Dining Room At Kendall College

Our first experience tonight was really great. The talented students prepare interesting dishes, present the food beautifully, and hustle to make the dining experience excellent. It’s impressive work done cheerfully!

If you want a very fancy dinner for a killer price and the best food in the city look no further!! The students try very hard and put their best foot forward. I found the food to be exquisite and the dining room beautiful. We did the wine tasting menu And we’re very satisfied with the portion and the service.

It was a warm summer night in Chicago and this restaurant was on point with smiles and service. I am a student in the Kendall College Culinary Certificate Program. I am not saying what I am saying, because I am a student there. The students who served us are in a different program. The living classroom experience is definitely something people should check out when they go to a restaurant in downtown. Some of these Students are in their 'Origin Story' to wherever their culinary journey takes them. Wouldn't it be awesome to have been served by a future Chicago Professional Chef? The atmosphere and food went hand in hand. They were both excellent. The taste of the food was on point. They did not overpower the main dish. The mocktails were very good too. I will be back this Thursday night. I am taking my Mom this time. There are not too many restaurants in downtown Chicago that have a beautiful view of Millennium Park for the price and service. You cannot beat it.

Out of all the wonderful things I did on a recent visit to Chicago, this was my favorite. The food was delicious and so beautifully plated. The students and instructor were friendly and informative. The view out the windows was amazing. You could see into the open kitchen and watch the magic take place. Afterwards we enjoyed looking at the students’ wedding cakes in the display cases in the lobby. Highly recommend. Also, we had bar seats but we could still see out the windows.

The dining experience was excellent, featuring a unique concept where students create their own dishes. We thoroughly enjoyed every dish we ordered; they were all delicious. The drinks were enjoyable, and the service was exceptional. Considering the price, this experience is unbeatable. Furthermore, the restaurant offers a great view of Millennium Park. I would certainly revisit in the future.

This was an experience of similar quality to another restaurant I've been to that has a Michelin star. The food served was delicious but I cannot express how amazing the service and presentation were. Definitely going to come back.

3 courses dinner of very reasonable price and also drinks! Serving was a bit slow and amateur but it was totally fine. Because they are still learning. Dishes were delicious, even complimentary bread was really good. I was obsessed with a sourdough bread. If it was available, I would take out one. It was really pleasant experience to meet and talk with culinary students. I would like to visit again anytime soon.

Kendall College! The student & instructor staff provides a wonderful dining experience. With a prix fixe-only menu which has a nice variety, and really delivers. Appetizer plates and main course were standouts. Fresh, artful presentation meets on-point execution. Perfect seasonings. Quite satisfying. Service was very good as well. No complaints whatsoever. Best part is the tips are added to a fund for underprivileged students to assist with scholarships. Heartwarming! Go!

At the Dining Room you really get your money's worth. The restaurant is staffed by students at Kendall College, all are very professional and excited to be there. The service was amazing and the food was top notch. You should make a reservation, and make sure you give yourself plenty of time to get there. The Dining Room is right next to Millenium Park and has a beautiful view. Parking is difficult in the area, but it is close to public transportation. Once you arrive you will check in with the security in front and they will direct you to the elevator. When you first enter they will give you a sample of a specialty cocktail at the bar, alcoholic and non options for the sample. I really liked that they had a few non-alcoholic drink options. I opted for one and it was delicious, they make their own syrup in-house. You get to pick your water, still acqua pannacotta or sparkling. Wait staff ask you off the bat if you have any dietary restrictions. The meal is pre fixie, there are 4 options for each course The dining room is small and intimate with great lighting with an amazing view of the park and an open kitchen. Tipping is optional and all tips go towards a scholarship at the college. The Dining Room is definitely a place to try if you're in the area.

