Worth a Special Trip
Written: Jan 10 '06 (Updated Jan 12 '06)
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Pros: Nice food and service at a reasonable price for downtown Chicago
Cons: Alcohol very expensive, long lines during summer
The Bottom Line: We had a great time. You will, too!
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| Saxguy's Full Review: Park Grill |
A big warm thank you to the category lead, Megugrrrl, for adding this to the database.
The week of Christmas saw me at home for some much needed R&R and my wife eager to get out of the house. Our conversation went like this:
My wife: We have to get out and around
Me: Are you kidding? This is vacation. I want to sleep.
The conversation didn’t get very far. I knew my wife was right since she is disabled and can’t really get out of the house without me helping.
So, one day, my son was playing video games in the basement and she said “Let’s go Downtown”. We took a few minutes to figure out where, and the Millennium Park Grill seemed a strong contender for casual dining. Neither of us was interested in getting dressed up for dinner. My wife had had lunch there with her sister during the summer and liked it. While the restaurant has a reputation for lines, time was on our side as we would get there before 6pm.
She also said that she knew of handicapped parking spaces nearby, so no parking garages were involved. So we went.
Getting to and from the restaurant was really the hardest part. We were able to park on the Randolph Street Bridge on the north end of the park. Not too far, except when considering that the temperature was a little below freezing and the wind coming off the lake was clearly in double digits. Still, we briskly strolled (me pushing, she in the giant stroller (wheelchair) into the park where there were some security people, past the pavilion and around to the restaurant, which was right next to the outdoor dining area that had been turned into a winter skating rink.
For the record, the indoor restaurant seats 300; the outdoor area seats 150 during the summer.
We went in and the hostess said that there was no wait. As we usually do, we asked if we could take a look around the restaurant to see where it would be most comfortable to eat for us. Of course, her idea of comfort is a comfortable table with the best available view in the house. We found a couple of contending spaces, a table and a booth, I sat at one of each and though the table would be more comfortable for her. So we asked for a table by the window. I put her in the chair for the table and the wheelchair was whisked off into a storage area somewhere.
I thought the wait staff was really nice. Most restaurants are ok with the concept of catering to disabled people, at least until they see that it can take more effort for them to be comfortable and served. Trying the tables at the Park Grill and going around was no problem. Maybe it was easier because there were a few empty tables, but you could tell the wait staff had done things like this before and they were there to help.
Warm, fresh bread was immediately brought to the table, along with butter and some sort of olive compote. It was all very good. The waiter asked if we wanted drinks, and then offered to come back in a little while for our order. My wife and I weren’t in the mood for drinks since we had gotten BAD sticker shock from looking at the drink list. Perhaps $7 and up for a glass of house wine is what nice restaurants in Downtown Chicago are getting, but we’d rather spent restaurant wine money on something better from a quality liquor store and drink it at home.
Anyhow, we asked for and shared an appetizer called Fritto Misto ($9), which consisted of lightly breaded shrimp and calamari with filed greens in a spicy tomato sauce with capers. It came fairly quickly and was the right amount for two to share. The calamari was done correctly and I thought the sauce really complemented the dish.
For our entrees, we each had a 12 oz Kobe burger ($18 each), which came with blue cheese topping on a fresh bakery bun, with generous portions of French fries. We ordered them medium. It was one of the daily specials. My wife would have had an 8oz portion if one was available. She asked the waiter if it was the same hamburger as on the lunch menu and he said that, snce it was Kobe beef, it was a better grade. The burgers arrived within a reasonable time. She thought hers was a little too well done for a straight medium, but mine was clearly medium and I thought hers was a little on the done side for medium but still in an acceptable range.
The blue cheese provided a nice contrast to the beef, which was tasty and enjoyable. This was our first experience with Kobe beef, and while I cannot call it a watershed moment, the burgers were still tasty and worth the money. During this time we were enjoying a pleasant conversation while watching the skaters on the rink. It was among the best views I’ve enjoyed at a restaurant in a while.
My wife was saying she had had enough, and then the waiter asked about dessert. I didn’t want any, but my wife went for the Chocolate Souffle Cake, with coconut sorbet and a liquid chocolate center ($7). That came, again within a reasonable time, and she thoroughly enjoyed it. I don’t know how they prepare it, but it was a very moist tasty cake and the liquid chocolate center was wonderful. I’m not a fan of coconut, but my little bite of the sorbet provided a subtle taste of coconut. She really enjoyed it.
Once that was over with, it was time to get ready and go out into the cold cruel world. The total bill of less than $69 for two people was not cruel at all.
Having a relaxed dinner, with good food and service in a place that’s comfortable for her is a great experience. I recommend the restaurant highly.
They do take reservations, and they have a reputation for being much more crowded during the summer.
Thanks for reading. God bless!
You might enjoy some of my Chicago-area restaurant reviews
Davis Street Fishmarket
Bob Chinn’s Crab House
Hackney’s Restaurant in Glenview
Twin Anchors Restaurant in Chicago
Pavilion Restaurant in Chicago
Szechuan East Restaurant in Chicago
And some of my beer reviews.
Point Special Beer
Budweiser Select
Sam Adams 2005 Imperial Pilsner
Bell’s 7000 ale
Baltika #6 Russian Beer
Baltika #4 Russian Beer
Ommegang Belgian-style ale with Cherry Lambic
Unibroue Terrible Belgian-style Ale
Zhiguly 9.5 Grand Lithuanian Beer
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale
Recommended:
Yes
Kid Friendliness: Yes
Vegetarian Friendly: Yes
Notes, Tips or Menu Recommendations come for early dinner and beat the crowd
Best Suited For: Trendy Crowd
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