Tortoise ClubThis was the second time IThis was the second time I have eaten at the Tortise Club. Each time the service was outstanding and the food was excellent. A very good atmosphere.6/15/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful dining experience.I was in Chicago for a business meeting and the Tortoise Club had been recommended by friends. It exceeded my expectations. They were considerate that I was a female alone and gave me a great table and my server was excellent. She provided recommendations and she was spot on. If I am in town again, I will definitely dine here again.6/14/2013 12:00:00 AMClub feelingLots of wood used in the decor which creates a rich, club-like feel. The menu doesn't go on for pages but it does't need to. The brined pork chop is wonderful and the corn/chile side is great. The whitefish is one of my favorites and the guys always enjoy the short rib meal. If you like steak tartare this is the place to come. Best in the City!6/12/2013 12:00:00 AMFit for your BossesI made a reservation for 10 for the owners of my company. They werre taking a very important vendor to dinner and they could not have been more pleased with the restuarant. They said the service was outstanding and the food absolutely wonderful. And, they loved that the owner stopped by to check in. I too have had this same experience and would definately recommend this restuarant.6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat evening at the Tortoise ClubBrought clients to the Tortoise Club for a "thank you" for their business dinner. Had been out three nights before at meetings and couldn't even talk to my guest due to the noise level at other restaurants. I was concerned that I might have the same experience here. But I was pleasantly surprised. Not only was the interior warm and inviting, the staff was warm and welcoming too! By the end of the evening my clients told me they thought this was the best service and dining experience they had had in a long time. This was the total package - great ambience, great service and great food! A real winner!!6/11/2013 12:00:00 AMEvery single thing we ateEvery single thing we ate was delicious. This place is a must.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMFantastic experienceWe went here for an anniversary dinner and the staff certainly went ouf of their way to make it special, very courteous and accommodating. The atmosphere is best described as "old school clubby," fairly energetic vibe but tables nicely spaced apart so your don't feel like you're sitting on your neighbors. Food was excellent and very rich. In particular, the house specialty, pheasant pie, was very, very tasty but very filling as well. Drinks were great as well (had the Southside and Pimms Cup). Will definitely go back. If you are going for a special occasion be sure to note it on your Open Table reservation request and the Tortoise Club will not disappoint.6/10/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat menu. As a vegan, IGreat menu. As a vegan, I was pleased to see that they were able to accommodate me. Both of us really enjoyed our food, and the service was excellent.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMTop of the HeapThe Tortoise Club is just the best. Great food, wonderful music, charming decor, great service, aye tigon to detail. You will love it!6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMWe were there with a groupWe were there with a group of 6 and all loved our food.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat spot for business lunch.Great spot for business lunch. Food is very good served up by a competant staff. A real gem.6/7/2013 12:00:00 AMNicely done, Tortoise ClubIt ain't cheap, but Tortoise Club has nailed down a cozy clubby feel that seems about 10,000 light years away from the gross old gym that used to be in this same space. If you're looking for a nice sunny spot, this isn't it, but if you want to be enveloped into a dark, woody space, this is the place. The food is excellent, the wine list has a lot of by-the-glass options, and the service was warm, friendly, helpful but did not skirt the line of overbearing or snobby. Just right.6/6/2013 12:00:00 AMOne of the best in ChicagoI would rate the Tortoisa Club in the top 10 in Chicago. Food was great and the service outstanding.6/1/2013 12:00:00 AMAmbiance in bar very comfortable,Ambiance in bar very comfortable, but cocktails weren't as impressive as the drink menu. Attentive, well trained and accommodating staff. Excellent steak tartar. Petit filet was very petit and $36 pork chop was thin and uninspired. Nicely spaced tables in dining room.5/26/2013 12:00:00 AMAnniversary DinnerWe went out for our five year anniversary this past weekend and had a wonderful time. The food was good, I wouldn't say spectacular though. I did find it a little weird that they didn't put bread on the table, instead someone came around to offer you one piece. The service was pretty good. It was a little loud but we had a few couples next to us that were a little tipsy- no big deal. We had a great time and I would rate it a 4 out of 5. Delicious, I would go back, just not something oh my goodness spectacular.5/25/2013 12:00:00 AMKickin it old schoolDark wood, oriental rugs, deep brass light fixtures and a touch of red velvet add up to old world charm, where one can find a good steak, a good glass of wine and upscale friendly service. That plus great cocktails (try the Southside) plus lots of other very well produced gourmet starters and entrees make for a rewarding and satisfying night out.