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Latest Menu Offerings - Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails, Chicago, IL

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5
4.5
573 Reviews
$50 and over
Steakhouse
A photo of Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails restaurant

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5
$50 and over
Steakhouse
River North (Chicago)

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 52 times today
Experiences are available.
  • Good for business meals
  • Lively
  • Innovative
Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of downtown Chicago. Chef Partner is James Beard Award-winning Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of wood-fired cooking to Kindling's internationally inspired menu. Located within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling welcomes guests for lunch and dinner Monday through Saturday, with happy hour specials offered on weekdays from 3pm-5:30pm.

Follow us on social @kindlingchicago & @chefsawyer!

CLOSED: 11/28, 12/24-12/26, 1/1
Open for dinner only 12/27-12/28

Private dining

Private dining

Book your next event with us

View details

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–3:45 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–5:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (312) 789-5992
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Executive chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Private party facilities
    Situated within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of the city. At the helm of the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of w
  • Private party contact
    Abbey Arp: (319) 360-2169
  • Neighborhood
    River North (Chicago)
  • Cross street
    Inside Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    CTA: <br />- Quincy (Brown/Orange/Pink/Purple Lines)<br />- Jackson (Blue/Red Lines)<br />- Bus Stops: 126 / 151 / 56<br /><br />Metra: <br />- Union Station
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • New Year's Eve Pre-Fixe Dinner Menu

    $115.00 per person

    Prepaid

    Dec 31, 2024 only
    Ring in the new year in the heart of Chicago with a four-course menu that showcases our signature live-fire cuisine by Chef Jonathon Sawyer and Chef Jairo Chavez. This limited menu is the perfect way for you and your guests to enjoy a truly memorable evening. Enhance your dining experience by pairing your four-course meal with a wine or cocktail pairing that has been curated to complement each course. In addition to the pre-fixe menu, the winter menu will also be available for a la carte purchases. Round out your experience with a curated a wine pairing that has been specifically curated to accompany each course.
    New Year's Eve Pre-Fixe Dinner Menu Photo

What 573 people are saying

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.5
4.5 based on recent ratings
  • 4.5Food
  • 4.5Service
  • 4.5Ambience
  • 4Value

NoiseModerate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails offers an exceptional dining experience with "fantastic food" and "outstanding service." The warm ambiance is complemented by a diverse menu featuring standout dishes like the "grilled seafood salad" and "oxtail gnocchi." Guests appreciate the creative cuisine and the engaging atmosphere, making it a must-visit.

573 Reviews
  1. Kathleen

    Chicago

    45 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    45 reviews

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and attentive service elevates the overall dining experience.

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  2. Meridith

    Chicago

    18 reviews

    4.0

    18 reviews

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 3
    4. Ambience 4
    First time at Kindling and was really impressed by the design/atmosphere. We ordered salads, which were a bit pricy for not containing any protein. The server was okay, but didn't offer any recommendations.

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  3. Sarah

    Chicago

    4 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    4 reviews

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful experience from start to finish. Great recommendations from our server. Every course was delicious AND the tuna tartare app and Frango mint dessert were standouts. This place has now become my new downtown favorite.

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  4. Ryan

    Detroit

    2 reviews

    5.0

    2 reviews

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, great atmosphere, and great service from our personable and knowledgeable server, Ali. She was a sweetheart!
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you so much for the kind words! I’m thrilled to hear you enjoyed the food, atmosphere, and Ali’s exceptional service—she truly is a gem, and I’ll be sure to pass along your compliments. I’m also glad our team could get your card back to you quickly; we always aim to go above and beyond. Can’t wait to welcome you back soon. – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

  5. Anthony

    Chicago

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We sat at the hearth which seems to be a bit of a secret. We were able to watch them cook over the open flame while Chef Mike talked to us about the technique and offered some great recommendations. He even surprised us with a few tastes. I had the ribeye, my wife, the grilled octopus, and my son, the lamb chops. All grilled to perfection. We will be back and we will be sitting at the hearth.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for this fantastic review! The hearth truly is a special spot, and I’m so glad you got to enjoy the experience and Chef Mike’s insights—it’s all about making those moments memorable. Thrilled to hear the ribeye, octopus, and lamb chops hit the mark for your family. We can’t wait to welcome you back to the hearth for another round of great food and even better vibes! – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

