Came here for dinner on a Friday night. The place is tucked in a small, unassuming corner, and the steps down lead you to a space with toned down lighting and an intimate ambiance that is perfect for a date. We had heard of their burgers and had been wanting to try them for some time. My friend and I shared the loyalist burger and the cheeseburger (we both wanted to try both). The loyalist is composed of a patty that only comes in 2 options, pink or well done (a little disappointing). It's a simple burger with a good pairing of onions, sauce, and pickles. My friend loved this one while I loved the cheeseburger more. Though I'm not a fan of smash burgers, this was surprisingly great! The sauce and pairing of pickles were sublime. It's rare for me to like a smash burger (I prefer thick juicy patties), so that says a lot. Both burgers come with fries and an excellent aioli dip.The cocktails were alright, nothing to write home about. We ordered the oysters, and they were a major disappointment - a bad taste, and they were not served with mignonette or other condiments on the side and a single slice of lemon. Note: this is not an oyster bar. They shouldn't be serving oysters, I shouldn't be ordering them.For 3 people with drinks, bill came to about 230$. Burgers were 22$ each, and service was average. We were celebrating my friends' graduation, and the most our servers could muster was a meek smile and a customary "congratulations". Not to mention, being asked multiple times if we were done with our plates despite the fact that we had been ordering drinks made us feel like they were in a rush to get rid of us.The burgers were great but everything else makes this experience a 3 star.
Tony G.
$22 for a cheeseburger is a bit ridiculous to me, but The Loyalist currently stands as my favorite burger spot in the city. Definitely better than Au Cheval and Owen and Engine which are also considered some of the other top burger spots in the city. I've been here twice and while there's plenty of other delicious things on the menu, it's gotta be the burger for me.Drinks are also solid. Lavender Haze is pretty refreshing and fun with the egg white. Old fashioned is pretty standard, but well executed. Reservations are available and recommended, but if you want to just do a walk-in would highly recommend just getting there close to when they open and grabbing a spot at the bar which is the open seating/first come, first served seating. Definitely a spot to check out in Chicago and one of my top restaurants in the West Loop!
Katelyn O.
My boyfriend and I came here for brunch the morning after dining at Smyth! All of the things we ordered were delicious! My favorites were the loyalist original cheeseburger (best burger ever) and the spence farm egg. The service was the only mixed part of the experience, one of the servers spilled a bunch of sauce off of my omelet plate onto my jacket while she was bringing our food to the table, and she never apologized or said anything.
Esmeralda R.
Happy hour specials: burger, beer, shot = $22.Manhattan = $10. Introverts, snag an early reso to avoid noise and crowds.
Bensy J.
One of the best burgers in Chicago! I will say they are on the smaller side so definitely not for splitting. Each person should order their own! The French fries tasted exactly like the McDonalds fries, which was amazing! The eggs were really good but one order is just ONE egg so be sure to order enough for the table. The savory eclair was basically cheese but it was so original and delicious. Very creative. The service and then the food took awhile to come out. I felt like there wasn't enough of a gap between the apps and the main course. So it really felt rushed to finish the apps when our burgers came...but worth the wait.
Tripadvisbear
We attended the sister bar which is downstairs from the restaurant. It gives you a pub / bar feel but more elegant. The staff were very friendly and attentive and while they pride themselves in being a French fusion restaurant their choice of music “very loud metal rock” made it slightly impossible to enjoy yourself! The Louder the music = people need to shout to talk to each other = loud music and shouting people… Again the staff were amazing We ordered their cocktails which was great 10/10 We ordered their truffle deviled egg (1 egg sliced in half) while the taste was great 10/10 the price was not … $20 for 1 egg is a bit of a stretch! French onion soup without the soup 5/10… too cheesy and confusing Classic Burger was our absolute favorite 10/10 We also ordered the loyalist burger thinking that would be our fav dish but it wasn’t… too much happening specially with variety of onions and pickles on the burger which I believe acquires a particular taste… For two people the bill was $160 usd … 2 drinks + 2 very small apps and 2 burgers shouldn’t cost $160 …
Nicolette T.
Truly a delectable meal! A group of five of us split the simple salad, beef tartare, and two french onion eclairs to start. We also ordered a "punch bowl" which our server explained as a group drink that we could completely customize (we got mezcal and requested it not be too sweet). This was served in a bowl with adorable little tea cups. Then we each ordered a burger (two of us got the Loyalist -- our group agreed that was the better of the two burger options!). Everything we ordered was an elevated take on classic foods. We really enjoyed our meal. The service is wonderful and the restaurant itself is a cozy, comfortable spot. It's worth the hype!
Sharna H.
That burger was on point!!! Cocktail did not disappoint strong and good! Definitely will be back sooner than later!
