North PondNice food but a little rushedEverything was very nice, but we weren't 'wowed'. We were served each course rather quickly making the whole experience feel less of a special occasion.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's DayTook my wife to North Pond for the Mother's Day brunch and it was fabulous as usual. North Pond is consistently in my top 5 restaurants in Chicago.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAll the senses are stimulatedThe food is excellent with a fresh ingredients and subtle and complex favors. The interior design of the restaurant is arts and crafts/prarie and complements the ideal nature setting of the north pond and the park. Try to get a seat in the southmost room, wonderful views.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a winnerWe appreciated the warm reception, exquisite cuisine, professional service, arts and crafts architecture/decor, and a setting that shows Chicago at its very best. The duck breast was perfect, the best I've ever had. We enjoyed the sweetbreads, too, and the wines--a rosé from Provence and a Chateauneuf-du-Pape.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary celebrationWe had an excellent time. The food was delicious - excellent combinations of favors. We were celebrating our wedding anniversary and had an excellent table in the front area by a window. The service was very good-attentive, but not pushy. Over all, very good evening. They even our names printed on the top of the menu which was a nice touch.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMFarm-to-table in Lincoln ParkMy wife and I chose this restaurant on a visit to Chicago to visit an old colleague. The farm-to-table style was elevated by great culinary imagination, unlike places where the mere fact of using fiddleheads or ramps is considered something special in itself. The service was perfect, as one expects from a restaurant of this caliber in a good food city like Chicago, and the location near a pond -- once a warming house for skaters, we were told -- seemed magically pastoral in the middle of the downtown area. Prices, though on the high side, were far from outrageous, considering the quality, presentation and taste of the menu. We did not opt for the five-course tasting menu, and all passed on dessert. Number 1 when I return to Chicago.5/3/2013 12:00:00 AMDelicious food. FantasticDelicious food. Fantastic view of Chicago skyline in a park environment. Only grumble is about the way the menu is written - it does a disservice to the plate. Check it out on the web before you go, but do go.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful dining experience,Wonderful dining experience, but we tried 3 desserts for 4 diners....and didn't like ANY of them. Each was more unusal and strange than the one before. A bit of a disappointment to an otherwise great meal.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMSuperb as usual. My vote forSuperb as usual. My vote for #1 restaurant in Chicago. Always come here to show off the city and food to visiters.4/21/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent meal. Service wasExcellent meal. Service was spot on. Dinner took 3 hours but seemed much shorter. Fish was perfectly cooked.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMNever DisappointedWe've been here once before and recently met a couple who just transplanted here from Texas. So we wanted to share one of Chicago's greatest dining spots with them. I was worried because we really talked North Pond up quite a bit thanks to our first visit, and sometimes great spots don't sustain... Happy to say we were not at all disappointed!!! The folks in our party are fabulous cooks/chefs in their own rite, but they were all equally impressed at the fine quality of selection, presentation, and taste. Thank you North Pond for another great experience !4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMSunday brunch in the park!We had a really fabulous brunch and they made my husband feel very special for his birthday. The service was impeccable and the food presentation was beautiful ~ and tasty too, all in very interesting surroundings. Highly recommended and we can't wait to go back!4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMMy now fiancé and I got engagedMy now fiancé and I got engaged the night before. I had planned a romantic Sunday brunch for the following morning and we were pleasantly surprised how things turned out. Menu and food was different but great and the staff was very friendly.4/14/2013 12:00:00 AMI love this place. Even ifI love this place. Even if the food was horrible (which it's not!), I would dine here just for the wonderful ambiance of the room. With the beautiful Arts & Crafts design, and a view overlooking the North Pond in Lincoln Park, you would have to try really hard to have a bad time here. Bruce Sherman's menu is always adventurous, with outstanding presentations. However, if you are a vegetarian, your options may be somewhat limited. The wine list is rather eclectic, with a focus on smaller boutique wineries. The staff is extremely helpful with suggestions though.
