Felt sorry for the serving staff. The food, when available and correctly cooked, was very good. But for a $225 dinner for two - a lot of the experience was disappointing due to poor management. Management at this Oakbrook location kept taking New Year's Eve reservations when they knew they were understaffed. Subsequently, we arrived for a 8:45PM reservation and had to wait 35 minutes to be seated. It's not rocket science, if you don't have enough staff, don't keep taking reservations. As Seinfeld said, "Anyone can just take the reservation. It's the holding of the reservation that's the key part!" So, the other seven reservations also waiting before us end up going to the bar to wait which then overloads the understaffed bar area. Next - we order drinks, Cosmopolitans. The drinks come out bitter. overloaded with lime juice - don't even LOOK like a Cosmo. They remake the drinks and their fine. But, then the overworked server gets over to finally take an appetizer order. Comes back and tells us, "sorry, I just found out we ran out of mussels HOURS ago." But, no one in the kitchen informs the bar. Poor management. We are seated 35 minutes late, my reservation SPECIFICALLY asked not to be placed near the kitchen door and the host proceeds to try to place us in a busy pathway right in front of the kitchen entrance. We move to a booth. Our waited is nice but speed talks through the intro because he's busy running from table to table. No one to bring water. They've run out of bread, bake more but then no butter knife. The host in charge comes over to ask how everything is. I ask for a butter knife - she says, "like the one you have in your hand?" I say, well, this one was used to cut shrimp cocktail so, no, I will not be using that on the butter. (I mean this is not a Denny's!) No bussers in sight. Empty dishes sit. Two sugar packs on the floor as staff walks over. Badly overcook my wife's burger - at a STEAK place! It was a mess! Bad experience not worth the money!
SabrinaB
I was very disappointed that even though I had a reservation, I didn't get seated until 40 minutes post promised time. Then it took close to 15 minutes for a server to come to the table. He was great, very personable, apologetic about the waits, knowledgeable about the menu, and on top of things. However, the restaurant was out of the only sides I was interested in, all three of them. I decided to order a salad instead and swapped cheese due to an allergy, only for the salad to come with no cheese at all, which was better than putting on the cheese I was allergic to. The waiter then stopped by and informed me they were out of the feta cheese I substituted at his suggestion. There was also a long wait for bread at the beginning of the meal. It finally came when the food arrived. By the time the food came and our bill was paid, it was a much longer experience than anticipated and I was not able to pick up a dessert I ordered from a favorite nearby restaurant. The steak I ordered, and the drinks were very good. My husband ordered a side of Lobster mashed potatoes, since his preferred sides were also unavailable. They were not great, mediocre at best. Overall it was a nice place with a quiet atmosphere, but since they were closing the doors permanently that night, they had stopped ordering food and we were stuck with what was left that they were trying to get rid of. For the price, that should not have happened. I can eat leftovers at home.
maryb
When we arrived, we're told that they were running 15-20 mins behind but they would find us at the bar. They then sat someone else who said they were me because they didn't call us in the bar. Finally they sat us 45 mins late at a table next to the server station. Horrible. Then our waiter was very inattentive ...came back and asked us if we wanted an appetizer when we had an empty tray of oysters on the table. He also forgot to get our drinks from the bar and never offered dessert menus. Realize it was NYE, but it was not a good experience. That being said, the food was very good.
Short staffed in the dining room and the kitchen. Our server did his best but was overwhelmed with the number of tables he had to wait on. This resulted in long waits for drinks, bread serves and meals. Food was OK but have had better in previous visits. Some drink selections were also out of stock.
Eatingout
The service was exceptional for it being New Years Eve. We expected that there would be some delay with it being a holiday but that was not the case. Drinks and food came out at the appropriate times and we never felt rushed. Excellent service by all.
JeanneH
First time visitor (though I have booked tables for my boss) good great-except for dessert. The pumpkin cheesecake was ok- being seasonal I expected a peppermint or chocolate) my dining companion had the chocolate bag the mouse was very loose. Steaks were great as were the seafood apps. Would definitely recommend and possibly book again for myself.
ThomasL
Food was very good. Restaurant was quiet, there weren't many people there which may have been due to being between Christmas and New Year's. Generally a quiet period for restaurants. Service was good and the waiter was attentive. We were 5 diners and a 20% service charge was automatically added so one must pay attention to this. We enjoyed our night out quite a lot.