Amber and Alexis were a treat! I really enjoyed my food from the flavor to the presentation. I do wish there was more variety in the menu

I started this review three months ago and abandoned. I dislike negative reviews. Attended their Italian Night. We have attended Kendall dinners since they were up in Evanston and then Halsted & Chicago Ave area. Total 8 to 10 times, we've always been wowed. 1st time at Michigan Ave location. We attended the Italian Night We were seated at a round table with 2 other couples and we all seemed to enjoy the company. Food was average, nothing seemed prepared in a unique way. Because it's been a several weeks, it would be unfair to say much more. I can still remember 2 Evanston meals from 20 years ago and have only a sense of "wonderful" meals always. The service was notably awkward with rotating servers and bussers who served us from both directions and they almost seemed to bump into each other. When clearing dishes and flatware, they were stacked on each other. Our table ceased our conversation as the noise was so loud. I can appreciate this location may be settling in. We were seated at a round table with 2 other couples and we all seemed to enjoy the company.

This was such a cool concept, great way to practice for the students, and the future looks bright for us diners.

Wow! This place is a must for the foody! This is a college, and these are kids, actual students. They did a fantastic job in service from start to finish! Their awkwardness was charming and endearing. It's a perfect place to test your date. Anyone who isn't supportive of this learn-by-doing restaurant doesn't deserve a second date. Plus, if any date took me here, I would fall in love before dessert. What an amazing place to support! Location: This is tucked away between Acanto and The Shake Shack. You enter a lobby and let security know you have a reservation. Then take the elevator up to the restaurant which overlooks Millennium Park. The view is stunning. Food: There is a fixed menu that changes seasonally, and you get a choice among three appetizers, three main course meals, and three desserts. I would suggest going with at least two other people so that you can taste everything. The food is that good. You don't wanna miss a thing! Drinks: I had the Thai basil gin gimlet and the cha-cha. My "date" had the Hibisco. Ambiance: There is an open kitchen layout, so you can hear the chefs calling out. It's super clean and a bit bright. It's not a romantic, dark, place to nibble on ears. Price: You can't beat it. it's $45 a person for a three-course meal and $12 for cocktails. Thank you, Kendall students! You all deserve major kudos!

Loved the experience, the food, the view! It was great fine dining at an affordable price. Highly recommend!

We had a wonderful time here. We've been to a lot of fine dining and the food here is amazing. I couldn't believe they were students. Service was attentive enough. It's not stuffy here and is more relaxed. I think it's also great for people to ease themselves into fine dining. Loved the black cod and scallops!

Absolute must do!!!! If you'd like to treat yourself to an upscale (and affordable!) dinner this is the place. This culinary school is doing things well. From start to finish our experience was classy and welcoming. They easily and eagerly made accommodations for my gluten and dairy intolerance. Every dish was excellent! And the cocktails were just as good as the food. The mentor/instructor was there throughout and guided them through the service without hovering. He also took the time to engage with the guests, which was nice for the students to observe that extra touch. The students at the bar were engaging and fun. It was a fun and delicious experience from start to finish and I look forward to my next trip to Chicago so I can dine there again.

Incredible experience, with an equally incredible view. Student-run FOH/BOH driving fine-dining level experience training, overlooking Millenium Park. Could not have asked for a more perfect view, and an incredible array of food options. We chose the wine pairing (only $20 at time of dining), which was delightfully bright with the food options. We chose a few specials, so ymmv. Wonderfully friendly staff, we also ventured into the cocktail list and were pleased by our choices. Definitely will be back again.

This was a fun dinner experience with a beautiful view of Millenium park. Came here with my boyfriend while I was visiting and it took us a while to find parking and head up so we were a bit late. Tried calling ahead to let them know we were going to be late but no one picked up. It's relatively laid back so they were fine with us being late once we got there. Tip: use spot hero for parking as they have moved locations several years ago and no longer have free parking. The servers and chefs are all students so they are still learning to serve and work in the kitchen. Regardless, it was fun dining in their living classroom and although food isn't the best I've had, it was good considering that they are still students!

The food was perfectly prepared and beautifully presented. An unexpected food allergy at our table was handled expertly. It is a real pleasure to watch the young professionals producing a high quality experience.

I had a fabulous experience! I will definitely come back! The food was delicious and I am a very selective eate! the service was so nice!

What a hidden gem! All the courses were absolutely Amazing. Super small restaurant on the 7th floor but be sure to make reservations well in advance.

