Drinks on the terrace or in the bar? Sunday brunch? You think you've been to Sixteen? You haven't! You come here for Chef Lents' tasting menus. So serious diners please disregard this one and two star nonsense. I came on Valentine's Day so the 16 course wasn't available. The seven course they did offer however, was so luxurious and over the top it didn't matter. This was the best dining experience of my life. The caviar course is the one dish I'll remember for the rest of my life. It joins one other dish that I've had in my life that I consider to be unforgettable. Absolutely brilliant. The food, space, and view are magnificent, world class, breath taking.
Review Source:Having dined at Alinea, Trotter's, TRU and several other top Chicago restaurants, my new favorite is Sixteen. Â The views are fantastic from the sixteenth floor of the Trump Tower, but the food and service are simply superlative. Â The seasonal menu consists of a choice between three pre fixe menus (4, 8 and 16 courses). Â Although one may be tempted to limit the expense and the calories, please consider the 16 course option - you will not be disappointed. Â The cusine is a cross between ultra fine dining and molecular gastronomy (i.e. a middle ground between Alinea and Trotter's). Â However, because of the service and the atmosphere, the mood is in no way pretentious - it's a fun place to be on several levels. Valet parking is $24, with less expensive alternatives close by.
Review Source:This place invites comparison to the Signature Room, and unfortunately it doesn't compare. The patio/terrace is not open in the winter (for obvious reasons - Chicago cold isn't for the faint-hearted) but the indoor seating simply does not provide the best viewing perspective. The vantage point from the 16th floor vs. 95th isn't necessarily a disadvantage - the lower level provides an immersing view of the river/Michigan Ave, but most of it is blocked by the terrace. I would imagine summertime on the terrace is breathtaking.
Drinks are extremely pricey, but what else can you expect inside the Trump Tower? The libations were small but strong, yet nothing exceptional. If I wanted to pay $16+ for a drink I'd just save up for the Aviary.
Clientele is older and sophisticated, there were many business meetings/groups. It's a classy yet pricey, quiet spot.
There's not much to say other than to string random words together to explain how fabulous Sixteen was on Christmas Eve.
Intimate. Â Upscale. Â Beautiful. Â Classy. Â Delicious. Â Perfect Portions. Â Excellent Service. Â Expensive. Â Understated Decor. Â
It's a place to come spend money, feel fabulous, and be treated with excellent service. Â We had the 10 course tasting with wine pairings (which is a LOT of booze, ps) and everything was delicious. Â The stand outs: sparkling saki, mincemeat pie, flavored butters, some sort of fluffy concoction, and the scallops. Â The service was very good, although we asked for a second round of bread and it seemed to throw them off their game as we had to ask a couple more times before it came. Â Other than that, it was a perfect meal. Â It was the perfect amount of food, you didn't leave stuffed nor did you feel like you had to eat a burger later. Â Definitely a must if you're looking to splurge.
This restaurant located on the 16th floor of the Trump Towers is definitely worthy of its one Michelin star and the AAA Four Diamond awards. I went here for lunch and was pleased with my dining experience. The prix fixe 3 course lunch is available for $35.00--A good deal for a stunning place with notable accolades. The duck and the lobster roll were nothing short of scrumptious. This restaurant is the place to seal an important business deal or to celebrate a romantic occasion. Beautiful glass walls from floor to ceiling overlook a terrace with the Chicago cityscape in the background and fresh cut cymbidium orchids on each table make this modern ambiance breathtakingly memorable.
Review Source:If you have the luxury and/or are fortunate enough to visit/stay at the Trump International Hotel, you must try Sixteen!
The food was absolutely delectable and decent in portion size for the price. I would recommend the Wagyu sliders. Perfectly cooked medium rare, topped with parmesan shavings, spicy mayo, ketchup and arugula, and sandwiched between to sesame seed brioche buns. They serve you three, but I feel I could have eaten 3 more, they were so good! The potato wedges served on the side were just as tasty. So crispy and seasoned very well! Only complaint, they should give you more than 3 potato wedges :-/ I also had a cocktail to compliment the meal, called the "wooden nickel"...phenomenal! Maple syrup, lime juice, and Woodford reserve, and served with a strip of chocolate cover bacon!! Highly recommend!
Overall, the waitstaff were extremely friendly and conversational, and service was super quick. The bartenders also know what they're talking about and whip up tasty and original cocktails that will blow your mind!
Can't wait to return next time I'm in Chicago!
We had not been to Trump Tower, so decided to have drinks in SIXTEEN. Â Let's start with the fact that the bar looks like a small service bar placed in a hallway. Â There is absolutely ZERO wow factor about it. Â So typical of Trump: Â a generic cocktail -- rum and Coke, vodka and tonic is $18.00. Â I asked for a glass of red wine and got charged $24. Â There is no point whatsoever in visiting this space. Â There is nothing special about the room or decor, and certain it doesn't merit the ludicrous prices. Â Our bill for four drinks, tax and tip was $91.00. Â You really are a total SOB, Donald Trump! Â Never again.
Review Source:Full review is in the blog - and please disregard any review before the arrival of Chef Lents...the team at Sixteen is currently operating on a whole different level. Â A few highlights below.
