I was raised with a lot of old school Chicago German business style. Steakhouses. Sports. Tough business.
I enjoy a good salad, sautéed mushrooms, potatoes lyonnaise (or any au gratin) and a fat prime ribeye.
An Italian Barolo will do for the evening. Places like this, and Gene & Georgetti's define my pops side of the fam.
It was Valentine's day and I was meeting a coworker for dinner, it was kind of last minute and I was in the mood for a steak. Â Well needless to say we were hard pressed to find a place that wasn't booked up, and this place was recommended by another colleague ...well low and behold we were able to get a 7:00 PM reservation which concerned us a bit but we decided to go for it. Â Well I have to say that we were pleasantly surprised, while the decor is a tad bit rustic and lodge-ish (with moose heads, ducks and fishes mounted on the walls....not typically the type type of place I would go for a steak but they were pretty good !! Â Side dishes a bit on plain side but if you are in the market for a good steak, I would definitely recommend this place. Â And the front bar makes a pretty good dirty martini :-)
Review Source:This place definitely has a "Classic" feel to it. It's a throwback to the days of Al Capone and the boys. The servers and other wait staff are right on top of things, from keeping the water full to the brim to hauling away dishes the instant they're finished. From a service standpoint, you can't beat Erie Street Cafe.
The food, on the other hand, can be beaten fairly easily... and for a LOT LESS money.
At our table, we had the prime rib special x 3, a T-bone steak and the filet mignon. The sizes of the cuts were absolutely "Flinstonian." The prime rib was as big as something you'd see on Man Vs. Food for one of those gut-busting challenges. The thing was over 3 inches thick and the diameter of a full-sized dinner plate. It was quite good, but nowhere near the top 5 prime ribs I've ever eaten. The t-bone and filet were nearly as cartoonishly large as the prime rib, but their flavors were better (or so I'm told by my dining companions).
The fried calamari was good, but I wasn't a huge fan of the butter-based sauce. The shrimp cocktail was very basic, but good.
Their house salad is also extremely basic. It's mostly iceberg lettuce with a sprinkling of other ingredients, one tomato wedge and it's smothered in dressing.
The "fried potato cottage fries" or whatever they're called, are basically extra-thick-cut not completely crip-fried potato chips.
I was with a bunch of non-drinkers this time so we ordered Cokes. They serve tiny 8oz. mini-bottles and there are no free rides on the refill situation.
I just felt like they didn't nickel and dime us here, but rather they $5'd and $10'd us.
If I ever go back to Erie St. Cafe, I'm trying one of their pastas. They look phenomenal and they're $20-$25/each, rather than $50ish for a steak with some extra thick potato chips and a side salad.
I'd say 2 stars for value, 3 stars for the food and 4 stars for the "coolness" of the place.
Marcos gives great service and food recommendations!
The Erie Cafe is a great old school supper club atmosphere steak and seafood restaurant .
The pricing is so much more reasonable than the steak houses near the Magnificent Mile, the Loop, the  Rush Street areas!
The restaurant is smaller, the service is very personalized and attentive without obtrusiveness. Â
It's very clean, beautifully and tastefully decorated. Â The washrooms are immaculate.
We went most recently to celebrate daughter the elder's birthday. Â It was an immediate family occasion. Â We all enjoyed our meal immensely.
The daughters and son-in-law had not previously been to the Erie Cafe and all three of them (in their twenties) want to return.
The Italian steak house and seafood dishes as well as the appetizers, salads and desserts were all scrumptious,
Parking on the street is fairly easy during the week, and there is valet.
I highly recommend the Erie Cafe for a special occasion!
Easily my favorite steakhouse in Chicago. They have awesome grilled calamari. I get the one they do spicy with Jalepenos. I've had the veal chop for lunch and its by far the best veal chop I've ever had. Other than that I go for dinner and get the bone in Ribeye. Erie Cafe is simply the best!
Review Source:Wow.
