It was spectacular.

The food tasted fake, for example the eggs any style were terrible. They take advantage of you staying In the hotel. Go somewhere else.

OK, nothing to write home about. Was not up to the standard of the rest of the hotel. Surely an hotel of this stature demands a restaurant with theatre and panache.........?

I took my 80 year old aunt to lunch at the Lobby at the Peninsula Hotel. She was treated like a queen by the server Don, which just added to our wonderful experience. He suggested that we split a club sandwich due to the size, which was much appreciated given we were only visiting for the day. The ambiance is delightful and the food was very good as well. Without Don, I am sure out experience would have been nice, but his approach to my aunt has made a lasting impression, one which she has shared over and over with her friends.

Great service - but food/menu needs work. Lunch was very disappointing with tomato soup that was like ketchup and limp French fries. Breakfasts were boring - and unimaginative. Examples include Avocado Toast (there are so many great variations out there) and French Toast (ditto)

Stayed at Peninsula for 5 days. Tried many restaurants but one evening we wanted to stay at the hotel and tried the dinner at the lobby. WOW. Did not think that a restaurant at a hotel could serve that kind of food. The first time I tried the hamburger and it was done at perfection. Exactly as I wanted and was the best hamburger I had. The next day we tried the restaurant again and my wife had the hamburger again but I tried the New York stake and it was also great AND a really big steak. I was expecting a smaller steak but this was a nice, huge one and really really good. Next time in Chicago this is the place to go if you ask me!

We had Sunday brunch here, and were a little intimidated by the décor and reputation. Our hostess and our servers immediately put us at our ease, and we enjoyed exploring an excellent array of buffet brunch items (check out the kid buffet!) while a string quartet played classic rock selections from the balcony. So much fun, and a lovely way to relax with family.

This review is a bit late, but I had Thanksgiving dinner with my family in the lobby of the Peninsula (as I have done for the last 4 years). It is my favorite place in town for a holiday dinner. The food selection is vast; my favorite being the raw seafood bar: freshly shucked oysters, sushi and a large shrimp and crab-claw boat. The main meal is the usual Thanksgiving fare with a few modern flourishes, it helps keep the feel of the meal traditional. It is a wonderful atmosphere for children and for those who eel (like I used to) that there is something too impersonal about eating out on the holiday, this place is an exception. You have the best trained staff in the world seeing to you and your family's needs. Highly recommended.

Classy atmosphere, exceptional service and delicious tea selections and food. Very refined and highly recommend this as a must if you love tea.

Open for breakfast, lunch, drinks and dinner. Exceptional service and thoughtful food touches. Everything is impecable.