The Why: Â With the Michelin Guide for Chicago an ever disappointing mess compared to those in other cities and three of the 2* locations closing during the past year I'd originally booked Alinea for a fourth visit during this trip to Chicago but in the months between securing that ticket and my first vacation from Arizona in four months my curiosity got the best of me - just who was this Thomas Lents and why was his cuisine garnering such raves on the sixteenth floor of the Trump tower...as much as I love Alinea this was a case of something new and shiny taking precedence over the tried and true.
The Space: Â To call Sixteen swanky would be an understatement - while opinions vary on Trump the man it would be foolish to assume anything but refinement and opulence in the spaces bearing his name. Â From the warm greeting at the front door to the chrome and marble elevators leading to the sixteenth floor each step of our trip through Trump International Hotel was met with smiles and "yessirs" and with a location in the center of downtown our emergency to the dining room was met with dramatic 30+ foot ceilings, a million dollar wine collection in dual glass wine rooms, and a million dollar chandelier hanging high above while the Wrigley Clock Tower and Lake Michigan stared back at us through the windows. Â With perhaps twenty tables in the dining room and all covered with fine linen, crystal, and polished silver throughout the night everything about the room drips with luxury - the thread counts high, the two-tops large enough for four, and easily six feet separating each table.
The Food:
3 Trout Tartar - Crisp Skin, Bones:  The dish of the night for my friend - and more surprisingly for myself - this plate nearly resembled Bao on arrival but what was instead delivered featured a tartar of Gravlax inside a light crème fraiche meringue alongside trout caviar, fried skin and bones, and a bit of chickweed.  An entirely different take on serving the 'whole' fish everything simply clicked - the tastes, the textures, and even the plating all dramatic yet refined.
6 Kabocha - Cardamom, Chestnut: Â Moving on to heartier flavors this creamy potage featured a veloute of Kabocha squash along with roasted chestnuts, a touch of heat from espelette pepper, and plenty of aromatics from the ginger and cardamom foam. Â Large in portion and moreso in flavor with salty toasted pumpkin seeds tossed in for texture this was yet another highlight of the night.
9 Truffle - Shirred Egg:  Following one of my favorite ingredients with another the silver lining of Dave not enjoying runny eggs is the fact that I was able to enjoy this course twice.  Quadruple plated in the style of Keller's Oysters and Pearls and featuring brown butter roasted truffles and truffle sabayon inside the lightly poached egg this was a course you could smell from across the room - luxury in excess bolstered by accoutrements of  truffle butter toasts and a frisee salad with truffle vinaigrette.
12 Venison - Juniper, Cranberry: Â Locally shot, pan seared, and ash crusted my buddy's eyes lit up at this presentation and although he was admittedly getting quite both of our plates returned to the kitchen empty. Â Rich and funky unlike so much of the farm raised deer seen on menus elsewhere and served with toasted Tuscan kale, sweet potato leaf, and cranberry blood-orange moustarda plus a drizzle of gin/juniper jus this was quite possibly the best deer dish I've ever had - so tender that it could be cut with the edge of a fork and exceedingly moist for something so lean.
13 Wild Hare - Civet, Risotto: Â Shot in Scotland just a day prior and cooked in mirepoix it seemed almost impossible that Chef Lents could find something bolder than the venison to serve as the final savory and yet here it was. Â Rich, nutty, and teaming with herbs and spices atop rye-berry risotto with a light bay leaf cream this was a perfect conclusion to a menu that effortlessly moved from something as light as champagne to a dish as hearty as stew.
The Verdict: Â Having mentioned the impetus for my visit to Sixteen, the meal I gave up in its place, and the irony of dining on the day Lents cooking was recognized by the red guide all I can say is that I could not have been happier with my first visit to the sixteenth floor of Trump International Tower and I anticipate plenty more accolades and stars for the young chef over the coming months and years. Â From the beautiful room and glorious view to the colors, textures, and flavors on the plate there is little doubt in my mind that Sixteen has the ambition and capability to become a world-class destination restaurant and while it may never be the 'best' restaurant in Chicago I don't think second place is unrealistic - or such a bad thing given the competition.
Dining at Sixteen is a special experience. As we entered Trump Tower Christmas decorations adorned the lobby and the elevator doors opened up to a lift made to look like a gingerbread house; even a toy train rode around the top of the elevator car. The doors opened on the sixteenth floor and we were greeted by Mallory who recognized us from her time at the Aviary. The dining room at Sixteen is stunning; elegant and classy decor without feeling old fashioned and breathtaking views of downtown Chicago through the floor to ceiling 30 foot windows. We were seated at a table for two looking out at the Wrigley Clock Tower and other Chicago landmarks.