It was amazing. Nathan was great. Matter of fact everyone was fantastic. I will definitely be back! FOOD WAS BEAUTIFUL

Five stars and then some!!!Amazing experience!!! The food was beautiful and tasted absolutely delicious. The students were all so kind. I will definitely be back next time I am in Chicago.

This place was a steal, and it was such a fun experience! The students and instructors were incredibly professional and attentive, and we were also able to see other students preparing the food in the kitchen. The environment was elegant and beautiful, but we appreciated that it had a much more friendly atmosphere than other fine dining restaurants. The complimentary bread was so good, and the raspberry beret cocktail was very refreshing. Our first course (gnocco fritto and carciofi) had larger portions than we expected, and they were delicious. The main course was a little salty, but I think we also visited fairly early in their school term. However, the dessert was a showstopper. The sfogliatella was perfectly crisp, and all the flavors in the tahini cake went together beautifully. It was an awesome experience, and we would definitely recommend!!

Keep in mind that this is an educational environment, and you will appreciate the experience more. There may be small hiccups like food taking a long time to arrive or service that doesn't flow smoothly, but it's an interesting experience. The food is medium in a good way; not mind blowing but it seems the technique is there. The flavors are safe and basic which doesn't mean bad. Actually, the food tastes pretty homemade except nicely presented. And I mean that in a positive way. The drinks here take a long time but I can tell the bartender put a lot of effort into making them. Pretty weak but refreshing.

Iman and Nan were amazing!!! We had such a wonderful Valentine's Day dinner. The food was excellent and the service was impeccable. Will absolutely be back.

This was a wonderful dining experience. Students prepare and serve food, the service was outstanding, and the food was exquisite. The view is also wonderful. Highly recommend.

A great dinner experience! The staff are students learning, and for the price and quality of the food, it's an incredible deal and meal. We had the wine pairings, and I ordered pasta, fish, and a pudding-like dessert. All of them were great! The fish was crispy and I loved it. We were served quickly and had a view of the kitchen, which was fun to see. Would totally return to try another menu.

The service was great, the space is nice, the student staff have been trained pretty well in service. We went for the Julia Child themed 5 course dinner. We were put on a large shared table with other guests. 3 out of 5 of the dishes were very good, but the French onion soup and the sponge cake dessert were lacking. If each and every dish shined I would say the meal was worth the value.

Had a wonderful experience here for their 4 course Italian dinner in early October. The food was prepared well and I was impressed by each course. A little hard to believe they are student chefs!

Food was sensational at a reasonable price. The "school" setting gives it a very comfortable atmosphere. 10/10, 5/5, recommending it to everyone!

The experience at the Dining Room at Kendall College was phenomenal. For the price point of $40 a person not including drinks for a 3 course meal is a complete steal. First off the ingredients are high quality. Secondly, the chefs are students attending the school but don't take them lightly. They are incredibly skilled, qualified, and talented! The service and environment was amazing and on one side you can view the wonderful chefs prepare your meal in front of you and on the other side is a spectacular view of Millennial Park/ Cloud Gate/ Bean. We came in a group of three and were greeted with a small complimentary cocktail before we were seated and our lovely host explained to us the concept of open kitchen and student chefs. Our server Ada was pleasant and sweet. We were served focaccia and a sweet roll paired with their herb butter and garlic butter before we were served our first Course. We each got different appetizers, entrees and desserts. The menu is seasonal and changes every quarter system for the students. Today we ordered Appetizers: Pao de Queijo with duck pate and prosciutto (Best), Lamb tartare, and Bigeye tuna crudo Entrees: Pork tonnato, Lobster Cacciuco (Best), and Flat iron steak Desserts: Sable Breton (Best), Rhubarb Tart, and Chocolate Chicory Cake Everything was delicious and cooked to perfection. I would highly recommend this experience to anyone and would come here every time I come into Chicago. Also feel free to tip generously as the tip goes towards future scholarships for the upcoming students attending the program!

What a lovely time dining here! The view and ambience was beautiful. The students were so polite and professional. The food and drinks were delicious and definitely high quality. I had such a good time with friends that I forgot I was at a culinary school. I highly recommend this restaurant if you are in downtown Chicago.