Of course, all of this comes with a price, but unlike some trendy restaurants, it is worth every penny. Highly recommended.4/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFor Visitors and FoodiesOur first trip and we booked to bring out-of-town guests to see Lincoln Park. We enjoyed it as much as they did. The dining room is beautiful, a lot of polished dark woods and beautiful lighting. Very appropriate to the natural setting. The food was a three course brunch with a unique assortment of offerings. Among our guests, we ordered pretty much everything on the menu. The food was exceptionally good and inventively plated. My husband volunteered that the food was very good, rare praise indeed because he's a good cook. So, get a reservation and go. We'll go again ourselves.4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe location of the restaurantThe location of the restaurant is very unique and the atmosphere is beautiful. The staff made my birthday special. We had fabulous service.4/5/2013 12:00:00 AMWe had a wonderful eveningWe had a wonderful evening in this lovely restaurant. The food was perfect and the table we had was near the windows so we could watch the pond and the life beyond the setting. I will gladly come back with my family.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMI let them know in AdvanceI let them know in Advance that we were celebrating my wife's birthday. The greeter and server both said "Happy Birthday" upon our arrival. The menus were also imprinted with "Happy Birthday." Both of these were nice touches. The service was very good and Gabriela our server was absolutely wonderful.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was an amazing meal.This was an amazing meal. We went for my wife's birthday and were extremely impressed. Her name was even on the dessert menu.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThis beautiful warm restaurantThis beautiful warm restaurant was once a warming house for ice skaters in the middle of a park with lovely views of pond and Chicago skyline. We enjoyed all of the meal and wish we had room for dessert because they sounded awesome. Very romantic and fit for a special occasion/celebration.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMCelebrated milestone birthdayWhat a wonderful place to celebrate special occasions. We celebrated a life-long friend's 65th birthday and North Pond made it special in every way. The Tasting Menu accompanied by wine pairings was outstanding and the server's knowledge of each course and each wine was impressive and added to the overall experience of the evening. Chef Sherman deserves his recognition as a James Beard award recipient, for his preparation of each course is exquisite. I can't say enough positive about the food, the ambiance, the service, and the joy that is evident in this gem of a restaurant.3/28/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique setting, wonderful mealLovely setting-tucked onto a lightly travelled park in middle of the City. Former warming house. Wonderful cocktails (Waterloo!). Though only a handful of entries, very well prepared. Modest but approp portions. Price pt makes it a special occasion spot for us. Return-yes! espec in warmer weather when patio doors open.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food was incredible.The food was incredible. It is pricey, but worth it for a special occasion.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable evening on the pondFoie gras and scallops appetizers were very good as were the pheasant and halibut. Service was good -- not overly attentive but efficient. The wine selection is limited but there is enough of a selection to find a satisfactory pairing at a very reasonable price point.3/23/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was a great dining experience.This was a great dining experience. It was my first time dining at North Pond and even in the winter it's a great cozy place to dine with friends. Our reservation confirmation stated no jeans, and my group dressed appropriately. We were surprised to see some many others dining in jeans. We almost felt over dressed. But the food and service was great. I will dine there again duiring warmer weather.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMI've dined at North Pond previouslyI've dined at North Pond previously and the chance for a tasting menu - both food and wine - was just what was needed this week. Service is attentive without being overly so, the food was wonderful and the wine pairing was good . . . tried several wines that I wouldn't have picked on my own, so all in all, a great evening . . . a co-worker and her husband dined with me and they enjoyed it as well.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMWish I knew that bartender'sWish I knew that bartender's name because he is a genius. The Aligheri is wonderful. Another had hopped grapefruit juice and it was perfect.