Soon after being seated a cocktail and wine list were delivered by Jeremy, our captain for the night. Sixteen features three different menus; a four course prix fixe for $110 (with two to three choices per course), an eight course tasting menu for $150 or a sixteen course tasting for $210. The menus change with the seasons to keep the ingredients as fresh as possible. There is also an optional cheese course for $20 (a cheese cart would have been even nicer), and an optional white truffle course that was delivered by Chef Lents himself to the tables that indulged. Canapés, bread service, Lavazza coffee, a delightful Mignardises cart and a take home treat are included in the pricing as is tap water (with still or sparkling bottled water available for a surcharge). My wife and I love tasting menus, but both have some dietary aversions that can sometimes pose a challenge. We discussed our aversions with Jeremy and in a comfortable manner he assured us we would be accommodated. We opted to partake in the eight course tasting which with all the extras was quite a feast; I would have had a hard time consuming more.
The food at Sixteen was consistently very good, some great, but I would not say that anything stood out as being phenomenal or mind blowing or left me craving more. The food really highlighted the seasons with the appetizers focusing on pumpkin and squash, the entrees emphasized game (with it being hunting season) and the dessert focused on apples (and was even served accompanied by a glass of hot cider). All of the food was beautifully and meticulously plated. Everything was cooked extremely proficiently but adding to the experience was a certain whimsical aspect that Sixteen incorporates into the experience such as the Mignardises cart with a Ferris wheel sporting homemade goodies reminiscent of childhood favorites: Cracker jacks, Tootsie rolls, cotton candy - everything but a Hostess Twinkie. All the extras beyond the actual eight courses really enhance the experience; the flavored pop corn canape served inside a hollowed out corn cob and the bread service (especially the bacon buns) were incredible. The dessert courses need a bit more work than the savories; the first dessert was more of a palate cleanser (small but delicious) so there really was only one true dessert - though the vast Mignardises help compensate.
Service was for the most part stellar. In addition to Jeremy several other staff pampers you throughout the evening and everyone was pleasant, genuine, personable and attentive (the bread server even stopped by four times). We enjoyed that despite providing formal service, there was a laid back, comfortable vibe - Jeremy expressed some humor when I had asked his name partway into the meal, stating he had purposely left out his name earlier to cut back on all the complaints he has been receiving. There were some minor gaffes and the staff did not quite anticipate our needs as much as some of the very best venues we have dined at in terms of service (EMP and Boka would be tops in my books in service). For example I had mentioned our main dietary aversions when I made the reservation, these were acknowledged when I was called a few days prior to confirm the reservation, but when we were seated Jeremy was not aware of them. Also my wife requested no game and was happy with the vegetarian course substituted, but I was also served the vegetarian course even though I had not asked for a substitution for game.
I would say that Sixteen is very deserving of their recently awarded Michelin star and out of the one star venues I have dined at they are among the cream of the crop (they most remind me of Tru). Sixteen definitely has multiple star potential but are not quite there yet. To ascend to the next level the food needs to be a little more memorable with a couple mind blowing courses, the service flow a bit more smoothly and the experience made to be a bit more of a special event (at all but one of the three star venues we have dined, we were presented with a souvenir menu and offered a kitchen tour at the end of the meal). Nevertheless these are picky criticisms and only meant as what stands between Sixteen being worthy of multiple Michelin stars, they are already one of the top ten venues in Chicago and have an extremely bright future.
Our group of four went here for brunch on October 28. Â The restaurant, located on the 16th Floor, is all the pictures showed --- light and open, high ceilings, great views of the skyline. The restaurant is quiet. and good for conversation. We requested a table with a view, and had a table not immediately next to the window, but in the center. Our table was not next to a column.
The service was attentive and friendly. The restaurant is expensive, but worth it for a special, memorable location. Â
We know high end buffets, from the Four Seasons to specialty restaurants. This is one of the better buffets. The key to a good buffet (in addition to food quality and cooking) is presentation - here they constantly changed the buffet to keep it looking freshly made.
The buffet starts with Mimosas or fresh squeezed orange juice. Coffee is fresh brewed or filter (iced)
The seafood was fresh and sweet (crab legs, crab claws, shrimp). One of our group thought the salmon was the best he ever had. The sushi was also excellent.. The hot sauce had a chili one of us could not tolerate, so our waiter brought fresh horseradish and ketchup to make a cocktail sauce.
Don't think we went there simply for fish. The pure breakfast dishes were good too. The eggs Benedict were perfectly cooked, with applewood smoked bacon. The Hollandaise was also great. Â The other breakfast meats were good - plump, well-flavored, juicy sausage. We did not try the omelets (custom made with various fillings), but the ones served to other diners looked very good, Belgian waffles and pancakes which we did not try, also looked good,
The small pastries were also great. The apple tartlet had a crispy, well-flavored crust.
The staff helped taking photographs of our group.
If you have been to Sixteen before January of  2012, you MUST give it another try. Chef Lents is a genius.
This was hands down the best meal I've ever had. The dining room is exquisite, the service is everything you would want from a restaurant of this price and the food is so gloriously presented and delicious. Chef's creativity knows no bounds, and they pay homage to Chicago's roots in many of their dishes (did someone say lemon and rosemary Garret's popcorn made in house as an amuse?!). We had the 16 course tasting menu and it was divine.
I cannot wait for my next trip to Chicago, Sixteen will be the first restaurant I visit. It won't be long before they earn 3 Michelin stars, you can count on that. If I were you, I'd eat there now before getting a reservation becomes as annoying as trying to get a table at Next!