  6. Costis

    Washington DC

    30 reviews

    vip
    5.0

    30 reviews

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food and cheerful service. As soon as we walked in, we felt the energy and welcoming atmosphere. Some unusual dishes and a great wine list!
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for the kind words! I’m so glad you felt the energy and warm welcome from the team. Thrilled you enjoyed the food, unique dishes, and the wine list—we love curating those special touches. Hope to see you again soon! – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

  7. maria

    Chicago

    1 review

    vip
    3.0

    1 review

    Dined on December 5, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Please pay attention to messages or special requests.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded 4 days ago
    Thank you for bringing this to my attention, and I sincerely apologize for the oversight. Your concerns are completely valid, and I understand how frustrating and unprofessional that experience must have felt—especially when hosting someone important like your boss. I’ll personally ensure that the reservation for December 16 is properly documented under Ryan Alwood to avoid any issues. We deeply value your business and trust, and I’ll make sure our team gets it right moving forward. Thank you for giving us another chance to get it right. – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

  8. Bryon

    Salt Lake City

    6 reviews

    vip
    3.0

    6 reviews

    Dined on November 30, 2024

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Nothing special about this place. Had the lobster bisque and pork chop cooked medium . The chop was a duo cut that was not even. This resulted in a well well done 1/2 and a well done half. Very dry and inedible. Service was great. A bit too expensive for the meal quality. This place is average
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded on December 5, 2024
    Thank you for your honest feedback Bryon. I’m really sorry to hear the pork chop didn’t meet expectations—that’s definitely not the experience we want for our guests, and I’ll make sure to address that with my kitchen team. I appreciate you mentioning the great service, though—it’s something we’re proud of. We aim to provide great value, and I’m sorry we missed the mark for you this time. I hope you’ll consider giving us another shot. – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

  9. Ted

    Chicago

    42 reviews

    vip
    4.0

    42 reviews

    Dined on November 23, 2024

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Had the delicious lobster bisque as an appetizer with the sweet chili Brussel sprouts. For dinner I had the slightly sandy and fishy 3 scallops with 3 carrots and sautéed onions. My wife had the salmon which was very tasty with Japanese sweet potato also very good. For the prices, I expected more. Drinks were good but also a bit pricey for the sizes provided. Good decorative ambience. Service was very good.
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded on December 5, 2024
    Thank you for sharing your feedback Ted. I’m glad to hear you enjoyed the lobster bisque, Brussels sprouts, and your wife’s salmon. I’m sorry to hear the scallops didn’t meet your expectations, and I’ll be sure to look into that. We aim for every dish to be perfect, and your comments help us improve. I also appreciate your thoughts on pricing and drinks—we’re always trying to find the right balance. Thank you for the positive words about the service and ambiance, and I hope we have the chance to welcome you back soon! – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

  10. Zackeus

    Houston

    1 review

    5.0

    1 review

    Dined on November 19, 2024

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Awesome experience and the staff was extremely knowledgeable
    Kindling | Downtown Cookout & CocktailsResponded on December 5, 2024
    Love hearing this Zackeus. Awesome experiences are what we’re all about! Shoutout to the team for keeping things tasty and dropping knowledge. Come back anytime! – Chef Sawyer

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails is rated 4.5 stars by 573 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

A photo of Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails restaurant

Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

4.5
$50 and over
Steakhouse
River North (Chicago)

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 52 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for Kindling | Downtown Cookout & Cocktails

202 S Franklin St, Chicago, IL 60606

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Inside Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams
  • Neighborhood
    River North (Chicago)
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Mon–Sat 11:00 am–3:45 pm Happy Hour Mon–Fri 3:00 pm–5:30 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 4:00 pm–9:00 pm Fri, Sat 4:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Steakhouse, American, Grill
  • Dining style
    Elegant Dining
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Public transit
    CTA: - Quincy (Brown/Orange/Pink/Purple Lines)- Jackson (Blue/Red Lines)- Bus Stops: 126 / 151 / 56Metra: - Union Station
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Chef Jonathon Sawyer
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Non-Smoking, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, Vegan, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Phone number
    (312) 789-5992
  • Private party facilities
    Situated within Willis Tower at the corner of Franklin and Adams, Kindling boasts a live fire show kitchen, wood-fired plates, and tasty cocktails in the heart of the city. At the helm of the kitchen is James Beard Award-winning Chef Jonathon Sawyer, who brings a worldly perspective and decades of w
  • Private party contact
    Abbey Arp: (319) 360-2169
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