Atwood

See all 305 Reviews ›

Address:
1 West Washington St.
Chicago, IL 60602

Neighborhood:
Downtown / Loop

Getting there ›
Cuisine:
American

Price: $31 to $50

More Details ›

Atwood Details

Dining Style: Casual Dining
Website: http://www.atwoodrestaurant.com
Email: damien.palladino@atwoodrestaurant.com
Phone: (312) 368-1900
Hours of Operation: Breakfast: Mon-Fri 7:00am-10:30am
Saturday and Sunday Brunch: 8:00am - 3:00pm
Lunch: Monday thru Friday 11:30am - 3:00pm
Dinner Nightly 5:00pm - 9:30pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: American, Contemporary American, Comfort Food
Executive Chef: Derek Simcik
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cafe, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Non-Smoking Area, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Smoking Area, Takeout, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: We have an intimate private dining room which overlooks the Atwood. Perfect for a sit down dinner for 10 to 30 or a cocktail reception for 75. Please contact Caity at caity.anglada@kimptonhotels.com
Entertainment: We have the winner of our monthly Open Table Diner Feedback contest!

The winner recieves a dinner for two with a speceial five course menu prepared by our one and only Chef Derek Simcik.
Special Events & Promotions: Host your own special event with us. For personalized reservations please call 312 368 1900

Getting there

Cross Street: State and Washington Streets
Public Transit: Red Line - Lake
Blue line - Washington
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Valet with the Hotel Burnham on Washington Street. Three hours or less with restaurant validation is $19.50. Seeing a performance as well? Show your theater ticket stub and parking is $23.00 for 6 hours or less if you also dine in the restaurant.

A word from Atwood

Atwood is an intimate, romantic, must dine Chicago classic restaurant adjacent to the world famous Burnham Hotel. (An Al Capone hangout) This is one of Chicago's most historical buildings located in the heart of Chicago's Central Business District. Only blocks away from Architectural river boat… tours and directly along the State Street retail shopping circuit and the many Art’s of the theater district. Enjoy fresh, locally farmed ingredients while dining in our vibrant, must see, dining room. Chef Derek Simcik and our attentive staff offer excellent service, “contemporary” American comfort food in a memorable setting. Atwood is a Chicago staple, casual restaurant in the heart of the Loop, featuring a creative twist on what, in one time, was referred to as American comfort food.

Come and ENJOY an inexpensive lunch, business breakfast, great brunch or fabulous intimate "one of a kind" dinner. Very close to tourist attractions too. See you there! Continued