Ate here twice, 1st time was the 9-course blind tasting, the 2nd was a 3 course regular meal. Can't really say anything on consistency since the food changes so often here, but everything tasted super amazing.
The food here isn't as experimental as Alinea or Moto, so the flavors are more tamed yet very refined and precise. Every bite is literally crafted to precision and you'll know its made from fresh and quality ingredients. The 9-course meal ($400 for 2) left me stuffed, but not that "so stuffed I wanna go home and face-plant the bed and cuddle with my blanky" kind you get from eating at a buffet. The 3-course ($200 for 2) Â left me feeling good, not too stuffed but not full either.
For first timers here, you should definitely try the 9-course blind tasting. Doing so will give you a very broad range of flavors. I would say all but one of the dishes (pan seared salmon) were top-notch. Had I gone in the first time and only had the salmon, I could totally see myself giving this place a 2-3 stars, which is totally unfair since its a very good place to eat.
Last thing is the price. Its expensive, but you won't really find anything with this type of flavor and food quality, service, and ambience around for less. You can always get a good meal for cheaper, but when the occasion arises and you want a GEEERRRR-AAATTTTEE meal, bring your paycheck here for an amazing journey you really won't forget.
Had an excellent meal and experience at Sixteen. Â They have migrated to all tasting menus, 4,8 or sixteen course. Â The theme of the evening was apples and was well done across the board. Â Eloquent snacks, impeccable service and the entire meal was paired nicely with wine. Â
The shirred truffle egg was the most surprising part of the evening and the venison did not disappoint.  The first course foie Graz was seared well with excellent flavor.  However, it had  a little too much cherry/apple butter.
Overall, highly recommend this restaurant and will be back. Â It is a bit expensive for what they're doing, it approaches denko or Trotter's pricing without the notoriety.
I've been wanting to dine here for some time now.
Food was amazing, view was incredible (we even watched fireworks from Navy Pier during dinner), service was outstanding, and I loved the presentation of each dish.
We had the chef's tasting menu that was recommended by our server.
We were both extremely full and tummy's were happy at the end of our meal.
I heard Sunday brunch is amazing and I will be back for that.
Like at most other Trump restaurants, the food here isn't stellar. Â The only great things would be the view, wine, and dessert. Â As for the actual entrees and courses themselves, Sixteen fails to deliver dishes that play a symphony in the mouth, especially given the price. Â However, if you really wanted to come here and would prefer eating something, then visit during brunch or breakfast time.
Review Source:Lack-lustre, over-priced Sunday brunch. Much better options elsewhere. Very limited food choices. No offer for beverages i.e. blood mary, mimosas, coffee. Everything had to be requested, never offered. Â
Some may say, you're paying for the view. It is a nice view of the city..but I can't eat that. Â First priority is to filll my stomach with delicious food. Then, I'll take in the sights.
Stayed at Trump Chicago last weekend, so I thought I would check out the restaurant. We both ordered the "CHEF'S TASTING MENU" and was very disappointed. While the service and presentations were amazing, the actual food was over the top. One course came out with popcorn..... over the top. Lastly were there just over 2 1/2 hours. We were so tired of eating and being there, they put our last course desert to go.
- Great View and Atmosphere
- Service is Amazing
- Don't get the Chef's Tasting Menu
I love me my Sunday brunch buffets. Â It seems like they're all starting to disappear at the nicer hotels so I was thrilled to eat at Sixteen. Â Here are my random thoughts:
-Once seated, no one approached us for at least 10 minutes. Â After sitting there for 10 minutes with no attention, we just decided to go grab our own food. Back when I was young and worked at a restaurant, rule #1 was to approach the guest within the first couple minutes. Â First impressions are important and this left a bad impression. Â In fact, throughout the whole meal, the server never introduced himself. Â We had two guys constantly filling and taking drink orders. Â I have a feeling that because we were in a large group (10 people), gratuity was set and not as much incentive to please. Â
-The restaurant is a lot smaller than I imagined. Â The view is great though. Â We sat in the smaller of the two dining areas where the view is not as good. Â Basically, I was looking at an outdoor patio area.
-Food selection is mediocre. Â Here's where I wished the Four Season's brunch buffet was still around. Â Don't get me wrong, it was okay but definitely not as impressive as I imagined. Â Probably around the same size selection as Shaw's or NoMi's brunch buffet.
-Food quality is good. Â It's probably on par with Shaw's but below the quality at NoMi's. Â
-Valet parking is $14 with validation. Â Actually, the service here was probably the most impressive. Â They were super courteous, told me the price when I got there, and got my car within minutes. Â
My overall impression was that it was okay. Â I probably wouldn't go back. Â For the price, I rather go back to NoMi. Â If Four Seasons were still around, they would be my top pick. Â I guess that the first impression from the servers left me with a sour taste and they added 18% gratuity to the bill. Â Come to think of it, the service at NoMi's was way better and I was in a large group also with automatic gratuity. Â For the money, it's not bad. Â I would say that it's probably worth trying once.
I've read all of the Yelp reviews of Sixteen and I'm embarrassed to say that I actually avoided the restaurant because of them. Â Someone managed to talk me into giving Sixteen a shot and I'm really glad that I did.