Ginormous plates. I was skeptic after seeing how much each entree cost but you certainly get what you pay for. Each serving could easily fill 3 woman or 2 men...or 1 beast. 32oz rib eye anyone??? The potato chips were delicious and the creamy spinach was mouthwatering and satiating. I ordered the chicken parmesan which topped a perfectly cooked spaghetti. I saved half the meal for my dinner the next day and it was just as tasty. Very very happy with my meal and I'd definately return!
food is very very good.... 5 star good. Â service was extremely slow. Â nice but very slow. Â That said I'd go back because the food is that good. Â There were 11 of us at dinner and everyones food was outstanding. Â got there at 7:30 and had to rush to leave at 10:30. Â 3 hour dinner is a bit long. Â Did I mention the food was excellent...
Review Source:Once upon a time, this apparently was the place. Â It's definitely a Chicago old school neighborhood place, with old timers speaking the Bridgeport accent stopping by to pay their respects....because this place has passed. Â Ordered a steak and although it was prepared right, the cut was terrible. Â Instead of marbling I got a lot of gristle....I was really hoping for the best. Â Customer service was good, so thus the extra star....otherwise it's a one.
Review Source:I guess there must be something for just about everyone at Erie. Â I came on a Tuesday to meet with my boss and some of his colleagues. Â In the same corner of the restaurant I saw a 10 year old and his family having a birthday party, some old cronies doing whatever it is they do, our own mixed group, and a couple having dinner.
I can't say the server was the friendliest guy, but he performed his job with some sort of tough-love, retired goombah approach that no one seemed to object to.  On to the food.  The portions are enormous.  Our table had the calamari appetizer to start.  It was a very garlicky dish so maybe not the best for meetings, but it was delicious.  The calamari was tender and cooked perfectly.  Not the usual rubbery business, but flavorful.  I think it may even have been marinated.  Use some of their bread (very good) to soak up the juices, it's great.  We also had the sautéed spinach and mushrooms dish.  Again the dish had some serious garlic, but no one was worried about our breath at this point, so what the hell, right?  It was also cooked perfectly.  By the time it go to the table the spinach was wilted and tender but not slimy, and the mushrooms gave it an extra bit of flavor.
And the steak. Â It gets its own paragraph because that thing was HUGE. Â I ordered the bone-in ribeye. Â That is my favorite cut of steak ever, so every place I go that claims it does steak well, I'll order one. Â The piece of meat they put in front of me was the biggest cut of beef I have ever seen that one person is expected to eat. I've been to a lot of steak joints and I've not seen a piece of meat that big slapped down in front of me before. Â I got the meat sweats just looking at that steak. Â Oh my goodness did it taste good. Â I like the outside and fatty parts blackened and crispy, and the inside nice and dark pink and juicy. Â It was a perfect steak. Â Flavorful but of its own accord - it tasted like only a touch of salt and pepper were used to season the meat. Â The meat spoke for itself. Â It said Moooooooove the bread plate away, you won't be needing that anymore. Â I took the leftovers home after everyone at the table made fun of me for not finishing the steak. Â Too bad for them, I think I won out on that deal. Â
I'll definitely be going back again for another crack at that massive ribeye.
I was in town on business and a co-worker suggested this place. Smallish, old-style service, men in white aprons and a bartender that has probably been there for 50 years. I loved it. My kind of place. I was going to have a steak and then decided on the lamb chops. Oh man, were they good! Worth a trip back for those alone. All four of us had great meals.
Review Source:Meh. Â I've experienced better.
We don't normally go out to dinner on Sunday night, but as it was our anniversary I made the reservation. Â It was for 8:00 and the place was pretty quiet. Â Fine. Â We like it quiet; we can talk. Â
The host swung the table out and we were seated. Â We were excited to have a nice time and a good meal.
I saw they had prime rib on the weekend. Â Awesome! Â I ordered it. Â They were out. Â
Sigh...
Ok, it's the end of the weekend I guess. Â
Disappointed, I moved on. Â
I ordered the T-Bone medium rare. Â I asked if I could get a Caesar instead of the included house salad figuring I could just pay the difference. Â
"No, Caesar is full price extra."
It seems someone on their A game might have said, "Hey, sorry about the prime rib, but we'll comp you the Caesar."
But I don't expect everyone to be on their A game.