Foodspotting photos

See all photos >

Diner Reviews

"Love people watching from this corner gem downtown. The new menu is great. Had the beet salad and pork cheeks - so delish."
Dined on 3/13/2014
"The location made this a desirable simple choice. the food and service were spot on. The dining room was a little tight, but it was not overly busy the night we were there. Will return next time we head down to the theaters!"
Dined on 3/13/2014
"Sitting is fast and personnel asks whether you have a show that night and make sure they know the time so, they time the dishes accordingly. The food is not your regular menu, dishes are very special and have great combinations you wouldn't think mixing at home but, they work just fine. Not too adventurous but, different enough to set the tone before a nice theater show."
Dined on 3/11/2014
"We enjoyed finally checking out the Atwood. The small plates were a pleasant surprise and very tasty. Our waiter was most helpful and attentive. The two strikes I give this restaurant is the tables are way, way too small. Very cramped and uncomfortable. And the water glasses have to go! They are top heavy and we found ourselves "catching" the glasses from falling over. These two negatives may just keep us away for another try."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"my husband and i dined at the atwood before our play. the waiter was aware of this and moved the dinner along perfectly with out rushing us. I cant wait to go back again."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"Everything we had was delicious. There were so many unique flavor combinations. This was best food that I have had in the Loop."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"Atwwood has been a standard for in-city lunch for years. New efforts at creativity fail.. The buffalo sausage comes with a ramekin of glued (?) potatoes, a huge butter soaked frankfurter roll. This is obviously a re-do of franks and fries; the menu should be more explicit. Wonderful aioli on the side. While the risotto with beets and Brussels sprouts is beautiful and very tasty, the shock of seeing the entire thing beet juice colored is followed up by having only the juice and no beets, and by having four sprouts leaves and no sprouts. Nice . Server a bit pushy, uninformed."
Dined on 3/7/2014
"A lovely setting, nice view, good service and great food. We started with the beet appetizer which was really good. Then 3 of us ordered the butterfish for our entrees, and it was outstanding. One person ordered the lamb which she said was delicious. I wish we had ordered more small plates so we could have tried more things. We shared the vanilla gelato for dessert and that was yummy!"
Dined on 3/5/2014
"We have been at this restaurant several times & with this new menu I had a hard time finding something to order"
Dined on 3/4/2014
"Atwood is a beautiful restaurant with floor-to-ceiling windows that showcase the bustling city life outside. It was snowing the evening I went, and it was so beautiful to watch the snow come down as we ate. The menu wasn't huge--there were a number of small plates and things you might expect to see on a small plate menu, but everything we ate was delicious. Our server was also very helpful and attentive. Seems best for a small group or a couple."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"I have eaten here several times prior to attending shows in the area. The food is great, service is super-friendly. It is an elegant spot to get a bite, located in the lobby of the historic Burnham Hotel. I would definitely recommend this for brunch/ lunch or dinner. I was able to make my reservation on-line, which was convenient. The restaurant followed up a few hours later with a phone call confirming my reservation. Great attention to detail throughout!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Food was ok and was cold when it arrived, server was standoffish and made things uncomfortable. Could not order a mimosa at 9:45 and he did not follow up w me to order one during the meal and we had to ask multiple times to have coffee refilled. The restrooms are also in a very creepy location of the hotel. Would not recommend or return, especially to pay $50 for brunch....maybe if it was free."
Dined on 3/2/2014
"Menu was a little unusual. Cold weather weekend--had cold chicken liver mousse. (Chicken liver mousse excellent butwould rethink choice in future) Duck confit hash was excellent and nice plate for winter. Would recommend viewing menu on line prior to dining. Service staff helpful in navigating small to larger plates order on menu. Food arrived promptly. Presentation was nice as well."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Unfortunately, expectations were not met. Waitress forgot to put in 2/5th of our order. We paid $14 for 1.5 diver scallops. Seriously, one scallop was cut in 1/2. I work in the restaurant industry and I know how expensive diver scallops are right now, but honestly, to put 1/2 a scallop on a plate and serve it looks cheap. I've been here before and have the Chef's food prior and it was outstanding. This experience really just didn't live up. Room, as aways, is beautiful. Great place for a glass of wine."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"When I made our reservations for 6:15 P.M., for which we were on time, I informed the restaurant that we had theater tickets for an 8:00 PM show. When we arrived, the front desk and our server were already aware of this and we were reassured that we would have plenty of time. However, it took an excessively long time for our entree to get to our table. This forced us to have to skip our dessert plans. We wanted a nice dessert and coffee but we had no time to enjoy that. Our waitress was very nice and apologetic that the food was late and she gave us a free cheesecake to compensate which was very nice but we could not finish it and we had to eat what we could in a rush. Other than that My wife and I really enjoyed our dining experience."
Dined on 3/1/2014
"I went there with a friend and it was a nice discovery. The food was good and especially the cheeses plate!"
Dined on 3/1/2014
"Nice spot for pre-theatre dining. The menu is limited, but the offerings are good."
Dined on 2/26/2014
"As a theater season ticket holder, I've been to Atwood ( nee Café) several times over the last decade or so. I've always been very happy with their speed of service and seasonally changing menus. Upon learning of their new (and improved) menu my friend and I decided to visit Atwood after their "theater rush" and have a relaxing meal. Boy did we! Our server, Matt, explained the new sharing concept and recommended we take our time. Some highlights were the rich blue cheese custard; classic steak tar tare, flavorful pork cheeks; and a perfectly seasoned poussin. We only had about 1/4 of the menu and can't wait to go back for the rest! Thank you Atwood for another amazing experience Hats off to the entire staff and to Chef Derek's kitchen team."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"Whether your "couple" is a friend you've not seen in a long time or a significant other. Atwood provides a friendly charming atmosphere with delightful food. Do it!"
Dined on 2/24/2014
"Interior and ambiance was charming and pleasant, immediately felt comfortable. The staff was very polite and attentive. The food was well prepared and delicious. Overall a wonderful experience!"
Dined on 2/23/2014
