O’Briens Riverwalk Café — Restaurant in Chicago

Myself and my cousin stopped in during a bike ride along the lakefront on a weekday and then pivoting to the riverwalk.

There was not too much traffic as it was midday and a bit chilly for outdoor seating. The host was quick to greet us and sat us near some heat lamps which was thoughtful.

The location is top notch though decor and seating a bit outdated. The food was not super pricey though it’s certainly a touristy spot.

We scanned through the menu and found limited vegetarian/vegan options. We got the black bean burger (as we are vegetarian, no idea on meat options) and the patty seemed dry but ok. There were no other toppings. The fries that came with it were decent. We also got hummus which was served with carrots and celery that were beyond their prime and the pita chips were undercooked.

The most shocking part of our visit was finding out that there were no draft beers on tap- only canned beers. And the beer was served in crappy plastic cups. The lack of beers on tap and serving $10 canned beer (we got the modelo) in cheezy frat party serve ware detracts from what could be a much more elevated experience.

The restaurant earns points primarily for location and attentive staff. The food was underwhelming and the vegetarian/vegan and beer offerings are...

We arrived early afternoon with multiple tables empty on the patio and asked the hostess for a table of two. All the empty tables were apparently reserved so we thanked her and continued down the path in search of somewhere else. However as they had another entrance and host stand I asked them for a table and we were promptly seated. Waitress was lovely, drinks are fairly priced but the food is abysmal at best. Wife had a chicken slider ($4.50) and a side salad ($8) which she took a tiny bite and set aside from both. Kicker is, an older individual who I later found out was the manager came to clear up the table and asked if she was done, she was. Apparently the manager wasn't phased by the fact that the food was essentially untouched lol. Waitress however was lovely so hopefully she gets to keep the full tip as the food is obviously not her fault. I understand why there's so many 2 and 3 star reviews though. Location is great and drinks are cold. You're paying for the real estate which is understandable. Overall, not repeating the experience particularly in light of the obliviousness of the manager. Crazy why a manager wouldn't venture to ask why food wasn't eaten, oh well,...

Food prices were high, but we expected that with a location on the River. What we didn’t expect was for the food to be literally tossed onto our table by the waiter on paper plates. Yes, paper plates! A cob salad, at the cost of $18 was still in the plastic container it had been bought in. Served with a packet of Newman’s ranch and plastic utensils. We saw the same salad at the deli in the Palmer Hotel a day later for $9.50. All that was missing from the cob salad served at O’Briens was the lid that fitter the container. We also had two chicken sliders, one on a bun and one on a piece of lettuce. Tasty, but not worth the money or the paper plate it was served on. Wine came in a plastic cup. What a waste! And that in a time we are all trying to be environmentally friendly. Can’t recommend this place. They give you the impression of a decent restaurant, and charge accordingly, but they are basically serving deli and truck food on...