Enable JavaScript to run this app.
Skip to main content
OpenTable logo
Carson’s Ribs Chicago’s Original #1 Essential BBQ - Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago, Chicago, IL

Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago

4.9 (2208)
$31 to $50
Barbecue
465 E. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 21 times today

About this restaurant

  • Good for business meals
  • Good for special occasions
  • Good for groups
Carson’s is Chicago’s Best BBQ Since 1977. Known for the best barbecue ribs in the city of Chicago. Dedicated to hearty portions of delicious food and friendly service at a fair value using only quality ingredients. Slow-smoked Best BBQ baby back ribs are a highlight. Other great options like BBQ or Greek Chicken and Chops, Salmon, Shrimp, USDA Certified Black Angus Prime Steaks, Juicy Cheeseburgers, Scratch made coleslaw, hand crafted cocktails, homemade dressings, homemade corn bread, fresh potato sides, homemade desserts and much more. Conveniently located Downtown Chicago Streeterville, near Navy Pier and Michigan Ave on Ogden Slip of Chicago River, a beautifully renovated space of exposed brick and wooden beams over 100 years old. Special place for celebrating. Notable people, like Frank Sinatra and Michael Jordan have dined over the years. Carson's is considered a top-notch landmark restaurant in Chicago, serving award-winning competition-style Best Barbecue and Steaks. RIBS.com

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue, Steak, American
  • Hours of operation
    Fri, Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Phone number
    (312) 280-9200
  • Website
    http://ribs.com/
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Catering
    Carson’s Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue now has a beautiful event space to host large parties. Our Classic Chicago River Room can be reserved for large private events for complete sit down dinners with a private bar. The River Room has lovely views of Ogden Slip and City lights, exposed brick, wood beams, picture windows, tablecloths, waiter service, full bar and wine list. Aside from our River Room, we have a fabulous large stand alone private dining room table perfect for elegant celebratory occasions. Carson’s is an authentic Chicago family owned and operated restaurant since 1977 which delivers a PERSONAL TOUCH hard to find elsewhere. We serve Delicious Award Winning Barbecue, Prime or Angus Steaks, Chops, Chicken, Shrimp, and Salmon. Desserts, side dishes, and cornbread are also HOMEMADE. Large carry out orders are available for pick up. Please contact Party Planner Nick (323) 540-4888 You may also feel free to contact owner Dean Carson at 773-310-1000
  • Private party facilities
    Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue has beautiful event space to host large parties. We welcome you to contact us to discuss your party needs and reserve your important date.
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Location
    465 E. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611
  • Neighborhood
    Gold Coast / Streeterville
  • Cross street
    Lake Shore Drive
  • Parking details
    4-HOUR SELF PARKING AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $12 at Downtown Chicago in Streeterville. Self-park directly across the street; enter on Illinois Street at Parkview Garage - 456 E Illinois St. The garage is UNDERGROUND below One Bennett Park. Please validate your ticket at Carson's front desk at the end of your visit. For questions, call 312-280-9200.
  • Public transit
    CTA 66 Chicago Bus - Eastbound toward Navy Pier | Take the CTA Red Line "L" to Grand & State, then walk or bus 7 blocks east on Illinois Street.
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Ask Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Menu

Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago's menu was last updated on 8/19/2022.

View menu on restaurant's website

What 2,208 people are saying

Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago 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

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.8Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.8Ambience
  • 4.7Value

Noise • Moderate

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue in Chicago is a beloved dining destination, celebrated for its "delicious" ribs, "great service," and vibrant atmosphere. Guests appreciate the "wonderful place to dine," with standout dishes like the BBQ chicken and prime rib. A "Chicago staple," Carson's offers generous portions and a memorable experience, perfect for any occasion.
2,208 Reviews

  1. Scott VIP

    Pittsburgh / Western PA1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Great food! Great service! Big portions! The place to go in Chicago!
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded 3 days ago
    Dear Scott, Thank you for the applause-worthy 5 star review! We’re thrilled you had such a great experience—from the food and service to the generous portions. Hearing that Carson’s is the place to go in Chicago truly makes our day. We can’t wait to welcome you back for another unforgettable visit! Sincerely, Carson's Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue Chicago Team RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  2. Eva VIP

    London20 reviews

    4.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 4
    2. Food 4
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    Our service was excellent and food was well-paced. We had the Caesar salad, ribs, chicken and brisket. All were very good. The coleslaw was very good but the baked potato and fries could have been warmer. Why not 5 stars. The drink prices were absurd. Woodfird reserve bourbon with regular ice cubes was $23.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded 4 days ago
    Dear Eva, Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful review! We’re happy to hear you enjoyed our food and service and pacing made your visit even better. Sounds like you sampled a delicious variety— award winning bbq ribs, chicken, brisket, Caesar salad, homemade coleslaw… we love everything hit the mark! We also appreciate your feedback on drinks. However, just to give a little behind-the-scenes insight—our cocktails are free poured generously at 3 oz., which is quite a bit more for the money than standard 1 to 2 oz. similar price you’ll find in downtown Chicago. That said, your comments mean a lot to us. We’ll pass along your notes about the potato and fries to our kitchen team for a closer look. Thanks again for dining with us—we can’t wait to welcome you back soon! RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  3. Philip VIP

