The Palm - Chicago — Restaurant in Chicago

I had a nice time at The Palm for 2024 Restaurant Week. We were a little late arriving for a party of 4, and the restaurant was very accommodating with changing our reservation. We were first seated at a booth close to the entrance. When we requested to be seated in the main dining room, the host (Sonji) was super friendly and took us to a new table in the middle of the dining room. They also checked our coats for us unprompted which was very kind. PAY SONJI MORE!!!! We actually decided against the $25 restaurant menu and opted for the Power Lunch ($29). it was basically the same setup as the $25 RW lunch, just different options + a 3rd course dessert. We started with the lobster bisque which was very good. It wasn't "wow" but I did thoroughly enjoy it and I would order it again/recommend it to others. We also got a plate of calamari for the table that came with some peppers which was new to me. Pretty good, I'd eat it again. For our entrees, we ordered the steak, the catch of the day (whitefish with spinach and mushrooms), and the classic burger. I didn't eat the steak or the burger but they looked good and my friends enjoyed them. The fish was very good. Again, not WOAH but still good and I would for sure eat it again. The fish was the star of the meal for me. We finished with the dessert donuts which came with 2 dipping sauces, one chocolate and one caramel. I don't like chocolate or caramel, but I'm sure for those who do the sauces were very good. After the meal it conveniently was happy hour timeframe so we shifted to the bar for some $8 HH cocktails. The margarita and the mule were good. Not the best I've had in my life, but I would for sure return for a drink or two during HH with a small group of friends. The price was commensurate with the quality of the drinks. Shout out to Jessica our bartender who was very friendly and attentive (PAY HER MORE TOO!). Our dinner waitress (Mila) was extremely friendly and super helpful throughout the meal. They all need a raises QUICKLY!!!

Overall, I'd rate the entire experience 4/5. The ambience was great, the food was tasty, and the staff was friendly. I wasn't wowed by any of the dishes the way I have been at other restaurants, but I would certainly recommend The Palm to someone who wants a nice sit-down meal without having to leave downtown. The lunch deal ($29) is a particularly nice way to sample several different dishes without committing to full à la...

Here is an email that I sent the Palm a month and a half ago and haven't heard back:

The experience that I had at the Palm was not a bad one, but considering the money I spent, it did not meet my expectations. I had been to the exact same Palm and gotten the same food two years prior, so this is why I returned and what I am comparing the food to. I ordered the lobster bisque first, it was fine, but normally this is my favorite soup and it was quite mediocre. Normally, I am desperate for more bisque once finished, but this did not have me craving more. For my entree, I got the surf n turf with half a lobster and the 9 oz filet mignon. The lobster was tasty and pretty much met my expectations, however, the filet was lacking much flavor and despite asking for medium, it seemed to be overly charred on the outside. In order to make it more flavorful, I dipped it in the drawn butter and added some salt. It tasted good at that point, but not worth the $50.

My boyfriend and I shared the au gratin potatoes and I found them to be pretty bland and didn't take more than a few bites. I actually enjoyed the au gratin potatoes from Portillos that I had more than the ones from your restaurant. My boyfriend and I each ordered a cocktail, which neither of us drank much of. They were really strong drinks and not nearly as sweet or pleasant as expected. We ended up leaving our mostly full drinks on the table- and if you knew us, that would mean a lot to you as we never leave half eaten food or drinks.

This may sound like I'm trying to find issues with the food and drinks, but if you read my review of other places on google or ate with me, you would find that I am not incredibly hard to please. My boyfriend and I chose your restaurant to celebrate our anniversary and to have a nice night out and were disappointed to have the night fall short of our expectations. The staff at the restaurant was great and very attentive, but the food was not worth the money we spent. I would love to give the Palm another chance, but last night's dinner did not inspire me...

I'm not normally a steak person and am definitely one of those people who have to have it cooked well done if I even think about going for steak (which is rare in itself). My first time at the Palm I tried their power lunch which offered an appetizer, entree, and dessert for a decent price. I went with the soup, it happened to be cabbage roll soup that day and it was fantastic. For my entree I tried the filet mignon and asked for it butterflied and cooked well done. It came to me exactly how I asked and perfectly cooked. For someone who isn't a steak eater, I was quite pleased especially since no matter where I go my steak has to be sent back multiple times. Not here though which is why I have no problem ordering steak when at the Palm. Their desserts are to die for and you can't go wrong no matter what choice you make.

The restaurant itself had a homey kind of feel for me and was somewhere I was more than comfortable to relax a bit more than you would expect for a place downtown in Chicago. It was very clean and the staff are great. Everyone is very attentive and are a joy to have around while they are attending to you and your table. As mentioned above, the food is great and worth the price. Yes, some of the menu items are expensive, but no more than should be expected for any restaurant that is located in Downtown Chicago. The chefs in back know their stuff and stopping by for a meal is definitely worth it. I highly suggest coming by any time you're in the area. I know I do as...