The Walnut Room - Chicago Restaurant - Chicago, IL

The Walnut Room - Chicago

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Address:
111 North State Street
Chicago, IL 60602

Neighborhood:
Downtown / Loop

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Cuisine:
American

Price: $30 and under

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The Walnut Room - Chicago Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://macysrestaurants.com/walnut-room/
Email: brian.rojek@macys.com
Phone: (312) 781-3139
Hours of Operation: Lunch: Daily: 11:00am - 3:00pm;
Dinner: Tuesday - Saturday: 3:00pm - 7:00pm
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: American
Executive Chef: Brad Saylor
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Beer, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Private Room, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine, Wine Bar
Catering: Off-site catering provided by One Eleven Events Catering. Visit 111events.com for more information.

Getting there

Cross Street: Randolph
Public Transit: CTA Pink, Green, Orange, Purple and Brown lines at the Randolph / Wabash stop. Both the CTA Blue line (Washington stop) and CTA Red line (Lake street stop) are less than 1 block from the store.
Parking: No
Parking Details: Discounted parking for Macy's shoppers at the Randolph / Wabash parking garage. Validation available at Macy's express desk on 1st floor.

A word from The Walnut Room - Chicago

The world famous Walnut Room has been a Chicago tradition since 1907. Located on the 7th floor of Macy's on State Street the Walnut Room is the first restaurant ever opened in a department store. With Circassian wood paneling imported from Russia and Austrian chandeliers, the 17,000 square foot… dining room is both elegant and comfortable. Conveniently located in the heart of the Chicago theatre district the Walnut Room is an excellent choice to take a break from shopping or for a meal and a glass of wine before the show. And don't forget about the Wine Bar at the Walnut Room. Opened in November of 2007, the Wine Bar features a small plate menu as well as more than 20 wines by the glass. After all, in our store, we have been feeding the shopping tradition since 1905.
Enjoy a classic Mrs. Herring's Chicken Pot Pie, French onion soup, or choose from the more contemporary menu offerings created by some of the country's best known chefs as members of the Macy's Culinary Council.Continued

