Tortoise ClubMother'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 AMGreat Dinner!Had a delicious dinner in the bar and greatly enjoyed the music too!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 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 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 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 AMVery special gem of a place.Very special gem of a place. Beautifully decorated with comfortable seating, perfect lighting, great acoustics and delicious food. Service is outstanding. The owners are very gracious.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMThis restaurant offers a uniqueThis restaurant offers a unique experience that is remarkable. When I arrived, I had a problem. I needed email access, and my phone was not working. The hostess provided me with the use of a laptop computer. The owner of the restaurant seated our party. He provided us with two options. We chose to sit in the red room because it was a bit quieter. The other member of my party was from Manhattan. "Ted," he said immediately upon sitting down, "there is nothing like this place in New York City. Is this a club? What is this place?" We had an excellent meal, accompanied by great service. I have already recommended this restaurant to friends.4/17/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat addition to River NorthGreat addition to River North restaurant scene. Great for after work dinners.4/16/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat food. (The pork chopGreat food. (The pork chop and short ribs were fab. However, I was a little disappointed with the tomato soup - rather spicy.) Nice classic atmosphere.4/13/2013 12:00:00 AMI specifically requested thatI specifically requested that we not be seated at a "two top". When we arrived we were seated at a nice table in a nice location and the maitre de specifically noted that we were being seated at a larger table.
MUCH appreciated.
The staff had good opinions on the food and the wine.
A very good experience.4/10/2013 12:00:00 AMThe atmosphere, food, serviceThe atmosphere, food, service was all excellent. It is a great restaurant that I would recommend4/7/2013 12:00:00 AMSupper club atmosphere, withSupper club atmosphere, with a great lounge playing jazz. Ideal for table conversation with excellent attentive service and superb menu.4/6/2013 12:00:00 AMGreat bar with a jazz trio.Great bar with a jazz trio. Fun to just stop in for drinks and appetizers.4/4/2013 12:00:00 AMExceptional restaurant.Tortoise Club was great. I booked my son's MBA dinner party in the red room. Everything was outstanding - food, service, wine list. I also booked Tortoise Club for a luncheon for four people in their main dining room. Again everything was perfect - food, service, etc.
Highly, highly recommend!!!!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMA great place to dine beforeA great place to dine before heading to the Goodman for a theater performance...wonderful, "men's club" sort of atmosphere, excellent food and terrific service. There was live music setting up as we left...we'll have to go back for a listen!4/3/2013 12:00:00 AMAlways a pleasure to dineAlways a pleasure to dine at the Tortoise Club . . . so much so that I have four upcoming reservations.4/2/2013 12:00:00 AMWe will definitely be back!Good food, good service, good drinks (try the tipsy tortoise!) and good ambiance! We will be back! We really liked this restaurant and feel that Chicago needed a restaurant like this.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMThe Tortoise Club is excellentThe Tortoise club is one of the best restaurants in Chicago now. I had the veal sweetbreads for my appetizer, and it was one of the best sweetbread courses I have ever had, and the presentation was the best I have ever seen, I had the roasted quail with seared fois gras as my entree. This was, hands down, the best quail I have ever had. And, of course, fois gras always tastes great. The pecan pie with chantilly cream was first rate as a dessert. And the wine we ordered was perfect.The ambiance, service, seating all first rate. I recommend this spot to all foodies, all folks serious about food. If they can keep this up, they are worthy of a Michelin star.3/30/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat a fantastic place! IWhat a fantastic place! I loved the decor and the food was amazing. Highly recommend!
!!3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThey had me at the bread selection.They had me at the bread selection. Best lobster roll ever!!! I would go back in a heartbeat.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMThis is the perfect spot forThis is the perfect spot for an overall lovely evening. The tone is set with the fabulous live music in the bar which provides a great backdrop , but is not so loud that you can't carry on a conversation. The dining room is very well done- elegant and energetic yet conducive to conversation. The service was attentive and thoughtful. One of the few places where the waiter did not constantly interrupt our conversation to demand "How are things tasting? ", but was available if we needed something. Other wait staff should take lessons.3/29/2013 12:00:00 AMCan't Get EnoughI love Tortoise Club, mostly because of the ambiance and the overall vibe of the place. It's swanky, but not snooty; comfortable, but also very classy. And it's just plain fun to go there because it makes me feel like I've gone back in time to the heyday of the 1940's supper club.3/27/2013 12:00:00 AMthought food was very goodthought food was very good as was the service. our server was lovely. would definitely go again3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMLively, old school, warm atmoshrereLively, old school, warm atmoshrere. Very good food and service.3/22/2013 12:00:00 AMOverall excellent food quality.Overall excellent food quality. Sophisticated, feels like a private club in some ways.
Dungeness crab toast - incredible flavor preparation. Small amounts of crab with great taste. Hearty pheasant pie. Good Skuna bay salmon entree.
It was Chicago Chef's week, but Tortoise Club really minimized its participation.
Some chefs have menus online. This is a dynamic restaurant. Great attention to upscale feeling and decoration. It can be loud if you are near the live music.3/21/2013 12:00:00 AMMy first time to the TortoiseMy first time to the Tortoise Club was fabulous. Nordstrom level client service in an RL type dinner atmosphere with a simple menu that didn't overwhelm you. The live music in the bar was wonderful as well. I will definitely be returning.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMWhat an amazing restaurant.What an amazing restaurant. It is what I would describe as an upper class Wildfire. I was thrilled with everything from head to toe The bar was great with a 3 piece band playing jazz. The waitresses looked very sharp with their uniforms and their necklaces all the same and a classy looking string of pearls and exactly the same on all of them. We came for Chef's week but the only choice was not appealing to us as it was salmon with a beet salad which neither of us is fond of. BIG SURPRISE THOUGH, the menu was priced out so we could pretty much pick out a similar meal for roughly the same price. The waiter and waitresses were great and the service impeccable. A must have for anyone looking for a change, I know i will definitely be going again3/20/2013 12:00:00 AMAlmost perfect, but not quite thereOur first time at Tortoise Club and it won't be the last. Two nits, though. One, I hate banquettes, because somebody is always staring at the wall, so if you're a party of two or (usually) four, half the party will have their backs to the room. Second item, they bring the bread around instead of leaving it on the table. Yeah, it's supposed to be fancier, but it also means you have to flag someone down if you want a piece of bread. We really enjoyed the place. The waiter was very attentive and the food was first rate. Addressing the items noted above would have moved by rating from very good to outstanding.3/20/2013 12:00:00 AM