Jasmine C.
First of all my friend had recommended me here ages ago. I had no idea that it was the sibling of 2 Michelin Smyth upstairs ! The loyalist sits at the basement of the Ada loft building and it's a very dimly lit place. I really enjoyed everything we had there. And since we had a reservation for 5pm, we were able to enjoy the happy hour (5-6 pm) food and beverages. My friend ordered the loyalist burger which she devoured and said it was wonderful. I got the gnocchi Parisian style which is super scrumptious! she got a classic martini while I opt for a spritz ! Yum yum.The beef tartare was a little light on the salt but nevertheless very delicious:) The most outstanding aspect of the whole experience was the impeccable service. It was not pushy but kind friend and professional. Also when you order ( I believe) any of the burgers you get a free beer+ shot!!!!
Rod D.
If you're looking for a cool eating atmosphere and vibe, then come to the cellars of the Loyalist. As you go down the stairs and enter, you are greeted with a dark candlelight vibe and the hostess right away. To the left is a full service bar. We went here just about 5pm on a weekday and the place was already packed.The food options here are pretty simple but all tasted great. They really stepped up their burger game when Au Cheval took center stage. Their burger has to be top 5 in the city by far. I also tried their gnocchi which had a Parisian fare to it. The consistency was more soft than most gnocchis I've tried.I would definitely go back
We had an excellent tasting menu at this 2 star Michelin restaurant. Service was excellent and the ambiance was very comfortable. It was great fun watching the chefs working hard in the open kitchen. Tasting menu had a strong Asian influence and flavors. Lots of creative play with sweet and savory combos through all the courses, including dessert. We enjoy our meal immensely!
RoFo73
The food at the Loyalist was very good -- my companion's burger memorably so -- but what will really stick with us was the service. The friend I was meeting for dinner is physically limited (walks with a cane), and the host went well above and beyond to make sure that she had a positive experience; this included coming out to meet her, helping her to our table, switching our table when the first one was cramped, helping us back out of the restaurant, and calling a cab for her. The wait staff was unfailingly friendly, even as we asked for multiple explanations about menu items and some modifications to our orders. It was a mild bummer that they were out of decaf coffee (which my friend wanted after dinner), but overall the hospitality was outstanding. I eat out relatively often in Chicago and overall find the service really strong, but even in a town where excellent service is the norm the Loyalist really stood out.
Nryan2008
Well, I was about to rate this a 5 star and the read the other reviews about the service fee which we presumed was the literal service fee. Everything else was exceptional. Thomas the wine steward was knowledgeable and attentive, Hannah was one of our servers and she was delightful. We were sick with Covid and has to postpone and they were flexible with our rescheduling. The food was indescribably delicious and creative. They were very accommodating of my dietary needs and I greatly appreciated it. We planned to make it a monthly dinner but now knowing the service fee doesn’t go to the team??? We are strongly reconsidering ever returning. :(
jonkaupp
Incredible food and the wine pairings were excellent albeit over priced. Great service. 5 out of 5 until the end when we got the bill. On it was a 20% service fee that only invited confusion. Was this an automatic tip? I mean fine as I typically tip 25-30% so we asked the server. We got a very clumsy explanation inferring that it wasn’t the ‘top’ but also *kind* of the tip that only invited more confusion. We left an additional 10% only to realize, after reading reviews, that we just short changed the staff and actually the service fee is not the tip but just more takings for the owners, which just made us feel bad about our experience. How about just charging 20% additional on the meal and letting the customer tip as he is accustomed to instead of making this stuff convoluted?? Of course 20% additional would bring the tasting menu to about $330 and may make many more inclined to just go to Alinea. Anyhow the food was fantastic, service good, wine great but over priced for how much you get. Add 20% to what you’re expecting and you won’t be left wondering how to properly reward the excellent staff at the end of the night.
Phill_bsb
I had very high expectations when I visited Smyth, but I have to say that I had a very poor experience (not even remotely comparable to other Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago), even a bit dishonest. The tasting menu was repetitive (three courses of lobster?) and very oily, so you could not taste the ingredients. I chose the reserve wine pairing, but you are not told the wines and courses in advance (you do not get the menu until days later), so I found I was not offered all the wines. The "caviar" courses are not prepared with real caviar (from sturgeon), but with regular fish eggs - the chocolate caviar plate is inedible. The last dessert (the "mussel") had a very strong bitter aftertaste. Service was rushed and inattentive. The wine pairing was very poorly (and robotically) explained by the sommelier and no coffee, tea or any mignardise was offered at the end. Did I mention that the prices are outrageous for the quality? If you are really looking for a gastronomic experience in Chicago, visit Alinea, Oriolle, Ever or Elske. Of course my feedback e-mail was not answered.