All I can say is WOW! This establishment knows how to serve a fine dining meal with pizazz. From the moment we walked in the door we felt welcome and taken care of. The culinary students are so professional, and you can really tell they love what they do.  The Instructor overseeing their learning was attentive and gregarious, and the instruction did not interfere with the atmosphere or ambiance of the meal. Beautiful presentation and plating. Well done, Kendall!!!

This was a superb experience!! The food, service, ambiance were all extraordinary and equal, if not superior to many 5 star established facilities in Chicago. Thank you Kendall!!!!! Thank you Ixchel, you were wonderful and took great care of us!!!

Food was excellent, Ixchel service is outstanding, I see a bright future in the culinary environment for her.

Great food, good people & very yum dessert!! Very calm and cozy restaurant perfect for small gatherings!

It is an amazing experience knowing that the whole crew will be our future James Award winners and nominees and Michelin star chefs! Food is amazing and service is excellent! Our server was Kevin and he made experience even better as well as the whole staff! The ambiance is zen with a perfect view of Millennium park! The classic drinks were spot on! I can't wait to come back!

Kendall's culinary and hospitality programs were sold to National Louis University during 2018 and the campus was expected to move to downtown Chicago. We thought we would enjoy the Dining Room's $18 three-course lunch, one of the best meal deals in town, at least one more time in the old location. All of our prior meals at this fine culinary institution were fabulous. This time, things began on a high note with an inventive salad composed of frisée, arugula, roasted beets, walnuts, goat cheese, radish, and a white peach dressing. The winter squash soup was equally satisfying, thick and rich with ginger crema and livened with a tinge of cinnamon. From there, things turned abruptly south. We waited an interminably long time for our entrees. By the time the smoked Ora King salmon (from New Zealand, plated with cilantro elote, mulligatawny sauce and a mystery foam) was served, it had cooled to room temperature. The fish was barely cooked on the outside and completely raw inside. Sushi grade or not, we sent this back to the kitchen. Ditto for the "Grilled Strauss Farms beef strip loin, chimichurri, pommes puree, Brussels sprouts, horseradish crème." Ordered medium-rare, the steak was cooked somewhere beyond well done, and yet it and the potatoes arrived barely lukewarm. Our remade entrees fared better but the sides were still cold and I seriously doubt whether the Michelin folks would have been wowed. A dessert of chocolate cheesecake with mocha ice cream suffered in part from incredibly unattractive plating. Actually the ice cream fared better than the "deconstructed" cheesecake, which was like eating balls of raw cookie dough. Cheesecake Factory, you have nothing to worry about! None of this was the fault of the students! Making mistakes is an essential part of the learning process and many of Kendall's graduates do go on to become top chefs in prominent restaurants. The Dining Room Manager (new since our previous visit) and instructors are ultimately responsible for maintaining food prep and service standards. Clearly they neglected to oversee what was happening in the kitchen and the blame for the failures we experienced is entirely on them.

Kendall College! The student & instructor staff provides a wonderful dining experience. With a prix fixe-only menu which has a nice variety, and really delivers. Appetizer plates and main course were standouts. Fresh, artful presentation meets on-point execution. Perfect seasonings. Quite satisfying. Service was very good as well. No complaints whatsoever. Best part is the tips are added to a fund for underprivileged students to assist with scholarships. Heartwarming! Go!

Such great service and ambiance. Everyone was super helpful and the food presentation was phenomenal.

Awesome! The best restaurant in Chicago :) The service is great and Jess is sooooo warm hearted she even give me a list of places to go in Chicago100% Recommend!

The most fun restaurant I have ever been to. It is a great opportunity to see how the waiters，bartenders are trained by their instructor in the real environment. By the way, the food is great, especially when you realize chefs coming from this kitchen are future Michelin-star chefs

45$ for a 3 course pre fixe? on par with sepia and other pre fixe restaurants!!!!! perfect ambiance!