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Diner Reviews

"Basic & reliable Not quite as good as I remember it but OK Slow service.... Particularly considering place was almost empty Clam chowder had lots of clams,but too many potatoes and very blandly seasoned"
Dined on 3/9/2014
"The Walnut room is very popular for Christmas, but is often overlooked the rest of the year. It is a solid 4 star restaurant and, being in the theater district, a perfect choice for dinner before a show. Also, an excellent value for the food and service you get."
Dined on 3/8/2014
"I brought my nieces there at Christmas time and my sister for her birthday. Both times the service was just great. The waiter's are helpful and attentive. They don't crowd or rush you while you are dining. The food is absolutely fabulous whether you have a salad, sandwich or plated lunch. With our group we each tried all three types of lunch. I would recommend this restaurant to anyone. Coming to the Walnut Room will now become a Christmas tradition for our family"
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Only had to park once. Service was efficient. Food was verty tasty and reasonably priced."
Dined on 3/6/2014
"We dined at the Walnut Room on Feb. 28 at 6 pm. Our server, Fawn, was outstanding. There were three of us in our party and we each tried a different entree. All were excellent (Chicken Pot Pie, Asiago Crusted Chicken, Almond Crusted Atlantic Cod). We also tried the Frango Toffee Pie for dessert. It was heavenly. The prices were quite reasonable, especially for downtown Chicago. All in all it was an enjoyable experience. I highly recommend the Walnut Room."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"Great food, good prices, interesting atmosphere, annoying store announcements."
Dined on 2/28/2014
"Food was excellent.Ambiance was great.Server...not so much!"
Dined on 2/28/2014
"The Walnut Room provides such a great dining experience. It's elegant and refined -- and very spacious. The menu is constantly evolving. My favorite mimosa -- with a splash of cranberry juice -- is served here. It's always an enjoyable experience to dine at the Walnut Room and I try to do so on a monthly basis."
Dined on 2/23/2014
"This was not our first time at the Walnut Room. We were meeting friends for lunch and had a large group, made a reservation for 8, but weren't sure if there would be 7 or 8 of us. When we got there, the hostess was rude. She was on the phone and couldn't be bothered with the 6 people in front of her. We eventually got to tell her we had a reservation and our name, then she asked how many in our party - doesn't she have this information, what was the point of making the reservation? She seemed perturbed that we still didn't know if the 8th guest would be joining us, then walked away for a long time. After 5 minutes we could only assume that they hadn't set up a table for us. The restaurant was 2/3 empty, very disappointing..."
Dined on 2/25/2014
"This is always a special place to take my mom for her bday. This time I invited her sisters and nieces. Service was OK. Food great as usual. One aunt pulled in her chair and cut her finger on a nail sticking out. They just put a bandaid on it. Would have thought there would be more attention and maybe a dessert for her. Disappointed in that, as I picked the restaurant and they all traveled quite a distance for lunch."
Dined on 2/22/2014
"A Chicago tradition that we just had to try at least once. Would be even better with a Christmas Tree, but always too busy during holidays."
Dined on 2/23/2014
"Service was amazing! I had a party of ten and we all loved the bread and butter. They kept bringing it ,Everytime without asking. I say the food is only good because I had the steak-medium rare and it was not the best. So, i asked for it to be cooked a little longer and he took it back with no problem. The steak still was not very good. So, I expressed that to the waiter and he took it off my bill! The Jam Burgers my friends had were very good though ! Also, the salads were to die for ! Just no steak!"
Dined on 2/22/2014
"Servers are kind, but service is slow for the lunch hour and the place was not even busy."
Dined on 2/19/2014
"We were looking for a place to dine before going to see Phantom of the Opera. We picked the Walnut room because we went down town early to shop and it made sense to dine there due to the cold weather. I hadn't been to The Walnut room for about 12 years and only for a Xmas tea so I was a little worried that this would be a stale place for dinner. To my surprise, it was very good!! My mom ordered steak and I ordered cheese encrusted chicken that was the best meal I've had in a long time. My mom said her steak was excellent! It wasn't crowded at all so it was missing the ambience, but the food was so good!"
Dined on 2/15/2014
"YOU HAVE A RICH HISTORY. WHY SPOIL IT BY UNDERSTAFFING. IT WAS 35 MinutesTO GET A GLASS OF WINE. EVERYTHING CAME OUT OF ORDER. WAITER VERY NICE BUT COULD NOT DELIVER DESIRED SERVICE FOR SPECIAL OCCASION."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"Took my wife there for lunch. It was a very nice experience."
Dined on 2/16/2014
"My boyfriend and I chose The Walnut Room because the last time we were in Chicago (around Christmas time) it was too full for us to get a table. When we were back in the city for Valentine's Day weekend, we were trying to think of a cute, but classy, restaurant we could go to where the food was good and the wait was short. We made a reservation at The Walnut room, didn't have to wait at all, and were seated right away. The atmosphere was quiet, the food was delicious (he got the BLT burger and I got the almond encrusted chicken, and we both split the cheese plate appetizer). We had a great server who was friendly and attentive. I couldn't have asked for a better evening."
Dined on 2/15/2014
"I found the floor plan very strange. The tables were adequately spaced, but it felt like sitting in a ballroom. The floor is carpeted, and every table is visible from every other table. There is also a feeling of openness because the surrounding walls are very low. At times, various people can be seen walking outside of the restaurants within Macy's. This restaurant may not be suitable for a "fancy date.""
Dined on 2/15/2014
"Top rate food; New York Sirloin and Flank Steak were excellent. Service was attentive and special request for a desert was addressed well."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"SO hadn't heard of the Walnut Room before, despite living in the Chicagoland area for over 25 years, so I suggested we go there for Valentine's Day. Our appointment was at 5:15 and the place was pretty empty at this time so the incredibly friendly hostess got us a table by a window. The server we had seemed rather absentminded for someone who wasn't busy enough to warrant it. We asked for two glasses of wine; he gave us one and we had to let him know the next time he came by, which wasn't for a while. He'd ask how everything was, but did so while walking past our table without stopping. Besides the bumbling server, the meal was good. SO is a celiac so he got the chicken entree off the gluten free menu. He's still alive now so well done!"
Dined on 2/14/2014
"The Walnut Room is a good place for a date, business or social outing. The ambiance is nice for any occasion and the service is impeccable. The food was good and I plan on returning to try other dishes."
Dined on 2/14/2014