Anyway, my wife ordered the ravioli with vodka sauce and we got a shrimp cocktail to share.
For the price I thought the shrimp could have been bigger and served with a little more style. Â They were in a metal bowl with a small bowl of cocktail sauce on the side. Â I guess I'm used to something tall in a glass with a bunch of ice, and some garnish to color it up. Â But hey the shrimp were fine.
After a wait (which seemed too long considering how few people were dining), our meals came and my wife's was good. Â It wasn't anything extraordinary, but it was good. Â My steak was sizable, but it was more on the medium side. Â Because the wait had been so long, I didn't care to send it back. Â I guess the filet part was mostly medium rare. Â It had a lot of fat on the sides.
I don't know. Â Just because it's Sunday night doesn't mean you should give up. Â I had the feeling they were waiting to close. Â The meal came to $130 (sans tip) with three drinks. Â For that kind of money there should have been a lot more wow and a lot less meh... Â Really, there should have been a lot more food. Â $130?
Also, it was our anniversary, and I mentioned that on the reservation. Â My experience is that the classier restaurants tend to comp you a dessert. Â I'm not looking for handouts or freebies. Â It's just something I've noticed. Â I'd say 100% of the time the nicer restaurants make your special occasion special. Â Why? Â Because you'll remember it and you'll go back. Â You'll also tell your friends and then they go.
I'm not giving 1 star because the food was fine. Â But there is no way this place is on the same tier as Chicago Chop House, Firehouse, Fulton's, or ANY of the finer Chicago steakhouses. Â NO WAY. Â We will not be going back.
Fabulous outdoor patio w a view on the river and park. Fresh seafood and ginormous shrimp! Hubs liked the soup as its a significant factor to him. Ask for Arnold he got hubs the "crazy steak." 26oz bone in ribeye w shrooms bacon and red wine sauce...It's dreamy! I got the white fish...yummy!
Review Source:A great surprise!..... Our entire group of 9 REALLY enjoyed the dinner.  The toasted ravioli and grilled calamari was a perfect start! ----Both were Delicious!  The caesar salad dressing ..... yum!  I am trying to not eat meat and was SUPER happy with the pan sautéed fish with capers and bernaise  sauce..... Everyone else enjoyed bone in steaks that looked really tasty and huge!  The sides were all amazing and the service was top notch.  We had Tony that has been a waiter for 46 years!! .. what a gem and a true professional.  ---  It was a Great Evening!
Review Source:Very good Restaurant. I now remember how much I miss it. Food is always good and fulling, whether it's traditional Italian, American classics, daily specials, or burgers. Service is usually always professional and top notch. Whether it was bringing my team out for lunch, taking out business clients or being taken out by business clients, this spot was always the recommended spot. I have no complaints about this restaurant.
Review Source:I've tried many of the quality steakhouses in Chicago, and Erie Street is on the lower end of the spectrum. My Ribeye was just "ok" but was priced in nearly the same league as a Mastro's or Gibsons. The steak was cooked as ordered, but the quality of meat was just the same.
The service was also disappointing. Our waiter's accent was almost impossible to understand and they poorly packed up our leftovers--the boxes leaked everywhere.
Meh.
Vegetarians beware- you don't have many choices here other than noodles with sauce. However, the multi-grain bread on the table is fanTAStic. The pasta and house salad I had were both blah... the balsamic dressing on the salad was tart and the one mealy tomato didn't help my plate of lettuce much.
Our server wasn't particularly friendly, but this looks more like a white-collar "my AMEX has a higher limit than YOUR AMEX does" vibe. There was a guy waiting at the bar that looked greasy enough to slide out the door. I should have...
Prices are way too high for mediocre food and a small selection. Apparently enough people dig this place to keep it a staple but meh, it doesn't push the right buttons for me.
Had a solid lunch here with friends. Â Good service...gave us plenty of time to chat before we ordered, old school wait staff with the white jackets - not trying to charm anyone, just doing their job and staying out of the way. Â Restaurants could benefit from more of that stay out of the guest's way mentality. Â
Went with the salmon which arrived with some rice and veggies, all tasted very good. Â Salad before lunch was crisp and fresh, and the bread basket had a nice selection of carbs. Â Atmosphere is ultra conservative, lots of dark wood, old pics, sharp knives - good stuff. Â Enjoyable lunch.
