Copper Fox Gastropub — Restaurant in Chicago

We were doing our annual staycation downtown and this is was one of the restaurants I selected since it was in walking distance from the hotel we were staying at. Didn't realize the restaurant was in a hotel until we got inside and saw the elevators. Décor was nice....brown/copper tones and understated. It has an upscale feel to it. Once we were seated, I noticed quite a few tables with kids there. Wasn't sure why they were there because the menu at first glance isn't kid friendly beyond the Gouda mac/cheese. But they must have a kid's menu on request as I saw wait staff bring out kid size portions of standard kid's fare to a table. There is also a very cute outside space with seating that didn't look too cramped, but it was too windy for us to sit out there.

We started the meal with the #16 Biscuits. They came out in a small cast iron skillet. Whenever I see a cast iron skillet, I assume it is hot, but this was not. But the biscuits were and they were to die for. They're flaky, fluffy and crunchy all in the same bite. They are sprinkled with sea salt on top and due to the crunch, I assumed that they must be fried, but our server Lindsey stated that they are baked, but covered in bacon fat. So technically, they were baked, but with bacon fat covering them, they fried in the oven. There was honey butter, which was nice and added a subtle sweetness to contrast the sea salt.

We also got the Calamari fries. I would go back just for these. They are strips that are cut from I have no idea part of the squid, but man they were delicious and meaty. The coating that was used to bread them was not heavy, but savory and tasty. Definitely more calamari than breading. They were paired with a nice tartar sauce and a cold grilled lemon. The grilled lemon was a nice touch as you got the citrus with a touch of smoke flavor to the fries.

For dinner my daughter and I got the Baked Rigatoni Carbonara (parmesan cream, fennel sausage, snap pea, runny egg). Runny egg was done just nicely....no egg white to be seen. The parmesan cream sauce was a bit on the mild side for me, but a little salt and pepper at the table helped it along. Not much in the way of fennel sausage in the dish...looked as if it was added for flavor and not for eating. The sausage itself was delicious, just not enough of it in the dish. The snap peas were crunchy and tasty, but too many for me in the dish. This was more like a vegetarian dish with a little bit of meat for flavor. Probably not something I would order again.

My husband had the fish tacos. Great presentation and he said that they were great in flavor. They are on the small side, which is why my husband got them as he eats light in the evening. They do not come with any sides, just the three tacos. Not sure why this isn't an appetizer as I don't consider this an entrée, so if you are hungry, I would stay away from these.

My husband and daughter split the Nutella brownie...devoured it more like it. The brownie was served in a cold cast iron skillet, but it was warm and gooey as it was drizzled in caramel sauce. There was also a lovely vanilla bean gelato that was explosive in taste...very nice. My folks declared that the brownie was a sheer delight.

I want to give our server Lindsey a 5/5. She was very attentive, friendly and bubbly. There was also a hostess that was on her A game as well. When she saw my husband needed another beer, she came over to ask if he needed another just a split second before Lindsey could do it. They seemed to have a good rapport and that was nice.

I would more than likely stop here again for a meal, definitely to get the calamari fries and to try a burger as it looked very good from what I could see from other folks tables. Some of the salads I saw also looked worth exploring, especially the seven layered one. The presentation alone looked interesting as it comes out in a container so you can see the layers, then it is poured into a...

Possibly the worst restaurant in the Streeterville/Mag Mile area. You'll find better options all around the area. I would not recommend eating here unless you are staying in the hotel upstairs for company/work business and your company is picking up the tab. It's basically one of those restaurants in a touristy area that doesn't expect its "tourist" customers to ever make a repeat visit, so no need to prioritize quality. To get you in the door, the menu itself looks right up you're alley if you are seeking American pub food at decent prices. But that's where it stops for a place that should have so much potential. Pretty sure many of the good reviews for this place were heavily incentived as well. Just look at how many are mentioning the server's name or about the server. You don't get that unless your servers are specifically asking for a good review.

Went there for dinner on a Saturday night after looking at the menu online. They asked if we had a reservation, which we did not. So they put our name on the list to wait. The restaurant's seating was about 50% occupied (and its not a particularly large restaurant). But I didn't really have a problem with the waiting here as maybe they were waiting on some reservations to arrive. Learned the real reason behind the wait later.

We waited at the bar and asked to order one of their signature drinks, only to be informed by the bartender it was unavailable. After waiting about 10 minutes, we were seated at our table. No one else came in during that time. The first thing you should know about this place is its terrible bright lighting. There is no mood lighting whatsoever. Lights are fully on bright for dinner like you are in a hospital cafeteria.

We ordered a few appetizers and items from the menu to try. Then we waited forever, also noticing other tables were waiting. They appear to have one cook in the back. And the pace at which people were seated seems to be related to that, not available seating. I truly feel sorry for the servers at this place. We waited about an hour to get our food. The restaurant was never more than 40% to 50% occupied during this time.

Aside from their potato chips, the food quality is low. To go with the lighting, its basically cafeteria quality. Portions are very small compared to an average restaurant, meaning those decent prices you thought you saw on the menu are actually high. The appetizers come in like a 4" cast iron skillet. So thats how small they are. The biscuits, which appear to be reheated rather than fresh cooked, we're maybe 1 minute away of cook time from being so hard to be inedible. We also ordered the gouda mac and cheese, opting to add bacon for an additional $5. The mac and cheese itself was watery and runny. But the $5 bacon upgrade amounted to maybe 1/3 of a strip of the cheapest super-thin bacon you can imagine cooked extra crispy and crumbled and sprinkled on the top. Complete rip off there.

This place needs a makeover, new management, better kitchen staff, better quality food, and...

We were staying in the area and selected the Copper Fox for dinner due to its proximity to our hotel, it's solid ratings, and the fact that I like beer. I should have realized things were off when we found out it was in a hotel, as I don't think I've ever had a good hotel restaurant meal, but I figured this might be the exception, and after I double-checked and saw the ratings were very good in aggregate, my wife and I went in. I was somewhat surprised at first by the limited selection of beers on tap, but picked one that seemed my style. We then ordered the brussel sprout appetizer after asking about the size of the dish, to which the waiter indicated it would be smallish, and come in a small cast-iron skillet. My wife and I then both ordered the fried chicken sandwich, specifying that we wanted the main course to come after the appetizer. The appetizer arrived in a large porcelain bowl, much larger than indicated, and was not particularly tasty, with only a hint of the sherry vinegar mentioned. Maybe a minute after the appetizer hit the table, and after we only had a chance for a bite or two, the fried chicken sandwiches arrived. We were surprised that the chicken was breaded and fried rather than battered and fried, and while the sandwich does have potential, it lacked any acid or heat which would have made it a much better sandwich, instead it ended up just being bland (my wife actually didn't even finish it). We skipped dessert. Maybe it's better for breakfast or lunch, but for dinner, it didn't live up to it's description as a gastropub, having neither decent food nor a...