Came here for dinner on a Friday night. The place is tucked in a small, unassuming corner, and the steps down lead you to a space with toned down lighting and an intimate ambiance that is perfect for a date. We had heard of their burgers and had been wanting to try them for some time. My friend and I shared the loyalist burger and the cheeseburger (we both wanted to try both). The loyalist is composed of a patty that only comes in 2 options, pink or well done (a little disappointing). It's a simple burger with a good pairing of onions, sauce, and pickles. My friend loved this one while I loved the cheeseburger more. Though I'm not a fan of smash burgers, this was surprisingly great! The sauce and pairing of pickles were sublime. It's rare for me to like a smash burger (I prefer thick juicy patties), so that says a lot. Both burgers come with fries and an excellent aioli dip.The cocktails were alright, nothing to write home about. We ordered the oysters, and they were a major disappointment - a bad taste, and they were not served with mignonette or other condiments on the side and a single slice of lemon. Note: this is not an oyster bar. They shouldn't be serving oysters, I shouldn't be ordering them.For 3 people with drinks, bill came to about 230$. Burgers were 22$ each, and service was average. We were celebrating my friends' graduation, and the most our servers could muster was a meek smile and a customary "congratulations". Not to mention, being asked multiple times if we were done with our plates despite the fact that we had been ordering drinks made us feel like they were in a rush to get rid of us.The burgers were great but everything else makes this experience a 3 star.
$22 for a cheeseburger is a bit ridiculous to me, but The Loyalist currently stands as my favorite burger spot in the city. Definitely better than Au Cheval and Owen and Engine which are also considered some of the other top burger spots in the city. I've been here twice and while there's plenty of other delicious things on the menu, it's gotta be the burger for me.Drinks are also solid. Lavender Haze is pretty refreshing and fun with the egg white. Old fashioned is pretty standard, but well executed. Reservations are available and recommended, but if you want to just do a walk-in would highly recommend just getting there close to when they open and grabbing a spot at the bar which is the open seating/first come, first served seating. Definitely a spot to check out in Chicago and one of my top restaurants in the West Loop!
My boyfriend and I came here for brunch the morning after dining at Smyth! All of the things we ordered were delicious! My favorites were the loyalist original cheeseburger (best burger ever) and the spence farm egg. The service was the only mixed part of the experience, one of the servers spilled a bunch of sauce off of my omelet plate onto my jacket while she was bringing our food to the table, and she never apologized or said anything.
Happy hour specials: burger, beer, shot = $22.Manhattan = $10. Introverts, snag an early reso to avoid noise and crowds.
One of the best burgers in Chicago! I will say they are on the smaller side so definitely not for splitting. Each person should order their own! The French fries tasted exactly like the McDonalds fries, which was amazing! The eggs were really good but one order is just ONE egg so be sure to order enough for the table. The savory eclair was basically cheese but it was so original and delicious. Very creative. The service and then the food took awhile to come out. I felt like there wasn't enough of a gap between the apps and the main course. So it really felt rushed to finish the apps when our burgers came...but worth the wait.
We attended the sister bar which is downstairs from the restaurant. It gives you a pub / bar feel but more elegant. The staff were very friendly and attentive and while they pride themselves in being a French fusion restaurant their choice of music “very loud metal rock” made it slightly impossible to enjoy yourself! The Louder the music = people need to shout to talk to each other = loud music and shouting people… Again the staff were amazing We ordered their cocktails which was great 10/10 We ordered their truffle deviled egg (1 egg sliced in half) while the taste was great 10/10 the price was not … $20 for 1 egg is a bit of a stretch! French onion soup without the soup 5/10… too cheesy and confusing Classic Burger was our absolute favorite 10/10 We also ordered the loyalist burger thinking that would be our fav dish but it wasn’t… too much happening specially with variety of onions and pickles on the burger which I believe acquires a particular taste… For two people the bill was $160 usd … 2 drinks + 2 very small apps and 2 burgers shouldn’t cost $160 …
Truly a delectable meal! A group of five of us split the simple salad, beef tartare, and two french onion eclairs to start. We also ordered a "punch bowl" which our server explained as a group drink that we could completely customize (we got mezcal and requested it not be too sweet). This was served in a bowl with adorable little tea cups. Then we each ordered a burger (two of us got the Loyalist -- our group agreed that was the better of the two burger options!). Everything we ordered was an elevated take on classic foods. We really enjoyed our meal. The service is wonderful and the restaurant itself is a cozy, comfortable spot. It's worth the hype!
That burger was on point!!! Cocktail did not disappoint strong and good! Definitely will be back sooner than later!