"We found the setting and menu a little confusing. The Atwood is a small restaurant in an old hotel in the Chicago loop. It seems as though the restaurant was trying to be all things to all people--small plates, full entrees and some others that were undiscernable. It may have been noting more than the menu format and presentation, but it left us confused from the beginning. The service was good, and our waiter was very energetic. The food was acceptable but with confusion over the menu it was difficult to put together an order that met our needs."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"This was our first experience with the small plates menu. The food was very good but presentation and service could be better. We were told to order 5-6 plates for the 2 of us. We ordered 5, but 4 would probably be enough. They brought 3 dishes to the table at once and the size of the plates was so large that there was barely room enough on the table. Then 2 more dishes appeared quickly and since there was no room the server said he would put them under the warmer. When we finished our initial 3, it took a while for the other plates to reappear. The plates we were given to eat on were tiny and there were no serving utensils. Thus, we both just dug in together with our forks. We especially enjoyed the trout."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"It's a very nice setting and the waitstaff is very friendly. The small plate food options are good and it's just the right amount of food to have before going to the theater."
Dined on 2/21/2014
"The latest menu at Atwood Cafe is creative and geared to a variety of diners with both entree-size selections and smaller dishes for sampling and sharing. The location in a handsomely maintained vintage building with a hotel near several downtown theaters, shopping, and offices is extremely convenient."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"I partially wanted to come here because of the history (Burnham and Attwood were part of the birth of skyscrapers). But the ambiance of this restaurant is equally wonderful. Food was incredible. Service was perfect/excellent. I would definitely return."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"I was very excited to try this restaurant, the chef really seems to have a strong creative voice, ill definitely be back"
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Make sure to ask for a seat AWAY from the middle "couch" seating area, unless you don't mind listening eaves dropping, or being eaves dropped on, you're so close to the next table you can't help but be overheard or you over hearing them. It led to a very awkward and quiet brunch after valentines day with my husband due to the patrons next to us having to comment about a few of the things WE were discussing. Also, Weekend brunches may feel rushed due to the limited amount of seating, I guess."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Breakfast is much better than dinner. Need more dinner entree selections. Seemed more like a tapas restaurant for dinner."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Seriously though... everything was perfect. The food was excellent, the staff was very accommodating, service was prompt, and the cocktails were smooth and delicious. The building itself is beautiful and gives a great atmosphere. I would recommend Atwood to anyone visiting Chicago - its a great find!"
Dined on 2/16/2014
"Should not have changed the menu to small plates. The food is just bad now."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"We regularly dine here with our children and/or granchildren. The menu is eclectic and contemporary, yet all ages find something they love on the menu every time. A great place to dine before or after the Joffrey or the theater. It's been a long time favorite of our granddaughters."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Tasting menu with pairings was nicely executed. Points taken for use of boring and distracting popcorn in 1st course and too much sweet caramelized onion in 3rd course. Star course was 2nd with playful variety of textures, perfectly tender scallops and delicious artichoke. Dessert cocktail was excellent. Service was attentive with minor hiccups (failure to mark table prior to dessert and late arrival of drink pairings). Ambience was very pleasant."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Love this place! We've been here for breakfast, lunch & dinner & always leave on a cloud. Went again recently & was concerned to see a small bites menu which usually means tiny portions and a big bill. Not so! The portions were so big it's almost a misnomer. We are still dreaming about the cheese plate (5 - not 3 like most places - outstanding cheeses). The trout - best I've had in recent memory. Brussels sprouts - another gem. And the wine! I get really irritated when a restaurant charges $12/glass that tastes like a $6/glass of wine. Not so here! The Syrah was delicious and, later, so to was the dessert wine. Add the amazing street view & decor & it's always an amazing evening. Atwood is on the top of my list but even more so now."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"WeI were a bit put off by the menu at first, seeming limited. After our server explained the concept of small plates to entrees down the menu list, the concept of grazing was appealing. We shared 5 small plates and a few glasses of wine. All the plates were well prepared and presented, better than we expected. We liked the entire concept and would come back. Great service and interesting food choices"
Dined on 2/12/2014
"Great food, great service, great location for the theater district."
Dined on 2/12/2014
"I was there for lunch. I really enjoy the food. it was delicious."
Dined on 2/10/2014
"When you first walk into Atwoods, you realize it really is a special place. the dining has unique seating, which can be very romantic. The service was outstanding. Our server was friendly, and she really seemed to enjoy being there. The food itself was 'ok'. The cheese plate was our highlight...very nice selection. The fritto misto (calamari & scallop) appetizor was actully a little to greasy. My wife had the tamale, which she enjoyed, and found quite interesting, while I had the hen, which was good...just not outstanding. This is a great, pre theater restaurant for it's ambiance and location...and the food is ok."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"My husband and I came here for dinner before seeing a show at one of the nearby theaters. The cocktails and wine were nice, but the food was either too salty or very dry. We ordered the rabbit, which was so dry that it was not edible, and the duck, which was cooked well but was too salty after a few bites. The donuts dessert we ordered were so hard that I think I could break a window with one. I let the server know from the start about my allergy to dairy, and she said it wouldn't be problem. I asked if there was any dairy in dishes as they were served. They would say no, I would start eating it...then they would come back a couple minutes later to tell me there WAS dairy in what I was eating...good thing my allergy isn't lethal."
Dined on 2/6/2014
"What a gorgeous restaurant! Loved the ambience & natural light. The food was great and our server was excellent. Highly recommended if you're attending a show at the Oriental or just shopping along the MM."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"Our table of 4 enjoyed the ambiance of the restaurant. The added bonus was seeing Alton Brown at the bar (after his show at the Oriental Theater). I had the ribeye which was fantastic. Two at our table had the duck which was absolutely delicious. I could not help myself from trying my husband's spaetzle. Delicious! They should offer it as a side dish. Another member of our party had the venison which was very good. Our waitress Beth made the evening enjoyable with her attentive service. She made sure the beverages kept coming. What an enjoyable evening!"
Dined on 2/8/2014