I dined at Sixteen on the same week that I dined at Alinea, Ria and Tru, so there is some basis for comparison. Â Sixteen easily holds up against all of those restaurants. Â Thomas Lents from Robuchon arrived at Sixteen in January, and the restaurant definitely showcases his world-class talent. Â I won't say that Sixteen beats Alinea or Ria, but it also isn't beat by either of them. Â Sixteen has a place on the short list of Chicago fine dining and that place is very close to the top.
The ambiance cannot be approached by any restaurant in Chicago, or few in the world for that matter. Â The majestic windows overlooking the lake, the river, Navy Pier, the Wrigley building and many other sights really set the scene. Â The service is all Trump, and if you know Trump, then you know that it's world-class. Â The cuisine comes from a master of his trade. Â A protege of the most decorated chef in the world, Joel Robuchon.
I think that people have differing expectations and many have difficulty understanding the concept of the dining experience and what that experience should cost. Â I will say that, if you are expecting massive portions or a small bill, Sixteen isn't for you. Â I should also mention that if you don't leave Sixteen feeling well fed, then you are probably better suited dining from a trough than from a plate.
It is clear that Trump management has it's sights set on rising to the top of Chicago culinary excellence and it had clearly succeeded with Sixteen.
Went to Sixteen for lunch after the St. Patrick's day parade. Â My husband and I had not been before.
We were seated right away and after a waiter walked by our table several times (we must have been wearing our "invisible" clothes) we asked if someone was available to take our order. Â He responded that he would be with us "in a moment." He came back fairly quickly. Â Took our order and that was the last we saw of him. Â
I had a salad and my husband  had a steak sandwich with fries.  Food was decent...not bad or great. Â
Probably won't go back, not even for dinner. Â Too many great places in Chicago with terrific servers to waist time and money here.
I have to say that this one of the best dining experiences I ever had. The customer service was phenomenal.
- filet of dover sole was delicious - I wish the portions were a little larger
- we did not want any desert, but the waiter insisted and brought us some delicious desert. Just samplings, we were glad he did.
- we had our kids with us, they made them feel welcome which in an upscale dining experience is saying something. Â When my 7-year old said joking that she wanted a toy instead of desert, the waiter came out with a Trump Kids stuffed animal, I was impressed.
Okay I get it- if you are going to pay 100/plate... you are not going to get an abundance of food quantity. But still... overpriced. You are paying to be inside "Trump Tower" not for the food. I will, however, say the service is really good. (They are waiting for their tips though, so I cant exactly say that was genuine). lol
Overall.. the food presentation was great. Quantity for what you pay? Not so much. What did it taste like? Any other fine restaurant.... except.. I did find it odd that there was popcorn on one of the main course dishes. That was really strange... caught me kind of off-guard there.. but all the same, sure I will eat it.
Amazing meal, top notch service, great decor in a restaurant that probably boasts the best views in Chicago.
When I booked my reservation in "Sixteen" I didn't expect to have some of the best food I have ever eaten, especially in a hotel restaurant. I have stayed in too many hotels to know that a hotels restaurant food can be appalling (think pretty much any Marriott/Hyatt/Hilton hotel in the world).
We had the chefs menu tasting which was comprised of:
- Amuse Bouche of Potato and Leek - sounds basic but the hot wafer like casing was amazing. Great start 5/5
- King Crab leg was really fresh and light and I could have eaten another 10 of these dishes. Wife asked me to stop telling her how amazing it was. 5/5
- Minted English Pea Soup was very good which tasted really of fresh peas. I liked the Rabbit in the soup which brought a great texture contrast to the dish. 5/5
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- Farm Egg with Chorizo and Cod. Very nice dish, Chorizo tasted great but this was not on the same level as the other dishes 4/5
- Roast Duck Foie Gras with Corn and Popcorn. Best dish of the evening. This is the same Foie Gras Joel Robuchon gets and is only supplied to one other restaurant in America besides Sixteen and Joel Robuchon. Amazing dish - 10/5
- John Dory with Porchinis. Nice but after the Duck Foie Gras the John Dory was never going to compare.
- Scottish Pheasant. Never tried Pheasant before and it was great. Another top notch dish that I won't be able to do it any justice by my review 5/5
- Rib Eye of Beef. Great tasting beef and better than you would get in Roka Akor/Chicago Cut & many of Chicagos other steakhouses. 5/5
All dessert were pretty good but none were of the exceptional level that the started and main courses were.
All in all an amazing meal and Chef Lents is clearly an up and coming chef in Chicago.
One of these giant stars is for the tremendous view. The other is for the nice server.
A couple colleagues and I had dinner here on a Saturday night while in town on business. The food (we each ordered the 7 course tasting menu) was teeny tiny. I mean, I get it - fine dining and all, award winning chef, blah blah blah. But it was way over the top pretentious. We couldn't stop laughing each time the servers presented us with our next course. Teeny teen tiny food. One course fits on a small fork. Was it good? I don't know, the food was too small to extract any flavor. The largest dish was a nutella-flavored brownie, which was delicious, but way too rich to finish.