    Columbus10 reviews

    5.0

    Dined 7 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food and service. Wide menu of entree and appetizer favorites. Service was prompt and professional. Great value and location.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded 6 days ago
    Thank you, Philip! We truly appreciate your fantastic 5 star review. We're so glad you enjoyed the food, service, and variety on the menu — and that our team made it a smooth and satisfying experience. We can’t wait to have you back at Carson’s soon! Sincerely, Carson’s Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue Chicago RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  4. Ty

    Philadelphia County8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service. Our server was exceptional. The atmosphere in the restaurant was awesome. Played all the songs I was familiar with. Enjoyed the foods and drinks and was nicely priced for the area. Will definitely return.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded on June 29, 2025
    Dear Ty, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5 star review! We are absolutely thrilled to hear that you had such a delightful experience with us. It makes our day to know you enjoyed the great service you received, found your server to be exceptional, and appreciated the awesome atmosphere and music. We're also incredibly pleased that you enjoyed our food and drinks, and that you found the pricing to be a value. Your positive feedback is greatly received and helps us continue to provide a memorable dining experience for all our guests. We look forward to welcoming you back to Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue again very soon! Sincerely, Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue Chicago Team RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  5. VICTOR

    Chicago / Illinois5 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    I finally went back to dine at Carson's after, like, 25 years! I'd been getting takeout from their Ontario and Wells place until they closed that location, but I'd missed the whole dine-in experience. Once we arrived at the new location at 465 E. Illinois Street, I loved the two parking garages right across the street – though definitely skip the one on the southeast corner, haha! I went on a Saturday at 3 pm to beat the rush, and it was perfect. Early but delightful dinner, you know? The portions were huge – seriously, don't be shy about sharing! We did, and the Server was awesome; he even had them bring out our shared dishes already portioned onto separate plates for us. That was such a nice touch. The Bar B que chicken was as I remembered "Delicious" !! and every single hot dish was piping hot and ready to enjoy if you was still eating something else "Unbelievable !! A shout out to our Server Daniel R who was very funny with a great since of humor. Anyway, just wanted to share my happy Carson's experience! Victor C.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded on June 29, 2025
    Dear Victor, Thank you for sharing such a superb review of your recent 5 star dining experience with us. We’re very pleased to welcome you back to Carson's! We appreciate your kind words about our Downtown Streeterville 465 E. Illinois Street location, the convenient parking, and your most enjoyable Saturday. We're delighted to hear about it. It's wonderful to know our slow smoked BBQ chicken was as delicious as you remembered and that all dishes came piping hot to your liking. We’ll be sure to give a special shout-out to server, Daniel R., for his excellent service and great sense of humor. We are so glad you had a great Carson's experience and chose to dine with us again. Don’t be such a stranger! Sincerely, Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue Chicago Team RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  6. Tara

    Chicago / Illinois1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 26, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 4
    4. Ambience 4
    Always a great experience when I dine here and food never disappoints!
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded on June 27, 2025
    Dear Tara, Thank you so much for a terrific 5 review! We’re absolutely delighted to hear that you consistently have such a great experience when you dine with us, and we're especially pleased that our food never disappoints. Your kind words are truly appreciated, and we genuinely look forward to welcoming you back to Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue again very soon. Best regards, Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue Chicago Team RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  7. Marsha VIP

    Chicago / Illinois128 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great burgers. Fun atmosphere. Upscale place to view sports.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded on July 3, 2025
    Dear Marsha, Thank you for your wonderful 5 star review! We are delighted to hear you enjoy our great burgers, fun atmosphere, and found us an upscale place to view sports. We appreciate your kind words and look forward to welcoming you back soon. Sincerely, Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue Chicago RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  8. Steven

    Chicago / Illinois16 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Tasty food and friendly waiters. Even though they are known for their ribs, I like the shrimp Diablo.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded on June 24, 2025
    Dear Steven, Thank you for your kind 5 star review. We’re delighted to hear that you enjoyed our Tasty food, particularly the Shrimp, and appreciated our friendly waitstaff. We appreciate you bringing the lighting issue to our attention. We understand and are actively working to resolve the problem in the back dining area. We look forward to welcoming you back soon. Sincerely, Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue Chicago RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  9. Cindy