More reviews ›

20% off best available rate at Hotel Burnham!
All week 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM›
Open Table guests enjoy 20% off Kimpton Chicago Hotels based upon availability. Please visit The Burnham Hotel website www.burnhamhotel.com and use rate code OPN. Excludes Tax and Tip. Burnham Hotel, Allegro, Palomar, Monaco. Special valid Jan 13, 2014 - Apr 13, 2014 all week from 7:30 AM - 11:00 PM. Offer valid January 13, 2014 - April 13, 2014
Bar Dining
All week 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM›
Reserve at our bar for lunch or dinner and still gain OpenTable points! (mention "BAR" in your reservation notes). Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jan 13, 2014 - Apr 13, 2014 all week from 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM. Offer valid January 13, 2014 - April 13, 2014
20% off bottles of wine at lunch
Monday-Friday 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM›
Enjoy any bottle of wine off our list for lunch and recieve 20% off. Monday through Friday!. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jan 13, 2014 - Apr 13, 2014 on Mondays - Fridays from 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Offer valid January 13, 2014 - April 13, 2014
Diner Feedback Challenge
All week 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM›
Fill out your OpenTable Diner Feedback Form and mention your server by name you are automatically entered in a drawing for a Chefs dinner for four. Excludes Tax and Tip. Special valid Jan 13, 2014 - Apr 13, 2014 all week from 11:30 AM - 9:30 PM. Offer valid January 13, 2014 - April 13, 2014
See all 4 deals and offers

Reserve at Atwood

Atwood Details

Getting there