And the price! MY GOD THE PRICE! Okay, I was able to expense the dinner through my company - but if it was coming out of my pocket, there's no way in hell I would've stayed after looking at the menu.
Between the three of us, one beer, one half-bottle of wine, a glass of wine and a martini at the bar, 3 tasting menus. Total bill (before gratuity) $440.
And when we left, we were still hungry.
What a disgusting rip-off.
Wanting to show an east coast friend a good time, I took him out to Japonais' river walk bar (= hip), and then made a martini-induced decision to take him to the bar at Sixteen (= hip replacement). Â While spookily empty, the few occupants were around their 50s and 60s, and one group of suited men actually tried to wave me over on my way to the restroom (help mommy!). Â
Not to mention that the cheapest drink on the menu was a $30 beer. Â Any beer that costs $30 better come with a tiny leprechaun that pops out and grants me three wishes. Â Surprisingly, there wasn't one. Â
Two stars for the good view and the squishy hotel seats.
I came for a burger and the burger was HORRIBLE. Â The service was even worse. Â This is why must go with a measly one star. Â I can't speak to anything else. Â
A friend and I stopped by Sixteen on a Friday night to check the place out and grab something to eat. Â She's a big burger lover and we thought we'd try Sixteen's -- it would just HAVE to be one of the city's best right?....right?
Wrong. Â So, so wrong. Â Think McDonald's. Â The burger was super thin (clearly it was frozen and of the fast food variety) and served on a huge bun -- it appeared they were trying to hide the eeny weeny burger. Â I was embarrassed for them. Â
The problem is that you can get this same thing at McDonald's for a buck. Â Sixteen tried to take us for $23!!! Â
We asked to see the manager (Mila) who offered no apologies, tried to pretend that the burger looked good and was worth the fancy price tag, but finally broke down and gave us a refund. Â It took some serious convincing though. Â Too much, really.
Mila said that she couldn't remember if this was the same burger served at other Trump restaurants. Â In fact, she had a hard time keeping up with what was going on at Sixteen. Â She continued to refer to the various other "outlets" that she was in charge of managing. Â Outlets? Â They're called restaurants, Mila, and as a restaurant manager you should be the first to know this. Â It was all very bizarre. Â Surprising, really. Â And, really too bad. Â :( Â I find it very hard to believe that this kind of management style is endorsed by Trump and friends.
My husband and I first became aware of Sixteen when our band was honored with playing for The Australian Consulate at Trump Towers. Â We ventured around before the evening and checked things out......and of course wanted to go back and eat there! Â For Christmas Day Dinner in 2010, we did just that. Â There were so few places open with a real sit down dinner that night and this happened to be - so we thought it would be perfect. Â It WAS perfect! Â Everyone was dressed up and looked lovely - sure, it was Christmas Dinner - but I could not have asked for a postcard more amazing! Â The view was incredible, the service was spot on, the food was terrific! Â We did the tasting menu with the wine pairings. Â NO skimping - and at the end of the evening we had individual party bags with "Pops" (the little cute splits) Champagne and rum cake and more goodies! Â YAY!
So - this past year, 2011, we wanted made our Christmas Day dinner plans here again. Â The food was stellar. Â We started with a split of Champagne instead of the wine pairing - and then had a 2001 Amarone that was TO DIE FOR! Â The Sommelier was really nice and we chatted over the course of the evening about wines - no pretension whatsoever - and the staff was spot on again. Â People smiled and it was a warm and friendly environment. Â
This is a place to go for an incredible view, great food, quality service without being snooty, and a nice time with someone special. Â Maybe people go here for Business - but I say go for pleasure! Â :0)
My sister-in-law decided to treat us for brunch at Sixteen at the Trump Tower and what a treat it was. Â
From what I saw of the Trump Tower hotel it seemed pretty nice. Â When we finally got to the restaurant we were seated in this room with high ceilings and floor to ceiling windows. Â We were put at a table right by a window which was facing north west. Â We were staring at the Tribune Tower and Wrigley building during brunch!
The food was amazing. Â The breakfast portion of the brunch had your usual suspects. Â Eggs Benedict, bagels, pancakes, waffles, sausage, bacon, and an omellete station. Â This was good but the lunch portion is where it is at! Â They had fresh crab legs/claws and jumbo cocktail shrimp. Â The quality of the seafood was phenomenal. Â There was also a baked salmon dished which was cooked well and a braised short rib over some mashed potatoes in addition to a beef roast. Â
The brunch also had sushi and various meats and cheeses. Â The dessert table was really good. Â There was a great variety.
The brunch is a little pricey, but you are paying for the food and the views. Â Not to mention the service. Â Always gave us fresh silverware and refilled our water glasses at the right time, took our plates away as we finished and just seemed to be there when you needed something.
Would definitely head back for a special occasion.
Dear The Donald;
So you finally got with us. Yeah, the guys all want to get their skyscraper up in the sexy Chicago skyline, to make their mark, and we finally let you. It's a shame the retro Sun Times building was a casualty of your obsession, but I guess I can let that go, 'cos we do love the tall, tall buildings here.