This place is not trending nor does it want to! You come here because you want good Italian food and your not attending a social media event. Â In fact, the owners may even hate that I am writing a review on Yelp...hopefully they do not own a computer.
The reason I say this is because this place is a take it or leave it kind of place. They are not pimping themselves out on Groupon or Living Social and giving away there food and drinks. Â You come here because you are a regular or a regular dragged you in here.
Carlos behind the bar is amazing...he knows his customers and he knows what they drink too. Â The regulars have to stop Carlos from making a drink, as they walk in the door because he is ready to pour them there usual, as they walk in the door. Â Norm from Cheers would call this bar his home away from Boston! Â See change is not good here and I love it...there is something about tradition here that stands tall and true.
And speaking of tradition that is what you will get here...real Italian food that is not trying to be a fancy version of Italian. Â The red bolognese sauce here is amazing...you can taste the bold deep flavors of meat and veggies in the sauce. Â Also the pasta is always cooked perfectly and do not forget the meatballs. Â They are always there to please...soft and moist and full of flavor.
I highly recommend that you stop in here if you haven't already.  Some extra tips: You may find a free parking spot on the street because there are plenty of them.  Also  there is an amazing outdoor place to eat with views of downtown and the river.  I feel bad for the waiters as they must dodge traffic as they try to bring you your food across the street.
So if you are looking for some old school Italian and you want to feel like a made man then I highly recommend you stop by here but do not tell them I sent you because I do not want this Yelp review to backfire on me. Â It will be our little secret!!!
I went to Erie Cafe with a party of four on a recommendation from a friend. Everything about our experience was fantastic. Host gave us a warm welcome at the door and seated us directly. The waiter was attentive without being intrusive and the food was topnotch!
The grilled calamari appetizer was superb and enhanced with a light tomato sauce. The only reason I can think for a previous reviewer to criticize the calamari is that maybe they prefer the tasteless deep-fryed variety.
The ribeye steak I ordered came out a perfect medium and was a great quality cut. And the portion size was huge! An extremely great value for the price. The side dishes my group ordered were also great complements to the meal.
As a previous reviewer noted, the wine list was somewhat limited on the white wines but there were a good range of reds available. Being a steakhouse, that is pretty much what I expected.
When I come to Chicago, I want a great old-school steakhouse. I can get the cookie-cutter chains pretty much anywhere. Erie Cafe exceeded my expectations for a great Chicago steakhouse.
I have been eating here for over fifteen years, as a Chicago boy I grew up on great Chicago food and this place has never disappointed me. I have taken business clients, family, and friends here for years and the consistency of the quality of the food as well as the presentation  is second to none.  I think the best part of the dining experience is the wait staff. These guys are true professionals and work like a well oiled machine. You can pay more for a meal in Chicago but you won't get better food and service than the Erie Cafe. Â
Jim Lane
Belton Texas
Short:
I went to Erie Street Cafe with a client prospect, and we enjoyed our experience.
Long:
I had originally planned to take my client prospect to a sushi restaurant, but when I asked his admin in passing about sushi, she said him no likey. Â So I did an abort and moved the reservation over to Erie Street Cafe (hereafter referred to as Erie).
The restaurant looks nice inside and out. Â Inside, it is well lit with a lot of windows. Â The real wood ceiling and brick walls give the place a nice vibe. Â During the meal, it was not loud, which both my guest and I appreciated. Â The room was 1/2 to 2/3's full so it wasn't mostly empty like some River North places can be like on Ontario. Â The crowd seemed older for some reason. Â While I like Keefers for example, the last two times I've been there the place was almost roaring with sound.
I had the lamb chops. Â They were cooked exactly as I asked, and the vegetables which were mostly peppers were cooked well and still retained some crunch. Â I liked the house salad a lot, lettuce was perfect.
If I were looking at things to nitpick, I'd say the food came out a little too fast (and I'm really reaching on that one), and they should wait until we've left to clean up the table so much, the end felt a bit rushed, and hovery.