"For Christmas, I purchased my grandson tickets for us to attend Phantom of the Opera. Each year we visit Macy's to view the Christmas tree and when asked where he wanted to dine before the show - The Walnut Room was his choice. We enjoyed the Chicken Pot Pie and Meat Loaf, the staff was professional and properly attentive. My grandson is 14 years old but felt he was King of the World with this experience. We will be back."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"Areas of the decor are quite old and run down. I realize that the fountain area will never rival the beauty of the Christmas tree but it certainly could be improved. The tables, chairs and table linens are quite nice. Serve was slow but friendly. The food was good and well priced. Very nice having a gluten free area on the menu."
Dined on 2/11/2014
"We were two couples that met in Chicago before Phantom. The Walnut Room was a perfect meeting place - quiet, great service, tables not squeezed together. A great place to visit with old friends where we did not feel rushed, could visit in the quiet, and enjoy great food. The only thing we forgot was to leave room for Frango pie."
Dined on 2/9/2014
"It is always a very special experience when I dine at The Walnut Room. We went for a friend's birthday lunch and the food was very good. The pretzel loaf at the beginning of the meal was very tasty. My friend and I had the Roasted Harvest Salad with the addition of grilled chicken breast for $3 extra and it was excellent. Very fresh greens with roasted butternut squash and pumpkin seeds. Yum! Another friend had the Asiago Crusted Chicken and raved about it. We also enjoyed a birthday dessert of White Chocolate Bread Pudding (double Yum!) on the house, which I thought was a very nice gesture. I would highly recommend The Walnut Room."
Dined on 2/11/2014
"Beautiful iconic restaurant seemed to be short on staff the day we were there, but the server we had was very courteous and I could not complain. The flatbread appetizer was amazing, but in my opinion the signature chicken pot pie was just okay (heavy on pepper & thyme). Also the menu was more limited than I had expected."
Dined on 2/8/2014
"A nice place to take someone for a quiet visit and still have good food."
Dined on 2/7/2014
"The Walnut room used to be charming. The staff is a bit confused about the customer, more about the system. We used to be asked where we wanted to be seated, now we are plunked. Discussions between wait staff and support staff should be out of the earshot of the diner. A little more class would fill it!"
Dined on 2/4/2014
"Recently had a celebratory lunch here because A) it was conveniently located; B) the menu had something for everyone; and C) the price is right! There were no issues getting a lunch reservation and the place was rather empty. We had a nice window seat and the food was pretty good. I had the chicken pot pie. Yum. My husband had the portebello burger. For the price of a lunch in the city for basic food you simply cannot go wrong. The atmosphere is very pleasant, with classical music playing, and lots of ambiance. Sit by the window if you can!"
Dined on 2/4/2014
"For my first impressions I thought it was going to be far too classy and expensive for my brother and I. However, I was pleasnly surprised by both the hospitality of the staff, and the fairness in price of food. I definitely would recommend this experience to all my friends and family, and plan on going back again!"
Dined on 1/28/2014
"The place was practically empty on a Thursday evening before a play. I've been here during the Christmas season when it was very busy. I actually enjoyed the peace and quiet. It seems like they took good care of cooking the food. I had salmon and substituted green beans for risotto. the fish was done just right and the green beans still had a little crunch to them which is how I like my vegies.My husband had the chicken pot pie which he thoroughly enjoyed. He said it was perfectly seasoned and the crust was very good too.We were hesitant to go there but now we discovered a new pretheater place to eat."
Dined on 1/25/2014
"The food here is awesome and the service was excellent. I celebrated my birthday lunch with cousins, who were never there before, and they were very impressed with the menu, service and quality of the food."
Dined on 1/25/2014
"My husband and I had a very enjoyable lunch on Sunday. The setting is lovely and the service from Swen was terrific. We both opted for the butternut squash soup and it was outstanding. I had the special blackened tilapia with pasta and my husband had the fish and chips; both were very tasty. We finished with the toffee ice cream pie and that was also outstanding. It was a very pleasant and relaxing lunch before we went to the theater and we will be going back."
Dined on 1/19/2014
"For senior citizens who can't taste their food (no offense), have at it. I, on the other hand, was amazed at how bad my pot pie was, plus it gave me a stomach-ache. Now I know why I never went there, and I won't go back--ever."
Dined on 1/16/2014
"Excellent location for upscale lunch for our Museum/shopping trip to Chicago. For Christmas, as part of my gifts to the Grandchildren (8 @ 9 to 18 yrs old) I gave them an Amtrak trip to visit the Museum of Science and Industry, lunch at the Walnut room , and a shopping experience at Macy's for them to pick out something they didn't get for Christmas. From the moment we arrived there we received excellent service starting with the hostess, the waitress and the rest of the staff really treated our group well....the food was good and well presented. Thank you for making this outing the memorable occasion I wanted it to be. Grandpa K"
Dined on 1/18/2014
"We had a reservation set for 1pm and ended up at the Walnut Room a little early. We asked if they could take us early and they were very accommodating. We were sat within 5 minutes. The food was outstanding at a great price. You can't beat this view."
Dined on 1/18/2014
"The whole luncheon experience was wonderful as expected. Kudos to the chef and especially the waitstaff. RRR"
Dined on 1/16/2014
"The Walnut Room is a Chicago standard, very old school, great to go there before the theater."
Dined on 1/15/2014
"We've been away from Chicago for some time, and returned to one of our favorites, the Walnut Room, after the holidays. The food -- moderately priced for the atmosphere and reputation of a Chicago landmark -- was excellent. And the service, outstanding. Our waiter, Sven, is a 10-year veteran -- how nice to have a person with dignity who could share the Walnut Room history since the Macy's purchase. The new Frango mint cheesecake really kept the distinct taste intact...and the famous Chicken Pot pie, and asiago-crusted chicken, were wonderful. The atmosphere, too, carries the day! Something we learned: The giant Christmas Tree that's the centerpiece of the Walnut Room remains in place for a week or two after New Years!"
Dined on 1/12/2014
"Our appetizers were excellent - lobster soup and the house salad with sesame seed dressing. The selection of entrees on the special christmas menu was primarily comfort food - we chose chicken pot pie and tilipia with mashed potatoes and fresh green beans. Both were very good. The beautiful christmas tree was a great background and the service was first rate. On top of all that it was very reasonably priced. Thanks Walnut Room! We'll be back."
Dined on 1/9/2014

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