You used Chicago's SOM as an architect, 'cos frankly, using a non-Chicago architect would have been a dealbreaker, but you dodged that bullet. There's a few other details, however, that we need to talk about.
Can we talk?
Came here after an event in the building and went to 16 for a beverage and a snack. Now, The Donald, I know you're all about the LUGJOURY, but having no Wifi and spotty cell service is a FAIL. Not LUGJOURY. I'm not all high maintenance or anything, but I loooove to feel the vibe of my text messages actually reaching me on a timely schedule. Timeliness is LUGJOURIOUS. So, keep that in mind, women care about those things.
The food, well, the snacks. My brothafromanothamotha and I got the Lamb sliders. These were juicy and delicious. But $24?!?! And for three? How you gonna share that? I'm a givergoddess, The Donald, and nothing makes me happier than sharing my food with my peeps. Odd numbers make sharing hard. Our charming bartender plopped another slider into our order, kudos for her. I'm not sure if she even charged us for it, but the service here is great. And those little burgers were damn good.
The drink prices border on the ridiculous. What, is this an experiment to see just how much you can charge for a damn glass of champagne?! $20, seriously!? Some of us actually work for our money, The Donald, and we can't swing that. We can swing an $8 Stella, so I was happy to see that on the menu.
Okay. So, are we clear now? If we can work out these kinks a bit, we can go back to talking about your skyscraper, mkay?
Best,
Erika
I came to Sixteen for lunch shortly after it opened in 2008 and was unimpressed, so I've avoided it since. A business lunch took me back here recently.
Note to self: only come for lunch if you have at least 3 hours to spend. Because serve is S-L-O-W slow.
Took 15 minutes after being seated to get a waiter. Took another 15 for Diet Cokes to appear. Took at least 35-40 before our order was taken. And the entrees took another 45 to come out.
Granted, it could have been an off day. They were offering all tables free appetizers and desserts for "the wait." But what gives? It wasn't busy, and the restaurant is pretty small. There's no excuse when you are paying that much for food. You don't get off days.
And if you are going to make people wait obscenely long, at least keep the drinks refilled. It took me at least 30 minutes with an empty Diet Coke before someone came around to offer me a refill.
No excuse, Trump. Food is good (and better than I remember from my previous visit), which is why 2-stars. But there is plenty of good (and much better) food elsewhere in the city. So two strikes, and you're out, Sixteen. I'll be directing my business lunches elsewhere.
Food: Truly inspired, well thought out and executed dishes
Terrace: One of the best views of Chicago
Service: Consistent, accurate, friendly, and prompt
Ambiance: SO UPPITY! boo
My husband took me here last night for my 27th birthday. Â While we tend to spend a lot on eating out on a regular basis, we thought these prices were only worthy of a special occasion.
We arrived at 6:15pm for a 7pm reservation. Â After about 10 minutes of sitting at a small table by the inside bar, a waiter offered us cocktails. Â We promptly paid and headed out to the terrace...
...where the waitress stopped us and said the "restaurant" drinks were not allowed on the terrace. Â Wait... what? Â Isn't this all the same place? Â So we had our cocktail and once finished walked up to the Terrace hostess again. Â We asked to sit at the two empty chairs at the bar, which she promptly told us "there is a waitlist". Â Um, weird? Â I don't see anyone there. Â But okay. Â Finally she seated us at a table with a great view but after another 15 minutes of no waitress taking our order (and please note, none of the wine list was the same outside - so bizarre), we gave up and decided to sit at our table.
Our table inside was right by the window and our wait staff was fantastic. Â We had a lovely New Zealand Pinot Noir with our meal. Â We ordered 6 items and shared all of them - every single thing was fantastic.
Butternut Squash Soup - so creamy yet somehow light?! Â Amazing.
Seared Scallops with Sweet Potato Ravioli - OMG yum. Â The scallop was perfectly balance with the whole wheat homemade noodle stuffed with sweet potato.
Burrata Heriloom Tomato Salad - the cheese was wonderful and the small tomatoes were perfectly ripe.
Mixed Green Duck Pancetta Salad - This was stellar! Â The dressing was amazing, the homemade ricotta was to die for, the duck breast gave it a lovely crunch. Â DEF order this!
Hen With Homemade Stuffing and Cranberry Marmalade - This was delicious.  The cranberry marmalade was quite strong but held up to the salty stuffing and spinach stuff hen.  Also served with baby onion and carrot  that were roasted and just delicious.  I was quite surprised and pleased!
Fresh Alaskan Halibut - This was honestly the best piece of halibut I have had in Chicago (and thats saying a lot since we die for MK's fish!). Â It was done so beautifully. Â Light and flaky with just a tiny crisp on the outside. Â Served with an amazing chive and goat cheese foam and a wonderful potato cake.
The food was so delicious and well thought out. Â We had a wonderful meal, got to try a ton of things, and left completely satisfied without being stuffed. Â They also brought out a pumpkin cheesecake dish with a candle for my birthday served with cream cheese gelatto - YUM!
My only complaint is the ambiance being so extremely uppity and snotty. Â I realize there are a ton of traveling business men here who think they are the bomb, but its just a weird stuffy ambiance. Â It reeks of showyness and money. And $350 is a lot of money for a dinner for two - their corkage fee is $50 so it doesn't even make sense to BYO!