I've read some of the review where folks felt the service was soft, and I thought ours was fine. Â The waiters weren't super gushy 20-somethings who knew where the Lamb was from and and his favorite hobbies like you get at some other newer restaurants so maybe some folks miss that.
I will go again and next time try the steak.
While I"ve enjoyed quite a few drinks at this neighborhood spot, I just ended up eating there for the very first time! I called on a Friday evening to see if they could squeeze our party of 5 in and they said it wouldn't be a problem. We did end up waiting about 20-30 minutes, but not too terrible for a Friday evening during the summer.
The menu was a bit pricier than I expected, but everything was really good. Â I ordered the broccoli pasta, which was absolutely ginormous, but somehow I managed to eat the entire thing. Of course I blamed it on eating for 2. The rest of my family ordered pasta dishes as well and everyone seemed just as content, although they all ended up with leftovers. They aren't eating for 2. ;) Our waiter also brought out complimentary steak fries for the table, which seemed like a random side for pasta dishes, but I'll take fries with anything!
The service was just as good as the food...I found myself wondering on our way out what took me so long to eat here!
My wife and I visited Erie Cafe for a mid-week evening out. Â In the warmer weather months, they have an outdoor seating area that overlooks the Chicago River. Â That is the end of the good.
After being seated, we were ignored for the next 15 minutes. Â At this point someone finally brought a menu and promised to bring water and bread soon, but it was easily another 10 minutes. Â As we are vegetarian, we ordered two pasta dishes and then began to wait. Â It took just under 60 minutes for our food to arrive. Â One dish was gnocchi and it was both under-cooked and over-cooked depending on what part of the plate the piece came from -- quite disappointing.
After finishing our food and having our plates cleared, we waited at least 25 minutes for our server to return so that we could ask for the check.
The worst part is that the restaurant sells cigars for diners to smoke in the outdoor cafe. Â It was awful. Â One person has the right to ruin the meals of 30 other people in the cafe, as well as to ruin the outdoors for all the people and their children enjoying Erie Park/Park #511 right next to the cafe. Â Our experience was particularly bad as there were at least 6 people with cigars puffing away. Â It was absolutely terrible -- made worse by the fact that we could not leave as the serve wouldn't come back for the check after we were ready to pay.
We will not go back and recommend that future diners avoid it.
Underwhelming and uninspiring.
On a perfectly-perfect, late summer afternoon, a friend and I ventured over here for lunch as I was told that Erie Cafe has a lovely outdoor dining area.
That much was true.
The outdoor dining space is right along the river, which typically I am not a fan of, but theirs was elevated and somewhat secluded, so it made all the difference.
We got one of the last remaining outdoor tables and ordered beverages. First strike - the soft drinks are served in those tiny bottles, which is always my pet peeve because it means you get charged for every single one. It's an easy, sneaky way to drive up the cost of the check.
My friend and I started to look over the menu. The first thing I noticed was that not one thing had a description. Fair enough; not everything needed to be spelled out, but am I supposed to know what a "wexler" sandwich and "potatoes Erie" are? Nor was there any mention of what came with entrees or sandwiches, if anything. I had no idea if things were a la carte or not. Annoying.
We decided to split a caprese salad and a steak sandwich. The salad arrived first. This was one of those times I wished that I had brought a camera. It was the sorriest, most anemic-looking tomato I've ever seen served by a (supposedly) decent restaurant in a season where ripe tomatoes are easy to come by. I took one bite and pushed it to the side, as did my friend. I shouldn't have needed a steak knife to cut through a tomato.
The server came by and asked what was wrong and we showed him the tomato. He shrugged and said he would bring a replacement.
Then our sandwich arrived. It came covered in cheese, peppers, onions, and mushrooms. I happen to like all of those things, just not on a steak sandwich. Again, the menu description said nothing about all those toppings. I scraped off the cheese and some of the vegetables as there were far too many. A good steak sandwich should be able to stand on its own, minus any toppings. The meat was rather chewy and bland. The fresh-cut fries were delicious though.
