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The Lakefront Restaurant, Chicago, IL

The Lakefront Restaurant

4.6 (1113)
$30 and under
American
2401 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 30 times today

About this restaurant

  • Great for scenic views
  • Good for special occasions
  • Great for brunch
The Lakefront Restaurant is an upscale tavern located on the shores of Lake Michigan in the historic Theater on the Lake building. We offer seasonal Midwestern fare featuring the freshest choice ingredients and a beverage program highlighting craft beers, spirits, and a diverse wine list.

We are open year-round, and invite you to enjoy the casual elegance of our intimate tables, communal seating, lounge area, and our warm-weather Skyline Patio -- all while taking in the stunning views of Lake Michigan and the Chicago skyline. Visit us during the fall and winter months for happy hour and other daily specials.

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary American
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (312) 414-1313 ext. 2
  • Website
    https://theateronthelake.com/restaurant/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Private party facilities
    The Lakefront Restaurant is located in the historical prairie-style building, Theater On The Lake. The building has flexible room options for any event, including full buyouts of the building, private rooms, and simi private area within The Lakefront Restaurant.
  • Location
    2401 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614
  • Neighborhood
    Lincoln Park
  • Cross street
    Fullerton & Lake Shore Drive, East of Lake Shore Drive on the Lakefront
  • Parking details
    $15 valet parking (cash only) is available in the front circle drive. Pricing for events may vary. Easy Uber/Lyft/taxi drop-off. Paid parking is available at Lincoln Park Zoo and Diversey Harbor parking lot located on the northeast corner of Cannon and Fullerton. Free street parking is also available along Cannon Drive.
  • Public transit
    CTA bus routes #76, #151, and #156
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Menu

The Lakefront Restaurant's menu was last updated on 7/6/2025.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 1,113 people are saying

The Lakefront Restaurant reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

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

4.6
4.6 based on recent ratings
  • 4.4Food
  • 4.6Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.4Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
The Lakefront Restaurant offers a stunning "beautiful lakefront view" and a "gorgeous atmosphere." Guests praise the "excellent service" and "delicious food," with highlights like accommodating staff and seasonal menus. While some find room for improvement in speed and variety, the overall experience is "highly recommended" for its ambiance and value.
1,113 Reviews

  1. Jay VIP

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    5.0

    Dined 2 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    The experience was great! It was a nice way to spend the 4th.

    Is this helpful?

  2. Laura VIP

    Los Angeles44 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 3 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    It was my first time meeting friends here and I will definitely come back! We sat aside and watched the sunset colors over the lake, and as a bonus, we saw Navy Pier fireworks in the distance! Excellent food and service too! Try the halibut- it was delicious 🤤

    Is this helpful?

  3. Linda VIP

    Chicago / Illinois14 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Our service was excellent! The waiter was helpful, prompt and friendly. The food was fantastic! Don’t ever take the cod off your menu! And you can’t ask for a better atmosphere!

    Is this helpful?

  4. Kathleen

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    5.0

    Dined 4 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Wonderful restaurant to enjoy the lakefront! Delicious food!

    Is this helpful?

  5. Dale VIP

    Chicago / Illinois4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 5 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    The food was good and the setting for a summer evening on the lake was just about perfect. Portions, especially the appetizers, are a little too large but quite good. Great selection of beer and cocktails. Simply put, so much fun. And fabulous people watching if you get a table near the lake.

    Is this helpful?

  6. Joshua

    Chicago / Illinois3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 23, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent food, service, and environment! We celebrated our birthday at the restaurant for lunch and glad we did. Highly recommended, and can't wait to return!

    Is this helpful?

  7. Smalika

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    4.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Ambience is good, food is good, decent portions. Drinks are okay, not the best. The weather outside was too warm, so the indoors could use some air conditioning. It was on, but not at an appropriate level.

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  8. SHANNON

    Chicago / Illinois4 reviews

    4.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 5
    Delicious brunch. Server ensured kitchen was aware of food prep requirements due to medical treatments I am receiving. Only complaint was the time it took to receive the check at the end of the meal but great experience overall.

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  9. Wendy

    San Francisco Bay Area2 reviews

    3.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 3
    2. Food 2
    3. Service 2
    4. Ambience 4
    Our brunch food was cold and when I asked for salt and pepper, the person came back with pepper only and said “we don’t have salt”. I find that hard to believe but clearly this server did not want to be put out.

    Is this helpful?

  10. Alyse VIP

    Chicago / Illinois9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    I’ve been wanting to try this restaurant for the longest. I took my dad for Father’s Day because he likes outdoor seating. Service was great, the food was good and they had options my kids liked too. We got to take pictures by the lake after. Will definetly be back.

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

The Lakefront Restaurant is rated 4.6 stars by 1113 OpenTable diners.

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

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Chicago / Illinois
  4. Chicago
  5. Lincoln Park

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 30 times today
Google Map for The Lakefront Restaurant

2401 N Lake Shore Dr, Chicago, IL 60614

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Fullerton & Lake Shore Drive, East of Lake Shore Drive on the Lakefront
  • Neighborhood
    Lincoln Park
  • Hours of operation
    Brunch Sat, Sun 10:00 am–3:00 pm Lunch Mon–Fri 11:00 am–4:00 pm Dinner Daily 4:00 pm–8:00 pm
  • Price
    $30 and under
  • Cuisines
    American, Contemporary American
  • Dining style
    Casual Dining
  • Dress code
    Casual Dress
  • Parking details
    $15 valet parking (cash only) is available in the front circle drive. Pricing for events may vary. Easy Uber/Lyft/taxi drop-off. Paid parking is available at Lincoln Park Zoo and Diversey Harbor parking lot located on the northeast corner of Cannon and Fullerton. Free street parking is also available along Cannon Drive.
  • Public transit
    CTA bus routes #76, #151, and #156
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Beer Garden, Cocktails, Entertainment, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Patio/Outdoor Dining, Private Room, View, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Website
    https://theateronthelake.com/restaurant/
  • Phone number
    (312) 414-1313 ext. 2
  • Private party facilities
    The Lakefront Restaurant is located in the historical prairie-style building, Theater On The Lake. The building has flexible room options for any event, including full buyouts of the building, private rooms, and simi private area within The Lakefront Restaurant.
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