AvaK
Service bad ordered a med rare steak for $70 it came well done sent it back said I'd share with my husband because we have kids with us and didn't have another 30 min to wait for food. While we were on dessert server brought out another steak and said they remade it anyway and I said okay we're eating dessert I don't want it now - sure to go if it's on the house but I'm not paying for it especially since I said not to remake it. She then took it away annoyed instead of doing the right thing and just giving it to us to go. Overall just very slow service never once asked us how food was if we need anything etc and funny thing but we had pudding for dessert and she brought us forks instead of spoons and only 2 when there was 4 at table
Service was phenomenal. Carlos was best server we have had at McCormick and Schick. Food was good. Salmon excellent, mashed potatoes ok, vegetables a bit bland and cool. My husband's Kobe burger was superb. Carlos made our Christmas meal special. However, the Hostess was a bit stressed/curt, almost nasty how Open Table was booked.
We will definitely not return next Christmas. Crab cakes were cold, the onion soup was slightly warmed (still delicious!). We didn't have the proper serving utensils for our oysters - and even used a “to go” box as our “plates” for oyster Rockefeller... The server essentially ignored our table the entire meal. We got up to go pay at the host stand..
Place to go for really good seafood. Coconut shrimp appetizer was fantastic. I had walleye and my wife had a salmon dish. Both were excellent. Wine by the glass was reasonable. The place was extremely noisy due to a mariachi band entertaining a group on the main floor. Very difficult to hold a conversation.
Liz7210
We had a very good experience here. We came for the happy hour. The blackened chicken quesadillas was fantastic and the drinks were perfectly made. We will definitely come back again
TimG
The place was completely empty yet we never saw our waitress. She had no idea about the dishes on the menu when we asked some very basic questions. She brought out our food and the blackened grouper was a piece of rubber and inedible. We would have ordered another dish but we did not see our waitress again until she brought out the bread AFTER we were done sharing a plate. The food and service were absolutely terrible. There is no question why this place was empty on a Friday night.
We always love this place, but we came in for happy hour, and there were no discounted drinks only some appetizers. This was disappointing. Also, the prices have gone up substantially.
JaniceH
We returned to McCormick & Schmick's because it was excellent the first time. It was excellent again. The food is outstanding, and they have a very nice menu. The wine list is good and fairly priced. The service was also very good.
Felt sorry for the serving staff. The food, when available and correctly cooked, was very good. But for a $225 dinner for two - a lot of the experience was disappointing due to poor management. Management at this Oakbrook location kept taking New Year's Eve reservations when they knew they were understaffed. Subsequently, we arrived for a 8:45PM reservation and had to wait 35 minutes to be seated. It's not rocket science, if you don't have enough staff, don't keep taking reservations. As Seinfeld said, "Anyone can just take the reservation. It's the holding of the reservation that's the key part!" So, the other seven reservations also waiting before us end up going to the bar to wait which then overloads the understaffed bar area. Next - we order drinks, Cosmopolitans. The drinks come out bitter. overloaded with lime juice - don't even LOOK like a Cosmo. They remake the drinks and their fine. But, then the overworked server gets over to finally take an appetizer order. Comes back and tells us, "sorry, I just found out we ran out of mussels HOURS ago." But, no one in the kitchen informs the bar. Poor management. We are seated 35 minutes late, my reservation SPECIFICALLY asked not to be placed near the kitchen door and the host proceeds to try to place us in a busy pathway right in front of the kitchen entrance. We move to a booth. Our waited is nice but speed talks through the intro because he's busy running from table to table. No one to bring water. They've run out of bread, bake more but then no butter knife. The host in charge comes over to ask how everything is. I ask for a butter knife - she says, "like the one you have in your hand?" I say, well, this one was used to cut shrimp cocktail so, no, I will not be using that on the butter. (I mean this is not a Denny's!) No bussers in sight. Empty dishes sit. Two sugar packs on the floor as staff walks over. Badly overcook my wife's burger - at a STEAK place! It was a mess! Bad experience not worth the money!