I may come back for a $22 glass of cakebread sauvignon blanc on the terrace and a $400 meal if I become a millionaire overnight, but don't hold your breath.
We arrived for a late lunch. My wife and I arrived around 3:30 for a table for two. Nothing but the outside sofa was available so we took that since the weather was so nice and we wanted to be outside.  After 15 min I had to finally stop a waiter to order our drinks. It took another 15 min for the ice tea and a glass of wine to arrive. Still no apology for the long wait. We finally got to order our food after 30 minutes and ask to move to a table since several had opened up. He said let him check with hostess but he never returned. We finally got up and seated ourselves at a open table. It took another 45 minutes to get our soup and salad  it was almost 4:30 before we finally were able to eat. Â
I noticed several other tables that was having the same issue with getting waiters to take a drink orders for their table. It's hard to believe with the price of the drinks they wouldn't have people tripping over themselves to get your orders. A few people finally walked up to the outside bar to get drinks themselves. Â I saw one table get up and leave.
The soup and salad tasted ok when it finally arrived. For a guy that normally eats at 11:30 I think anything would have tasted good  When I got the bill I was shocked that each time the waiter filled up my tea glass I was getting charged. I can understand if we were just having drinks but with us having lunch charging to have a refill of tea is ridiculous even for Trump. Â
The only part of the experience that was 5 star was the view. Â The hotel, the view, the atmosphere, everything is perfect except the poorly trained staff. Very disappointing!!!
This review is mainly for the service that I received. The staff went above and beyond the call of duty to make sure that my party and I were comfortable and even afterward when a small error was brought to their attention they treated me with respect.
Overall the food was very good. The view is amazing and the experience is one I'd go back for again. I went for brunch and spent 2.5 hours wining and dining. I tried a little of something on each buffet and enjoyed everything I ate. My favorite was the dessert bar (stupid sweet tooth) but I also enjoyed the all you can eat seafood and the create your own omelet station. Oh who am I kidding I loved it all.
If you're going to whine about the pricing then you probably should have considered that before stepping through the revolving doors in the lobby. I'm not saying, I'm saying.
Let me start by saying this review applies only to the Terrace, and not to the Restaurant. Perhaps the restaurant has figured out how to minimize the chav aspect of the Terrace experience - if so it may be worth a try. Otherwise, save your money for someplace which will treat you like an elite spender - which is how Trump is priced (surprise, surprise).
Long story short - beautiful view, crummy overpriced food/drink/service. You are definitely paying for the view (which is fair - it is incredible). You are getting little from the rest of the experience.
On the plus side, this is one of the greatest views in Chicago - being nestled amongst (not above) the surrounding buildings is a unique and cool perspective. It is worth experiencing once. One the negative side - it's all tourist all the time, poor over priced cocktails (how can you only offer Tanqueray and Sapphire as gin choices at an "upscale" cocktail location - this is a dead giveaway that the product they are selling ain't the cocktails), mediocre service, and astronomical prices. Happy to pay astronomical prices for great product, too bad this doesn't place doesn't qualify.
Now that I've seen the view once I won't be back.
The view from Sixteen is incredible and is pretty much the only reason for our visit. Being poor graduate students, all we could afford were the drinks, which were grossly overpriced. $11 for a Corona or a Blue Moon is absolutely ridiculous. For that price, I would hope that the offerings would not be the same as that in my local dive bar.
The service was pretty terrible. This may have been because they did not think we wanted to spend very much money, but no one ever came to ask if we even wanted to have a second drink when we were done with our first. I would also think that they would have liked to rush us out of there, but we found it pretty difficult to get a waitress to get us our check, so maybe the service is just always terrible.
We did not get any food, but based on what I saw at the tables surrounding us, I was not impressed.
I may go back here for a special occasion if I had the money, but I have a feeling there are much better restaurants for the price, despite the view.
If you are pondering whether or not to make reservations at Sixteen, then chances are good that you:
#1 Want to impress someone special
#2 Need to impress someone special
That sums up what kind of restaurant Sixteen is. This isn't for light wallets. This is for the "I want to close the deal" type of occasions. And Sixteen won't disappoint.
The restaurant delivers one of the most dramatic entrances to any dining room in Chicago. Thanks to a dazzling view of the city skyline marked by a beautifully lit Wrigley Building; Sixteen's dining room easily impresses.
I took the gf here on V-Day. I guess that means reason #1and #2 apply. =P The service was really professional and genuine at the same time. No one appeared to be trying too hard even though they were trying really hard---everyone from our server to the sommelier to the line cook that prepared one of the most beautifully cooked scallops I've had in years.
Not too much left to say other than Valentine's Day was extra special because we enjoyed Sixteen "treatment".
Here are the highlights for those who want details:
-$140-$200 a person
-The menu is modern French
-The wine list has some very reasonably priced bottles
-Every table has a bomb view
-Rebar is a great place to grab a pre-dinner (drinks avg $15-$20 per drink)
-Do dress for the occasion
-Bring your camera
-Portions aren't as bad as other reviews suggest (you'll get bread and mignardises)
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