The replacement salad was brought out. The tomato was marginally better, but only marginally. I took one bite and didn't eat the rest. They should be embarrassed serving such pathetic tomatoes, especially in the summer. In February, I can understand (which is why I never order anything with tomatoes in the winter), but not now. Hell, my local produce market has beautiful, flavorful tomatoes right now. There is no excuse.
I didn't want to chance it by ordering dessert so we skipped it.
Erie Street Cafe has free valet parking and a lovely outdoor space, but when fries are the best thing I can take away from this place, I doubt I'll be returning.
2.5 stars.
Located at the end the Street whose name the restaurant bears, this "cafe" (actually a steakhouse) is surrounded by a neighborhood in midst of modernization and rebirth. Â Unfortunately, this restaurant needs a bit of rebirth itself.
Walking in, I felt like I was on a '50s set which I think is pretty accurate since I'd be willing to be the dishes, recipes/food, atmosphere, and decor have not changed since. Â Sometimes that retro feeling works - I just didn't really feel like it do so here. Â
My starter salad was plain iceberg lettuce with a single slice of tomato. Â This was followed by a whitefish filet that was pretty good but unevenly seasoned and served on a bed of plain spinach. Â I'm not sure if the chef expected diners to eat the spinach but assume not. Â Who eats raw spinach without dressing except for some fish drip off? Â Wine list was balanced with some low end wines as well as a few high end offerings, but lacking in the mid-range. Â For the $50 this dinner cost, I expect much better.
The service was attentive and very nice. Â The staff clearly knew the regulars since a number of people received resonating hellos from everyone when they entered.
In summary, not a bad place to have a meal, but it would be far from my first choice in the future.
Mama Mia!
We were recently invited to a private anniversary party  at the Erie Street Cafe.  It was a belated wedding reception for our best friends that eloped 13 years ago.  Though we wished that we could have been present for the big event back then..the party and the fare was worth the wait! We joke that all of us have come a long way since then.
The party began on the outside patio along the side of the cul de sac. Â They had a mini bar set up as well as passed hors d'oeuvres . Â We were then led to Erie's private backroom where the feasting really began.
The Appetizers:...
Jumbo Shrimp cocktail
Meatballs
Stuffed Mushrooms
Skewers of mozzerella, basil, olives and grape tomatoes
pizza bread
Dinner:
Club Cole slaw with blue cheese crumbles
Bread From the Red Hen Bakery
Grilled Lamb chops.
Chicken with roasted peppers
New York Strip Steak
Cottage potatoes.
Creamed Spinach
Sauteed Broccoli
Mostaccioli with meat sauce
Cake: Rosita Freshita from a local bakery.
Everything was amazing, meat cooked to perfection...this is the feast that one dreams of. Â Did I mention that it was open bar?
This is an old school institution. Quite a hangout for the old guard of City of Chicago executives or politicos.
The atmosphere and food are good and traditional. They aren't reinventing the wheel here and that's why they're been steadfast and successful for decades. I enjoyed my entrees each time I went and adore the attentive service by the servers, hosts, and valets (all male which lends to the formalish or classic vibe. . . most restauarants only Morton's, at least when I went, is akin).
A good place to go out with an older gent or person of distinction when the more trendy or youthful places won't suit.
After taking my parents to a matinee show of Million Dollar Quartet I ask them, "I know it's late for you kids but do you want to go get some dinner?"
My dad answers, "I already know where we're going."
Remarkably, neither my mom nor I have ever been here. Â My dad used to hang out with the owner back in his youth and as we sit down he tells us a story involving a bar on State Street that had a whore house upstairs, a bogus fire alarm and an extinguisher used on a surprised john and his...well, whore. Later he married (as linda g. made mention) the daughter of Gene & Georgetti's. Â "He was a really good looking guy," my mom said. Â "You know, Italian. Dark hair, blue eyes..."