I was very disappointed that even though I had a reservation, I didn't get seated until 40 minutes post promised time. Then it took close to 15 minutes for a server to come to the table. He was great, very personable, apologetic about the waits, knowledgeable about the menu, and on top of things. However, the restaurant was out of the only sides I was interested in, all three of them. I decided to order a salad instead and swapped cheese due to an allergy, only for the salad to come with no cheese at all, which was better than putting on the cheese I was allergic to. The waiter then stopped by and informed me they were out of the feta cheese I substituted at his suggestion. There was also a long wait for bread at the beginning of the meal. It finally came when the food arrived. By the time the food came and our bill was paid, it was a much longer experience than anticipated and I was not able to pick up a dessert I ordered from a favorite nearby restaurant. The steak I ordered, and the drinks were very good. My husband ordered a side of Lobster mashed potatoes, since his preferred sides were also unavailable. They were not great, mediocre at best. Overall it was a nice place with a quiet atmosphere, but since they were closing the doors permanently that night, they had stopped ordering food and we were stuck with what was left that they were trying to get rid of. For the price, that should not have happened. I can eat leftovers at home.
When we arrived, we're told that they were running 15-20 mins behind but they would find us at the bar. They then sat someone else who said they were me because they didn't call us in the bar. Finally they sat us 45 mins late at a table next to the server station. Horrible. Then our waiter was very inattentive ...came back and asked us if we wanted an appetizer when we had an empty tray of oysters on the table. He also forgot to get our drinks from the bar and never offered dessert menus. Realize it was NYE, but it was not a good experience. That being said, the food was very good.
Short staffed in the dining room and the kitchen. Our server did his best but was overwhelmed with the number of tables he had to wait on. This resulted in long waits for drinks, bread serves and meals. Food was OK but have had better in previous visits. Some drink selections were also out of stock.
The service was exceptional for it being New Years Eve. We expected that there would be some delay with it being a holiday but that was not the case. Drinks and food came out at the appropriate times and we never felt rushed. Excellent service by all.
First time visitor (though I have booked tables for my boss) good great-except for dessert. The pumpkin cheesecake was ok- being seasonal I expected a peppermint or chocolate) my dining companion had the chocolate bag the mouse was very loose. Steaks were great as were the seafood apps. Would definitely recommend and possibly book again for myself.
Food was very good. Restaurant was quiet, there weren't many people there which may have been due to being between Christmas and New Year's. Generally a quiet period for restaurants. Service was good and the waiter was attentive. We were 5 diners and a 20% service charge was automatically added so one must pay attention to this. We enjoyed our night out quite a lot.
Service bad ordered a med rare steak for $70 it came well done sent it back said I'd share with my husband because we have kids with us and didn't have another 30 min to wait for food. While we were on dessert server brought out another steak and said they remade it anyway and I said okay we're eating dessert I don't want it now - sure to go if it's on the house but I'm not paying for it especially since I said not to remake it. She then took it away annoyed instead of doing the right thing and just giving it to us to go. Overall just very slow service never once asked us how food was if we need anything etc and funny thing but we had pudding for dessert and she brought us forks instead of spoons and only 2 when there was 4 at table
Service was phenomenal. Carlos was best server we have had at McCormick and Schick. Food was good. Salmon excellent, mashed potatoes ok, vegetables a bit bland and cool. My husband's Kobe burger was superb. Carlos made our Christmas meal special. However, the Hostess was a bit stressed/curt, almost nasty how Open Table was booked.
We will definitely not return next Christmas. Crab cakes were cold, the onion soup was slightly warmed (still delicious!). We didn't have the proper serving utensils for our oysters - and even used a “to go” box as our “plates” for oyster Rockefeller... The server essentially ignored our table the entire meal. We got up to go pay at the host stand..
Restaurantji Recommends
Place to go for really good seafood. Coconut shrimp appetizer was fantastic. I had walleye and my wife had a salmon dish. Both were excellent. Wine by the glass was reasonable. The place was extremely noisy due to a mariachi band entertaining a group on the main floor. Very difficult to hold a conversation.
We had a very good experience here. We came for the happy hour. The blackened chicken quesadillas was fantastic and the drinks were perfectly made. We will definitely come back again
The place was completely empty yet we never saw our waitress. She had no idea about the dishes on the menu when we asked some very basic questions. She brought out our food and the blackened grouper was a piece of rubber and inedible. We would have ordered another dish but we did not see our waitress again until she brought out the bread AFTER we were done sharing a plate. The food and service were absolutely terrible. There is no question why this place was empty on a Friday night.
We always love this place, but we came in for happy hour, and there were no discounted drinks only some appetizers. This was disappointing. Also, the prices have gone up substantially.
We returned to McCormick & Schmick's because it was excellent the first time. It was excellent again. The food is outstanding, and they have a very nice menu. The wine list is good and fairly priced. The service was also very good.