Lunch at RL Restaurant, Downtown Chicago

As all true foodies will tell you, good food is NOT reliant the ambiance. We have had some of our most memorable meals at hole in the wall eateries and on the flip side we have left insanely expensive restaurants heartbroken by the lack luster food. That being said, when you book a table at a nice eatery the ambiance does play a role in setting the stage for your meal. Knowing that this establishment was designed by its namesake we had some high expectations in terms of aesthetics. We were not disappointed. The interior of the restaurant reminded us of a well-loved Upper East Side library. The walls are covered with beautiful paintings and the leather accents.

The signature RL dinnerware and table settings were beautiful. Nothing new and modern here. Every inch of the restaurant screams elegance in an old-world way, the conversations were all hushed in a well-heeled way. It felt like we were dining in a piece of history. With such a timeless environment, it was only natural for us to expect service to match. We were not disappointed. Our server was attentive and we were not rushed at all throughout our dining experience. All the tables were full even on a Monday afternoon and the energy was relaxed with everyone around us genuinely enjoying their meals with good conversation.

Now onto to main event, so to speak. Was the food able to match the beautiful surroundings? In short, the answer is yes. The food was delicious.  We were pleasantly surprised at how many seafood options there were but then when we thought about it, the sea food menu just fit with the east coast vibes the restaurant was giving off. All the food was served hot and we really appreciated that the portion sizes were not bite size but were actually pretty substantial. Nothing worse than leaving a meal and realizing you are still hungry.

The restaurant offers bread by request, do yourself a favor and request it. Don’t count your carbs and just get the bread. The brown bread with raisins in it was DIVINE. A great way to get the party started. They also serve parmesan crisp, if you are getting soup these would be the perfect pairing. For us, it was a nibble and put to the side so we could really enjoy our main entrees.

Whew what a mouthful. The fish was so so soft and flakey with a buttery texture and with the lemon butter it was verry difficult to eat at a slow pace. I would go back to RL for this fish ALONE. We would highly recommend as a rule, that everyone order seasonal fish whenever you have the option. We have never been disappointed. If we did have a critique, it would be the lack of sides with the main fish course. While we understand there were sides on the menu for sharing, we wish there had been a starch offered along with the fish to balance out the protein.

If you want a DELICIOUS fish burger (they call it a sandwich but it’s served on a bun), pray that this seasonal item is offered when you go for a visit. It was large enough to satisfy Aamir’s hunger and also came with a large serving of crisp hot French fries. Yum. Did I dip into his fries since my sole was side-less? Absolutely. A well salted French fry loaded with good ketchup is one of my many guilty pleasures. RL perfected the sandwich and fries.

I don’t know what was in the Chicago air, but Aamir and I ended up ordering sauteed spinach instead of a something fried to accompany our meal. Not that we don’t enjoy spinach but I am still amazed that instead of calamari or even chowder we choose spinach. Oh, how the mighty junk foodies have fallen. Our Los Angeles local friends would be proud. We have become avocado and toast lovers and orders of vegetables as sides. (Still shaking my head) The spinach was ok. Nothing overwhelming just your standard steamed spinach cooked with garlic. It was a great side for my fish entrée but not so much for Aamir’s burger. Yes, we had leftovers and no, we did not pack them to take away.

I don’t know what was in the Chicago air, but Aamir and I ended up ordering sauteed spinach instead of a something fried to accompany our meal. Not that we don’t enjoy spinach but I am still amazed that instead of calamari or even chowder we choose spinach. Oh, how the mighty junk foodies have fallen. Our Los Angeles local friends would be proud. We have become avocado and toast lovers and orders of vegetables as sides. (Still shaking my head) The spinach was ok. Nothing overwhelming just your standard steamed spinach cooked with garlic. It was a great side for my fish entrée but not so much for Aamir’s burger. Yes, we had leftovers and no, we did not pack them to take away.

If you are on Michigan Avenue and you need a cool, soothing place to set your bags of couture down, the relaxed ambiance of RL will be the perfect fit. The food and service made for a very enjoyable break in our busy day of Downtown Chicago exploration.

Happy Eating!

-xoxo Sophie and Aamir