Geja's Cafe — Restaurant in Chicago

The good:

The atmosphere was awesome. It had the feel of a swanky lounge from years gone by. They had a good wine list, and some affordable bottles I'd not seen on the lists of other restaurants. The fondue was pretty good too.

The bad:

We shared a couple of their premiere combo plates including steak, lobster, and scallops. Flash frying these in bucket of oil was really unappetizing. I wish there was an option to grill, instead of frying. If I had known before ordering that everything could only be cooked by dunking it in oil, I would have opted out of the 4-course package they pushed.

The place advertises being "The most romantic in Chicago". That seemed a little hokey to me much in the same way as when you read the in-flight magazine on an airplane, and (miraculously) 4 of the "Top 10 Steakhouses in America" happen to be in whatever city you are flying to.

Our experience was not what I would call "romantic". The place is packed tight (even on a Monday). With the flame on your table, the ambient temperature is about 85 degrees (the room already being way too hot with so many people packed into the place). We were also more or less "on display" at a table in the middle of 10 other couples. Then the waiter kept turning on and off a blindingly bright white flashlight to point at stuff on the menu. ...which was weird. I get that the room is dark, but we're in our 30s, and perfectly able to read a menu in dim lighting. Having a flashlight in your face defeats the whole point of a swanky, dimly lit lounge-type atmosphere.

Bottom line: I'd recommend the place for the bar area only. I'd go back for a bottle of wine, and whatever limited food items they offer there, but I wouldn't endure the 4-course dinning experience again. There are lots of excellent places you can have a romantic meal in Chicago for $65 per plate. This didn't meet the standard you'd expect...

The restaurant is nicely decorated and can provide a somewhat pleasant experience if you get a nice table and if the food was better. Unfortunately, we did not have a good experience. We arrived at the restaurant at 6pm when there were plenty of available tables. One thing no one mentioned at first was that leaving your jacket is mandatory or you will get the worst table in the restaurant. We were asked if we wanted to leave our jackets and when we said no, the hostess decided to shove us at a corner table with no room to even be able to sit comfortably. My husband is 6'2 and that corner seat was a joke as he could not manage to get to his seat as the chair was pressed against the wall and he could not move it. We asked to be seated at one of the bigger nice tables for 2 that were empty, but the hostess refused saying she will be seating people who have anniversaries. We suggested 3 tables, and were told you can't have them. We were then seated at a table by the side door where staff went out from to serve people outside on the patio. The weather outside was cold, 24 degrees F, and we felt the cold coming from both doors. The constant cold air draft was very uncomfortable. We mentioned that to the server and she called the hostess to come and speak with us. Then we were moved to another very small table similar to a small box from where we couldn't see any of the fun decorations in the restaurant. The life music was a nice touch. The food was not good. The chocolate made us sick, and we got mostly bread and a few pieces of veggies (mostly raw onion) with the cheese. I was very excited to try out this place, unfortunately, I was very unpleasantly surprised by it. Overall, I would not recommend this place to someone who wants to have a nice date out due to the table issues we had and the quality...

Geja’s Cafe is the place to visit for a fondue experience you’ll never forget. They’ve been open since 1965 & have been voted the most romantic restaurant multiple times, not only in Chicago but in all of the US.

Geja’s is quintessentially Chicago with its upscale tavern style interior & intimate setting. The staff elevated our experience even more by providing thoughtful insight on the history, menu, food, wine, & more. There are also three tables outside where you can dine fireside, adding more to their atmosphere & is perfect for cooler temps.

We ordered the 3 course fondue dinner with wine pairings & it was a dream come true. Check out more details below:

GEJA’S PREMIER FONDUE DINNER

Imported Swiss Gruyere cheese fondue blended with white wine, cherry brandy, and spices. Served w assorted breads, vegetables, apples wedges, & grapes for dipping

House salad w Geja's Dijon vinaigrette

Choice of any combination of beef tenderloin, Australian lobster tail, white shrimp, fresh sea scallops, & boneless chicken breast. Served w assorted vegetables & eight gourmet dipping sauces

Geja's Belgian chocolate fondue w marshmallows for roasting, rice krispie treats, pound cake, strawberries, bananas, pineapple, & churros

WINE PAIRINGS FLIGHT: PASO PICKS

Cheese: #47 Sauvignon Blanc, Vina Robles Vineyards Winery

Entrée: #30 Chardonnay, Daou Vineyards

Dessert: #460 Zinfandel Glend dessert wine, Vina Robles

COCKTAILS

Orange-Thyme Old Fashioned: Redemption bourbon, orange-thyme syrup, bitters

Autumn Fizz: Tanqueray gin, agave nectar, lemon juice, sparkling cider

Don’t miss the after dinner specialty coffees, Frangelicino & Bailiccino, both delicious & a great way to end the meal. With winter officially here, fondue is the perfect food to keep you warm, & Geja’s is definitely the...