First of all my friend had recommended me here ages ago. I had no idea that it was the sibling of 2 Michelin Smyth upstairs ! The loyalist sits at the basement of the Ada loft building and it's a very dimly lit place. I really enjoyed everything we had there. And since we had a reservation for 5pm, we were able to enjoy the happy hour (5-6 pm) food and beverages. My friend ordered the loyalist burger which she devoured and said it was wonderful. I got the gnocchi Parisian style which is super scrumptious! she got a classic martini while I opt for a spritz ! Yum yum.The beef tartare was a little light on the salt but nevertheless very delicious:) The most outstanding aspect of the whole experience was the impeccable service. It was not pushy but kind friend and professional. Also when you order ( I believe) any of the burgers you get a free beer+ shot!!!!
If you're looking for a cool eating atmosphere and vibe, then come to the cellars of the Loyalist. As you go down the stairs and enter, you are greeted with a dark candlelight vibe and the hostess right away. To the left is a full service bar. We went here just about 5pm on a weekday and the place was already packed.The food options here are pretty simple but all tasted great. They really stepped up their burger game when Au Cheval took center stage. Their burger has to be top 5 in the city by far. I also tried their gnocchi which had a Parisian fare to it. The consistency was more soft than most gnocchis I've tried.I would definitely go back
Restaurantji Recommends
We had an excellent tasting menu at this 2 star Michelin restaurant. Service was excellent and the ambiance was very comfortable. It was great fun watching the chefs working hard in the open kitchen. Tasting menu had a strong Asian influence and flavors. Lots of creative play with sweet and savory combos through all the courses, including dessert. We enjoy our meal immensely!
The food at the Loyalist was very good -- my companion's burger memorably so -- but what will really stick with us was the service. The friend I was meeting for dinner is physically limited (walks with a cane), and the host went well above and beyond to make sure that she had a positive experience; this included coming out to meet her, helping her to our table, switching our table when the first one was cramped, helping us back out of the restaurant, and calling a cab for her. The wait staff was unfailingly friendly, even as we asked for multiple explanations about menu items and some modifications to our orders. It was a mild bummer that they were out of decaf coffee (which my friend wanted after dinner), but overall the hospitality was outstanding. I eat out relatively often in Chicago and overall find the service really strong, but even in a town where excellent service is the norm the Loyalist really stood out.
Well, I was about to rate this a 5 star and the read the other reviews about the service fee which we presumed was the literal service fee. Everything else was exceptional. Thomas the wine steward was knowledgeable and attentive, Hannah was one of our servers and she was delightful. We were sick with Covid and has to postpone and they were flexible with our rescheduling. The food was indescribably delicious and creative. They were very accommodating of my dietary needs and I greatly appreciated it. We planned to make it a monthly dinner but now knowing the service fee doesn’t go to the team??? We are strongly reconsidering ever returning. :(
Incredible food and the wine pairings were excellent albeit over priced. Great service. 5 out of 5 until the end when we got the bill. On it was a 20% service fee that only invited confusion. Was this an automatic tip? I mean fine as I typically tip 25-30% so we asked the server. We got a very clumsy explanation inferring that it wasn’t the ‘top’ but also *kind* of the tip that only invited more confusion. We left an additional 10% only to realize, after reading reviews, that we just short changed the staff and actually the service fee is not the tip but just more takings for the owners, which just made us feel bad about our experience. How about just charging 20% additional on the meal and letting the customer tip as he is accustomed to instead of making this stuff convoluted?? Of course 20% additional would bring the tasting menu to about $330 and may make many more inclined to just go to Alinea. Anyhow the food was fantastic, service good, wine great but over priced for how much you get. Add 20% to what you’re expecting and you won’t be left wondering how to properly reward the excellent staff at the end of the night.
I had very high expectations when I visited Smyth, but I have to say that I had a very poor experience (not even remotely comparable to other Michelin-starred restaurants in Chicago), even a bit dishonest. The tasting menu was repetitive (three courses of lobster?) and very oily, so you could not taste the ingredients. I chose the reserve wine pairing, but you are not told the wines and courses in advance (you do not get the menu until days later), so I found I was not offered all the wines. The "caviar" courses are not prepared with real caviar (from sturgeon), but with regular fish eggs - the chocolate caviar plate is inedible. The last dessert (the "mussel") had a very strong bitter aftertaste. Service was rushed and inattentive. The wine pairing was very poorly (and robotically) explained by the sommelier and no coffee, tea or any mignardise was offered at the end. Did I mention that the prices are outrageous for the quality? If you are really looking for a gastronomic experience in Chicago, visit Alinea, Oriolle, Ever or Elske. Of course my feedback e-mail was not answered.