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMThey went for an old time,They went for an old time, clubby feel and they certainly succeeded. The Pheasant Pie is a must. So rich.5/24/2013 12:00:00 AMTurning into a real favorite.Third time at Tortoise Club and again very impressed. Although we like the "red room" decor, it can be very loud if a larger group takes a table there, so we tried the regular tables outside the red room, and liked it better--more room, less crowd noise. Food again excellent - standouts this time were the pea soup, the oysters and the sable. Looking forward to our fourth booking.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMGood place for a businessGood place for a business lunch. Guests enjoy the restaurant and the atmosphere is suited to conversation. Thank you. I notice that the restaurant, newly opened, is beginning to have regulars, a good sign.5/22/2013 12:00:00 AMSurprised...in a good way.I decided to give this place a try when we had a few people in town for work and I'm happy I did. The drinks, oysters, short ribs and service were amazing. I ordered the halibut and it was good, but certainly not worth $45. Desserts (strawberry shortcake, chocolate brownie and toffee cake) didn't disappoint and the few bottles of wine we had were good. All-in-all, a successful and enjoyable work dinner. And it seems like the word is getting out on this place since the dining room was just about full come 7:00 p.m.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMWorth a shot...In a food town like Chicago, a restaurant really has to step it up if their prices are going to soar into the $50+ p/p range. The tempura fried calamari was excellent as was the pasta with cauliflower purée; the pork chop and the pheasant pot pie were "misses" -- it's not that these dishes weren't good, it's just that they weren't outstanding, which is what I was expecting for the price. The cocktail program is only so-so, but the wine list is solid. I probably won't go back for dinner. That being said, there is a cozy, classy bar where I could easily envision enjoying several drinks and ordering from the bar menu, which looked very savory and reasonably priced.5/21/2013 12:00:00 AMTook our son in law and ourTook our son in law and our daughters to Tortoise Club. They, and my husband had not been yet and all loved it! It is a warm, masculine venue with delicious, beautifully presented food. Portions are perfectly sized. You will not overeat here, but you will also not be hungry. Their signature drink is deliccious.5/19/2013 12:00:00 AMMother's Day BrunchWe spent our first Mother's Day brunch at the Tortoise Club. The food was delicious, the service was on point, and it was an overall success. Dining with a 10 month old can be a challenge at times - the staff at Tortoise Club made our experience welcoming and relaxing. Thanks for a successful dining experience.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Mother's Day lunch spotThe drinks made at the bar are fabulous, and wine pours are healthy. Food was innovative, tasty and not in those hideously large portions you get at other places. Ambiance was very conversation friendly.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMContemporary ClassicTortoise Club is classic without being old-fashioned, elegant without being stuffy. I know the trend among so many newer restaurants is to have uncovered wooden tables, lots of small plates for sharing and either shared tables or tables jammed together. It is refreshing to find a vibrant, energetic place place with table cloths, individual meals and a gracious space. And the menu, from top to bottom, is balanced and delicious.
If you want the Rush street restaurant "scene," then this is not the place for you. If you want a well executed, contemporary take on traditional dishes and a old school charm, then this is the place. I am glad I do not live closer or I would frequent the bar perhaps a little too often.5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent!Really enjoyed out Mother's Day lunch at Torroise Club.
The food was very good. Quail eggs were a nice touch.
The lighting was too low for me - especially for a lunch.
We were in the red room. In the main room the lighting is better but you will not have the same level of privacy.
Definitely will be back!5/12/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful and cozyElegant dining with superb personalized service. A little dark but cozy. Server worked with kitchen to tailor dish to ingredient request. Pheasant pie is great.5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat time, good food, veryGreat time, good food, very professional & friendly staff.
We had 2 very picky eaters at our table and tthe kitchen was very flexible.
We delivered centerpieces 3 hours early and they were unpacked and placed perfectly when we arrived.
