Charlie Martin's — Restaurant in Chicago

Here's a cool and funny positive review you can use to capture the retro supper club vibe of Charlie Martin's in Chicago:

A Step Back in Time: Charlie Martin's – Where Supper Clubs and Good Times Collide!

Charlie Martin's is like stepping into a time machine set to "classic supper club," but with a twist—this is no dusty relic from the past. It's a place where the golden era of Chicago’s dining scene meets modern flair, and wow, did it deliver!

The moment you walk in, you’re greeted by the warm glow of dim lights and leather booths, making you feel like you've been transported to a Sinatra concert—minus the mobsters in the corner booth (although, who knows?). The atmosphere is that perfect blend of swanky and cozy, where the vibe says "let’s have a martini" and your taste buds say "let’s have another!"

Let’s talk about the food, because this is where Charlie Martin's really shines. The menu reads like a love letter to classic dishes with just enough of a modern twist to make your taste buds do a happy dance. I started with their shrimp cocktail, which was so fresh I swear it might’ve just leaped out of Lake Michigan, jazzed up with a killer house-made cocktail sauce. Next up was the filet mignon, cooked to perfection—so tender you could cut it with a stern look. Pair it with a side of their garlic mashed potatoes, and you’ve got yourself a meal worthy of the supper club gods.

And of course, no supper club experience would be complete without a cocktail. The martinis here are the real deal—ice cold, generously poured, and served with a side of nostalgia. I felt like I should be wearing a fedora or at least snapping my fingers to some cool jazz. They even have a dessert tray like it’s 1955, and trust me, you want to say yes to that extra slice of cheesecake.

The staff was just the right amount of friendly and attentive, always appearing at the perfect moment to top off a drink or offer a spot-on recommendation. I wouldn’t be surprised if they’ve all been trained by secret supper club masterminds from the Rat Pack era.

If you're looking for a place that combines great food, a laid-back yet swanky vibe, and a dash of humor, Charlie Martin's is your spot. Just be prepared—you might never want to leave this delightful time warp. It’s the kind of place where you expect Cary Grant to walk in at any moment, only to realize you’re having too much...

We had a fantastic time here last night. I love an old fashioned supper club/steakhouse (this is more in the vein of a 1950s supper club steakhouse, not the supper clubs with relish trays you find in Wisconsin, which are also great!), so was excited to try Charlie Martin's when it opened. I went with a friend for our birthdays, which are a week apart, and they really took care of us. Caesar salads are my favorite salads and this one was tasty and well-dressed, the rigatoni alla vodka was flavorful with a bit of spice, the french fries are classic with a nice tangy malt vinegar aioli, but the petit shellfish tower was the star (I actually ordered it as my entree). It's filled with incredibly tender shrimp and lobster, all perfectly shelled, plus a good number of oysters (though they could have had a bit more liquor in them, they were fresh and briny). I was worried I'd be hungry after, but it's actually a ton of seafood -- at $73 I consider it a great deal for everything you are getting. It's an intimate restaurant that feels like a hidden gem. Plus, the hospitality is excellent -- they welcomed us and said goodbye as we came and went, our server Theresa took our picture and even brought out two birthday desserts with candles, etc. You're taken care of, which can be rare these days. And the martinis are perfect (and will be even more perfect when they hopefully get cocktail onions for gibsons in the future). We have a ton of steakhouses in Chicago, but Charlie Martin's...

What a vibe! Although my husband almost set the place on fire with the menu and the candle flame(our waiter told us the story that he did as well one night), this restaurant was a cozy, cool, not too crazy step back in time feel to a supper club. Service was great, my dirty martini shaken table side was perfect with the little ice crystals on top and the food…outstanding! We ordered the wedge salad that probably had the best house made dressing I’ve had in some time, crab cake -so lumpy with zero filler, light and delicious! Our main was the steak frites and this is where I lost it. The fries!! The fries were so good. No. They were amazing. I hate it the most when fries come cold or warm to a table but these, these were hot, crispy, the right amount of salt and tastes like McDonald’s but like when you get a good batch and you exclaim that you got the good batch. I’m a ketchup kinda gal so I requested and they delivered. The only thing I would suggest is having the steak frites come with an aioli for the fries. The steak, Ack! Cooked perfectly. So delicious. Perfect amount of salt and just overall such a great meal. I’m not sure if it was the owner or front of house but he cleared our plates each time and we had some fun banter-great guy! He bought us dessert which was delish (mousse). It pays to be part of the clean plate club! We will be back for the burger, (omg looks insane)...