Hawksmoor Chicago — Restaurant in Chicago

We went to Hawksmoor on a whim with our friend in town and were very impressed with this steakhouse. There is always some hesitancy to try new steakhouses that are corporate owned, not local chef-owned restaurants, but this place separated itself through its food, service, and location. We had 3 adults who shared the food.

Appetizer: We started with a large Caesar salad, 18 oz Chateaubriand (tenderloin), a side of macaroni and cheese, and a side of mushrooms.

The Caesar dressing was creamy and tangy like a proper Caesar. It also included anchovies and breadcrumbs that made for a delicious salad (5-Stars).

Steak: The 18 oz steak was cooked perfectly (med-rare), juicy, tender, and flavorful. All their steaks are dry aged 28-days, which really brought the flavor out (5-Stars). They have their daily special shareable steaks on chalkboards (their shareables charge by oz by the sizes available ex. our steak was $6/oz and they had both 16 oz and 18 oz available - or larger sizes).

Sides: The side of Mac'n cheese was delicious, cheesy, creamy, and thick. The mushrooms were also cooked plump and flavorful. The only critique is that the side portions were a little small for the cost (4-Stars).

Desert: We opted out of desert but were treated to freshly baked salted chocolate chip cookies, which were the perfect cap to the experience (5-Stars).

Drinks: My wife and her friend had mixed drinks that they both enjoyed. I was happy they had diet Coke and not Pepsi, although it was a small bottle.

Service: The service is really what made this steakhouse stand out compared to others. Julian was our waiter and was very professional, taking time to explain the menu to us and answering all of our questions. He was attentive and made us feel special during our visit, recommending portions or items without feeling pushy. We could tell that he enjoyed his career and cared about our experience (5-Stars).

Location: Hawksmoor is located in a historical industrial type building that was converted into a restaurant. It has exposed brick and a steakhouse feel. When you first enter you see the spiral stairs going up multiple floors flooded with natural light in the center. It is really unique. The main dining area is warm, open, and inviting. The bathrooms were clean, well lit, and comfortable.

We did not drive so I am unsure about parking, but they have valet available and I know there is street parking everywhere around the restaurant.

We will definitely be returning in the future for another visit and hope we get Julian again. We hope this restaurant succeeds and stays in River North although there is a lot of competition in the immediate area. This is definitely a place worth visiting. Price ended up being about $90/person including tips and drinks, which is reasonable considering how competitors have steaks starting around $60-$70 for a...

UPDATED REVIEW …. We recently had the opportunity to return to the restaurant after Zach, the Assistant General Manager, reached out and invited my wife and me back to make up for our initial experience. I truly appreciate the effort he took to follow up with us and I must say we were pleasantly surprised this time around.

We ordered the same cuts as before …. the ribeye and the New York strip … and both were cooked to the exact temperature we requested. The flavors were outstanding, and it really showed us that our first visit was likely just an off day.

Our server Oscar was fantastic, just like the other servers we’ve encountered here. The service at this restaurant has always been exceptional, and it was great to see that consistency again.

A big thank you to Zach for taking the time to reach out and ensure we had a great experience.

Previous review below … We love going to all the steakhouses in Chicago and I made reservations here for 12/22/24 to celebrate my wife’s birthday as we have never been to Hawksmoor. The ambiance of the place is great however, the food is not.

We ordered bone marrow oysters which were good. We ordered the fried shrimp and it tasted very fresh so things got off to a good start.

However the main course is where things went very downhill. I ordered a ribeye and my wife ordered a strip and both were mostly fat. A ribeye can have a nice marble to it but we were very disappointed with how much fat the strip had. I poked around my ribeye and ate what I could. My wife barely ate her strip.

The mashed potatoes were so bland and runny I’ve never had mashed potatoes taste like this.

The lobster mac and cheese … we don’t ever send food back but it was so salty that we had to let the waitress know. They took it to the back and someone came back to apologize to us because they tried it themselves and admitted it was way too salty. They offered to make us a new one that we eventually got packed to go because by the time they bought it out, we were done with our food. (They did not charge us for the lobster Mac and cheese)

The mushroom Diane was good.

The pudding was burnt for us unfortunately one bite and we could tell right away.

Good : bone marrow oyster, fried shrimp, mushroom Diane, drinks Bad : ribeye , strip Unacceptable: mashed potatoes, lobster Mac and cheese

The service was slow maybe because more waiters were needed but we left a good tip because the waiters were so polite and kind.

I see on other reviews that they write out happy bday but I mentioned the occasion to both the check in folks and our waitress but unfortunately they did not write happy bday on the dessert but this is not a make or break … I am more concerned on quality of taste of food which was not up to par with the steakhouses around Chicago that we...

Hawksmoor continues to prove why it's one of Chicago's premier dining destinations. Recently, I visited during Restaurant Week, where they offered excellent value with flexible prix fixe options – $45 for three courses or $60 for four courses, allowing my companion and I to mix and match our experiences.

The atmosphere immediately sets the tone: warm wood paneling and exposed brick walls create an inviting steakhouse ambiance, enhanced by thoughtful lighting that strikes the perfect balance between elegant and cozy. Their iconic steak board presentation remains a showstopping ritual that captures the essence of the classic British steakhouse experience.

Service was impeccable throughout our visit. The staff struck that ideal balance of being both professional and personable, with our server taking time to guide us through the menu while maintaining attentive yet unobtrusive service. Every detail was carefully attended to, from water refills to immaculate table maintenance between courses.

The cocktail program deserves special mention – each drink we ordered was masterfully crafted with perfect balance and precision.

The culinary journey began with their signature potted beef and bacon, served with Yorkshire puddings that achieved the platonic ideal: crisp exterior giving way to a wonderfully chewy center. The potted beef itself offered an expertly balanced ratio of meat to fat, elevated further by a rich onion gravy.

For mains, while the steak frites was solid (though perhaps not the kitchen's finest showing), the real surprise was the baked whole sea bream. It demonstrated that Hawksmoor isn't just a steakhouse – they're a serious culinary destination. The fish was cooked to perfection, complemented beautifully by a bright fennel salad that cut through the richness. The beef dripping fries deserve their own mention: crispy exterior, fluffy interior, and impeccable seasoning, served with a house-made ketchup that, while unnecessary, added a delightful tangy complement.

Desserts brought a study in contrasts. The coconut and passion fruit pavlova was a revelation – beautifully tart and refreshing, with a generous portion that we somehow found room for despite our fullness. The sticky toffee sundae, while enjoyable, didn't quite reach the heights of their classic sticky toffee pudding, missing that signature sauce that makes the original version so memorable.

Whether you're planning a romantic evening out or a sophisticated gathering with friends, Hawksmoor delivers an exceptional dining experience that combines classic British steakhouse traditions with contemporary culinary expertise. It's a reminder of why this restaurant remains one of Chicago's most compelling dining...