Theater on the Lake — Restaurant in Lake View Township

This review is for the Air & Water Show viewing party that was held at Theater on the Lake (August 2024). This location is excellent, the planes fly closer to the crowds here than they do on North Ave beach. The price of the all-inclusive ticket for this viewing party was worth every penny. It is a very large fenced off area right on the water (there is no beach here). The area was filled with tables and chairs, tents, vendors, and there was plenty of space. The Port-a-potties were available for ticket holders only and they were very clean and maintained. No wait. In addition to the food & alcohol that was included in your ticket, there are also several vendors that were giving away free samples of their products (couple breweries, wine companies etc). There were no vendors selling anything for purchase. Everything in the VIP section was included with your ticket, and they really went full out! We brought our own folding chairs, but we could have left them at home because there was tons of seating available. The lines for food and drinks were between 0-5 mins. The drinks were strong and they had a great variety of options, Including nonalcoholic drinks (pop, bottled water, juice) The food from Smoque BBQ was outstanding and very filling! It was buffet style, but they had staff serving at each station, which kept the lines moving quickly. Very family-friendly atmosphere. I brought our 5 yr old and she made lots of friends. A few of the vendors had kid activities, and my daughter spent most of the day making friendship bracelets at one station. We stayed until closing time at 4 PM. All the staff were very, very nice when they came around and told us that they were closing up. They did not make us feel overly rushed, and everybody asked us if we enjoyed our day. They seemed to really care about the guest experiences. Everybody was kind and polite, and we just had a fantastic time. 100% recommend this event at Theater...

If you're dreaming of a venue that combines Chicago’s iconic skyline views with modern industrial charm, Theater on the Lake should be high on your list. As a wedding photographer, this venue is a dream to capture.

There’s plenty of space for large weddings, and the layout transitions beautifully from ceremony to reception. You can exchange vows outside with the lake and skyline as your backdrop (an incredible setting for golden hour portraits) or move everything indoors for a seamless, cozy ceremony with dramatic lighting and high ceilings. The interior features exposed beams, industrial windows, and a moody, elevated vibe that works beautifully with both minimalist and bold floral designs.

The staff here is incredibly helpful and kind, which makes the day run smoothly for everyone involved. From a photo standpoint, the layout allows for great angles throughout the day without feeling cramped or restricted, and the surrounding park and waterfront offer additional portrait options without needing to travel far.

If you’re planning a modern Chicago wedding with a little edge and a lot of atmosphere, Theater on the Lake delivers on all fronts....

A well-run place at an great location. Close to the Lincoln Park zoo and Conservatory as well as the Nature Museum. Plenty of bike parking. I restaurant was doing valet parking. Nearby street parking exists, but is limited. You may be best off using the zoo's paid lot or taking a taxi/Lyft/Uber. Good views of the lake with outdoor seating at the restaurant, not many places in Chicago can claim that. I didn't eat at the restaurant, but the bartenders we're very friendly. There was a decent, limited beer selection. I came for a performance. The newly renovated space is larger than it used to be. It feel like the acoustics are not great towards the back because of slight echo. This didn't affect my experience because my event had a pretty small audience. They may set-up additional speakers for larger events. All in all, the venue hosted everything perfectly. Helpful and pleasant staff were not hard to find. This is definitely one of the coolest venues in town and a lovely location to grab I...