This will be our new go to restaurant all of the time !5/11/2013 12:00:00 AMThis was my first time diningThis was my first time dining at the Tortoise Club for lunch, and theye did not let me or my group down,. The food and service was fantastic. I will be back.5/10/2013 12:00:00 AMClassic ChicagoThe Tortoise Club is a great restaurant all around; food and service of very high quality with the ambience to match. Live music in the bar adds to the vitality of an evening. The people who host and serve there are the kindest group of people I've ever met in the industry. For those gents who like to admire pretty ladies serving them drinks at the bar, the ladies in LBD's and pearls wont disappoint. Dont hesitate on going to the Tortoise Club, it's a great find!5/9/2013 12:00:00 AMOur "Go To" SpotWe've been here many times before, and we always enjoy it. It's become our "go to" spot for downtown pre-theater dining, and they never fail to hit the mark.5/8/2013 12:00:00 AMWorking LunchA great place for a professional lunch or dinner. Very classy and very good food!5/7/2013 12:00:00 AMThe BestLove Tortoise Club. I could eat there every night. The ambiance is great. Especially love the music Wednesday through Saturday. Decor is wonderful, food wonderful, service wonderful, management responsive! I brought 4 friends who came for the first time and they LOVED Tortoise Club!5/6/2013 12:00:00 AMFabulous experience! We'll be back!My friend and I stopped in for an early Sunday dinner. Tortoise Club's welcoming environment was just what we needed. The staff was extremely well versed in all menu items, the Manager was very warm, welcoming and made sure we had an excellent experience. I would recommend this hot spot to anyone looking for a fabulous meal, great ambiance, and superior staff and management! We will be back for sure!5/5/2013 12:00:00 AMNew Place for a Fave ListWe very much enjoyed the experience. Very nice; ambiance of a British gentlemen's club (and I do mean "gentleman"). It is definitely tailored for the 40"s and up well-to-do crowd. Oh, and their wine-by-the-glass is generous!!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMUnique VibeMy second time to Tortoise Club and it was as good as the first. Love the atmosphere, love the food. Staff is friendly and it really as a unique vibe with the jazz band and the overall atmosphere.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGem with JazzGreat neighborhood hotspot that has a terrific jazz band in the bar. The music can be heard
throughout the restaurant but is not too invasive.
Food was quite good and prepared creative yet healthy.
Our service was terrific.5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat Dinner!Had a delicious dinner in the bar and greatly enjoyed the music too!5/4/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Tortoise Club is a welcomeThe Tortoise Club is a welcome addition to the River North lunch scene. All the cool club with none of the uncool initiation fees and dues.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThorughly enjoyed the experience.Thorughly enjoyed the experience. The food was excellent and serving size was perfect. I think the space is really comfortable and attractive, in an old school kind of way.4/29/2013 12:00:00 AMA little noisy, but clubbyA little noisy, but clubby venue with a lot of energy-not stuffy, like similar restaurants. The signature Tortoise and Whisky Sour cocktails were a great start to the meal. We enjoyed each dish, from the tomato soup and crispy shrimp appetizers to the Lobster Roll, crab cakes and steak frites for our entrees, and amde room for the homemade toffee cake and brownie, each with ice cream. The only thing was our waiter dropped the check as soon as the dessert was served and never asked us if we cared for anything else - coffee, after dinner drinks. He was polite, but it felt a little abrupt. It's a little tricky to find the valet the first time. The restaurant's small sign is not easily seen from the State St. bus lane outside the front door.4/27/2013 12:00:00 AMEnjoyed the ambience, greatEnjoyed the ambience, great service and delicious food. The whitefish was excellent.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMExcellent. Have been hereExcellent. Have been here twice. The food is fabulous and the service superb.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMTook my friends here on FridayTook my friends here on Friday night for their birthdays. Loved the table they put us at, great view of restaurant. Great waiter who suggested some wonderful cocktails to us. Appetizers very good. Main meal had mixed reviews; my risotto was outstanding but the two orders of featured Fish were a bit disappointing, very small portion of fish and the sauce was just ok. @ $45 pp it didn't come with any potaoes etc.
BUT the restaurant did make a wonderful gift of 2 desserts for our birthday guests because they read my comment of my friends birthdays on Open Table. What a nice treat and gift from them.
Over all we loved our night there, we will be back.4/26/2013 12:00:00 AMThe food and service are terrific.The food and service are terrific. Will come again - often.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMFood was fantastic! GreatFood was fantastic! Great vibe - almost feels like a set for Mad Men.4/25/2013 12:00:00 AMOur server Eric was very good,Our server Eric was very good, attentive and knowledgeable. He describe his favorite items on the menu, with passion. Nice variety on menu.4/22/2013 12:00:00 AMThoroughly enjoyableRestaurant is fantastic-great atmosphere, food and service but VERY NOISY! Our server recommended we try Sundays as it's more low key and we definitely will. Really enjoyed the whole experience and would absolutely go again.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat service. ReasonableGreat service. Reasonable prices for an upscale River North restaurant. Definitely recommend it. Enjoy.4/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWonderful find. We went forWonderful find. We went for a friend's birthday celebration and it was perfect. Everyone agreed Tortoise Club was a great find and we'll all be return customers.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AM