    Chicago / Illinois4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great service, loved the personalized menus for our wedding anniversary. Food was great as always.
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded on June 24, 2025
    Dear Cindy, Thank you so much for your wonderful 5 star review! We are absolutely delighted to hear that you enjoyed celebrating your wedding anniversary with us ❤️. It was a pleasure to create personalized menus for your special occasion, and we're so glad you appreciated that thoughtful touch. We're also thrilled you found the food to your liking and that our team provided you with great service. Your kind words mean a lot to us. We appreciate your kind feedback and look forward to welcoming you back to Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue again soon for another memorable experience. Again, Happy Anniversary from all of us at Carson’s. Sincerely, Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue Chicago RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

  10. Paul

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    First class is the only class at Carson’s. Their prime rib experience is one of the BEST in the world, and can actually be described as an… intense eating experience in the greatest way!
    Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - ChicagoResponded 6 days ago
    Dear Paul, Thank you so much for this first-class 5 star review! We're thrilled to hear our prime rib delivered an intense eating experience — in all the best ways, of course! At Carson’s, we aim to make every meal unforgettable, and your words truly mean the world to us. Can’t wait to welcome you back for another world-class bite! Sincerely, Carson’s Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue Chicago RIBS. com

    Is this helpful?

FAQs

Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago offers takeout which you can order by calling the restaurant at (312) 280-9200.

Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago is rated 4.9 stars by 2208 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. Gold Coast / Streeterville

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 21 times today
Google Map for Carson's Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue - Chicago

465 E. Illinois Street, Chicago, IL 60611

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Cross street
    Lake Shore Drive
  • Neighborhood
    Gold Coast / Streeterville
  • Hours of operation
    Fri, Sat 11:30 am–11:00 pm Sun 11:30 am–10:00 pm Dinner Mon–Thu 3:00 pm–10:00 pm
  • Price
    $31 to $50
  • Cuisines
    Barbecue, Steak, American
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Smart Casual
  • Parking details
    4-HOUR SELF PARKING AVAILABLE FOR ONLY $12 at Downtown Chicago in Streeterville. Self-park directly across the street; enter on Illinois Street at Parkview Garage - 456 E Illinois St. The garage is UNDERGROUND below One Bennett Park. Please validate your ticket at Carson's front desk at the end of your visit. For questions, call 312-280-9200.
  • Public transit
    CTA 66 Chicago Bus - Eastbound toward Navy Pier | Take the CTA Red Line "L" to Grand & State, then walk or bus 7 blocks east on Illinois Street.
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Additional
    Banquet, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Cocktails, Corkage Fee, Delivery, Full Bar, Gluten-free Options, Happy Hour, Indoor Fireplace, Late Night, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Takeout, View, Wheelchair Access, Wine
  • Delivery & takeout
    Order direct
  • Website
    http://ribs.com/
  • Phone number
    (312) 280-9200
  • Catering
    Carson’s Prime Steaks and Famous Barbecue now has a beautiful event space to host large parties. Our Classic Chicago River Room can be reserved for large private events for complete sit down dinners with a private bar. The River Room has lovely views of Ogden Slip and City lights, exposed brick, wood beams, picture windows, tablecloths, waiter service, full bar and wine list. Aside from our River Room, we have a fabulous large stand alone private dining room table perfect for elegant celebratory occasions. Carson’s is an authentic Chicago family owned and operated restaurant since 1977 which delivers a PERSONAL TOUCH hard to find elsewhere. We serve Delicious Award Winning Barbecue, Prime or Angus Steaks, Chops, Chicken, Shrimp, and Salmon. Desserts, side dishes, and cornbread are also HOMEMADE. Large carry out orders are available for pick up. Please contact Party Planner Nick (323) 540-4888 You may also feel free to contact owner Dean Carson at 773-310-1000
  • Private party facilities
    Carson’s Prime Steaks & Famous Barbecue has beautiful event space to host large parties. We welcome you to contact us to discuss your party needs and reserve your important date.
Discover
OpenTable
  • About Us
  • Blog
  • Careers
  • Press
More
Our sites
Businesses
  • Restaurant Management Solutions
  • Restaurant Reservation Software
  • Restaurant Marketing Software
  • Restaurant Event Software
  • OpenTable For Restaurants
  • OpenTable For Restaurant Groups
  • Restaurant Resources
  • OpenTable Pricing & Plans
Join us on
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Cookies and Interest-Based Ads
  • Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information
  • Accessibility Statement
  • Cookie Preferences
Copyright © 2025 OpenTable, Inc. 1 Montgomery St Ste 500, San Francisco CA 94104 - All rights reserved.
OpenTable is part of Booking Holdings, the world leader in online travel and related services.
Booking Logo
Priceline Logo
KAYAK Logo
Agoda Logo
OpenTable Logo