This on top of North Pond's absolutely consistently surprising top-knotch food. A gem.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyable evening! WonderfulEnjoyable evening! Wonderful food! Great service! Look forward to returning again a future trip to Chicago.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMI will be backQuiet room, well prepared, delicious food, outstanding service and a beautiful setting.This place is a true gem in an 18 caret gold setting, no imitation gems or fool's gold here. The outstanding feature of this restaurant is that staff is so very sincere.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food, atmosphere and staffThe food, atmosphere and staff were all great, we will return the next time we are in Chicago.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the Midwest's BestVery creative menu using very fresh ingredients and beautifully presented.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMSimply SuperbBeautiful setting on the lagoon in Lincoln Park with lovely prairie style decor. Three of us dined there during Chef's Week for my sister's birthday celebration. Our server, Leah, was wonderful--professional and knowledgeable but also warm and appropriately funny. Everything on the menu sounded appealing but we chose the Chef's Week menu plus an additional course, with wine pairings. All the courses were fresh, visually appealing, and absolutely delicious, with a great match of flavors, textures, colors. The wine pairings were perfect. This is upscale dining with prices to match, but the value is exceptional and the experience worth every penny.If I could, I'd eat here at least once a week.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my second time atThis was my second time at North Pond and I was not disappointed. All dishes for everyone I went with were innovative and delicious. The server was extremely knowledgable.3/17/2013 12:00:00 AMHidden inside the actual parkHidden inside the actual park and accessible via footpath, this mission-style building is like an exclusive club with upscale service and clientele. Definitley take advantage of the valet parking and note that most all gentlemen in the establishment will be wearing a jacket.3/13/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways planned on trying basedAlways planned on trying based on the decor and location but the menu exceeded my expectations, wine list as well, and the service was better then most restaurants on par with north pond.3/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was a surprise becauseThis was a surprise because the previous dining experience hadn't been the best. This time it was a completely different story. We arrived on time and did not have to wait for our table. Our wait staff was courteous, well informed,and prompt with helpful suggestion. The meal was hot, not tepid. It was arranged attractively on the plate.. And the meat portion was TENDER, not chewy. We will be back.3/9/2013 12:00:00 AMNorth Pond was recommendedNorth Pond was recommended to me by a good friend who said I would love the food. With that in mind I made a reservation to take my girlfriend and my parents out to a nice dinner. Well "nice" isn't the word: how about the most fantastic dinner you could imagine?! Between the impeccable service brought to us by our server Shannon, the superb wine and cocktail list and food that I couldn't have prepared myself to even conceive how good it was going to be. We started with the seared scallops and the octopus, which were perfectly seared and prepared. We then moved on to our main course which consisted of the tilefish, bass, halibut and a nice waygu steak for myself. I wasn't even close to ready for how delicious the food was! HIGHLY RECOMMENDED3/1/2013 12:00:00 AMLoved the food, the ambianceLoved the food, the ambiance and the view. The perfect spot for a Sunday Brunch with friends.2/17/2013 12:00:00 AMFailure to Follow Up!For special occasions, North Pond is a great place to dine. Beautiful views over the pond in Lincoln Park, great FLW interior design, delicious food and good service. I was however somewhat disappointed to be sat in the rear room away from the fire and view when the restaurant was only a quarter full - I had assumed prior bookings would fill the space in the front room but no. Why on earth would they not even bother to ask whether you would like to sit in the front? I was also disappointed to see a chef in the kitchen eating, not tasting. In a restaurant of this calibre this should not happen let alone in plain sight of the customer. Having wrote these comments down, North Pond did not reply, so here they are for all the public to see.2/13/2013 12:00:00 AMMichelin-star worthyMy diner at North Pond last night was incredible - I cannot believe this restaurant does not have a Michelin star! I so enjoyed sitting by the fireplace on this cold winter evening, and every course was wonderful. The pear soup with almond tuille amuse bouche was too sweet and the bread, from Red Hen Bakery, was just average, but everything from there on was fantastic. I had an endive salad with the lightest most delicious cheese souffle. Cabernet onions were a bit too sweet though. Wild pheasant entree with apples and sage strada was just perfect - loved the rich, gamey, earthy flavors here and apple was the perfect accent. An apple dessert with stout cake and chicory ice cream was a great way to end the night.2/1/2013 12:00:00 AM