The atmosphere is not what I expected. Â I don't know why, but I thought it'd be darker inside. Â It's really a fabulous space. Â Maybe twenty foot high ceilings, vintage posters, exposed brick and lots of light. Â
Dad and I both enjoyed the minestrone soup and we all loved the bread.  I ordered the  "Catch of the Day" grilled mahi mahi served over lightly sauteed spinach.  Dad had the pork chops and mom the ravioli.  We were all extremely happy except my mom. Â
Let me explain: my mother is Italian and she likes things cooked the way she cooks them. Â She makes ravioli with ricotta cheese and basil inside and her sauce is made with pork. Â This ravioli had ground meat meat inside and was served with a ground meat sauce. Â
Now let me confer: I didn't care for the ravioli either. Â The texture of the meat inside was odd. Â I prefer a meat ravioli to be firm and this was strangely loose. Â
The service was excellent. Â My water glass was never empty and the staff was very friendly and courteous. Â Personally, I love a spot that brings out the stories of old Chicago from my parents.
The Sopranos may be gone, but you can still catch a glimpse of the family life here at our very own Erie Street Cafe. Scratch that, this restaurant is much more Michael Corleone than Tony Soprano. Maybe not in the mobster fashion, but expect that "one of the family members is always there to take care of you". In their own words.
I met the beautiful Andrea R. here for a big glass of velvety Pinot Noir on a Monday evening. I expected it to be slow, but alas, every chair at the bar was spoken for. The dashing gentleman tending bar served me up a small glass bottle of Diet Coke while I waited. Luck be a lady tonight, I found a little cove carved out explicitly for two directly across from the bar.
The atmosphere is very Rat Pack meets sophisticated old school supper club. From the well-appointed businessman to the colossally-coiffed soccer moms, Erie Street Cafe packs a classic crowd. No modernism found here, rather, take in the wood paneling, the old 40s-era register behind the bar and even a framed embroidered piece of art, probably crafted by the proprietor's grandmother. If you're looking for a whimsical popcorn greeting you may be disappointed to be reacquainted with loaves of fresh, crusty bread. To sleep with the fishes means to eat like the fishes, okay?
I'll update my review once I come back and try one of their heavily-endorsed steaks. My life may be dependent on it! Capisce? ;)
I've eaten here twice and I'd have to say, probably 4.5 stars...
The steaks are delicious, well-cooked. Â Service is impeccable. Â Each time I heard the ice rattle in my water glass, there was a server filling it right back up again. Â We are usually starving, and they always serve fresh, warm bread...after we polish it off, they replenish it!
We had the calamari (which was good, if you like calamari, but a bit scary if the tentacles give you the heeby-jeebies!) and also the fried ravioli with blue cheese (YUM!)
I guess this place could improve by offering smaller cuts of meat. Â I just cannot eat that much! Â But I do like that your entree comes with potato (either cottage fries or baked) and a salad.
I'd recommend this place if you're in the mood for a lovely evening with great service and delicious beef!
After a long afternoon of Chicago River Patrolling, I came to the Erie Street Cafe with some of my favorite people. For one thing, this is a really fantastic location because it's RIGHT on the river. Â DO eat outside if it is nice but also DO mind the wind because at one point my wine glass almost took flight!
We had no problem getting a table around 6PM. Â A server came by right away to take our drink order. Â I had a Kir Royale which I usually do not order but have had before. Â It was certainly tasty, but not the best. Â The menu ranges from typical steak and chops dishes to a large selection of pastas. Â Italian Stallion type stuff. Â I opted for the Chicken Francese. Â I did not know what this was and when I asked our server he simply replied, "chicken." Â Re-he-eally? No kidding. Â I switched to the Chicken Cacciatore but he told me that was a minimum of 30 minutes to wait and since others were selecting spaghetti and meatballs, I did not want to be "that guy". Â So Chicken Francese it was!
Our salads came and they were average - only one of us got dressing on the side when two of us asked. Â When my mystery chicken came I found it to be delightfully tasty - it was a split chicken breast (a huge portion) lightly breaded and sauteed in a lemon oil sauce. Â Topped with a little Parmesan cheese and roasted red pepper, the taste worked. Â Magnifique!
I would come back to Erie Street Cafe. Â True, it's a tad pricey and the waitstaff may not satisfy your inquiring mind, but one cannot beat the location for some scrumptious Italian fare.
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