Went here for a 3-course meal with my boyfriend to celebrate an event. We've been binge watching master chef, so this was an added bonus haha. A 3-course meal for $40 isn't bad at all. The drinks are a bit pricey though, so the overall bill was expensive. It was a good experience though. I really liked my mushroom appetiser and the bread pudding dessert. We got to see the cocktails made in front of us for an extra cost.

This place is great but you need to know what you are getting yourself into. First dinner is $29 ($34 is you want wine, which is also crazy cheap) for three courses which is a good deal no matter which way you cut it. Second, you are in a culinary school. The students are learning. Know that the they are trying to work on providing excellent service, but I mean it's part of the learning experience. Things will work themselves out. Do expect mix ups. What you come here for is the food and it is fantastic. First course I had a scallop on top of fried lobster in sauce which all worked really well. Others had the gnocchi which had generous portions of duck. My entree was the salmon. Large portion, amazing brown butter sauce, coconut cream worked really well. Others had the venison which I did not get a taste of and the meatless balls (made with eggplant) which basically tasted like an Italian restaurant exploded in your mouth. Quite good. They give you an amuse bouche. Ours came late, but was tasty. Goat cheese on cucumber. They also offer you bread which is homemade and pair it with homemade butter which was pesto butter... mind blowing. Dessert I had a chocolate torte with a lightly toasted marshmallow, pretzel cookie, and graham cracker crumbs. The torte was filled with dark chocolate ganache. Bottom line the food is some of the best in the city. I'm pretty sure the menu is seasonal which is great! Everything is plated BEAUTIFULLY. I would strongly recommend this for a date night or going out with friends.

Had a great meal at Kendall College tonight. Very attentive service by the students ( yes, rough around the edges, but that's part of the charm) and delicious food. Higly recommend the scallop starter, venison entree, pork chop entree, and the prix fixe overall. Attire: wear something nice, you won't be out of place. The only thing that was odd was the entry. You go into the school then they call up for your reservation. I didn't see any signage.

I have been here many times but first time sitting at the bar and Keith and Jaensen were the bartenders that night and they took great care of us!!! Love this place.

We had an amazing experience at the dining room at Kendall College. The food was fantastic and surprisingly very filling. The drinks were great. Our servers were nice. Would definitely come back!

My first experience here was a lot of fun. I chaperoned a group of senior citizens and we all really enjoyed ourselves. The salmon was divine (see photos) and the service was top-notch. I definitely recommend giving The Dining Room a try, especially if you're in the neighborhood. Quality, execution and price can't be beat. Will be back!

I had to really think about this review, and should I make it 1 star or 5 stars. On the one hand, I could give this a 1 star review to try to keep people from coming here, to keep it all to myself. On the other hand, I could be honest and give it a 5 star review, because...well, this place rocks! I do love a nice fine-dining experience. Not that I go to a lot of fine-dining restaurants. Maybe once every 2 years or so. But I've been to a few nice restaurants. Really nice restaurants, in fact. So I do have a frame of reference for a place like the Dining Room at Kendall College. Let me give you the tl;dr version of this review: This place is amazing, especially given the price. As others have mentioned, Kendall College is a culinary school. The students have to do a rotation in the dining room as servers, bussers, wine servers, and cooks. The servers are generally nervous. But that's cool. They're learning and we're helping them. And man, they really try hard! The cooks rock this shit. The food is amazing. No, seriously. The kitchen is run by one of the faculty members who makes sure that the dishes meet the high standards, so you can count on the quality. Why else should you go? How about drink specials virtually every night? Yep, Tuesday (I think) is half price wine bottles. Yep! And all of the tips you give go to providing scholarships to kids to get into the industry. Anyway, I've been here twice and both times have been great. Sure, the service is a bit awkward and imperfect. But the food is 95% of what you would expect for a fine dining restaurant. And the enthusiasm of the students and staff more than makes up for any slight shortcomings you might experience. And even so, the price more than makes up for anything else. And if nothing else, keep in mind that you are helping to educate really wonderful students! So, after all this, I ended up making this a 5-star review, because they deserve it. But you should go to a place in the loop instead, spend 4 times as much for 10% better service, and leave the Dining Room at Kendall College to me!

This place is a fun experience. #1 There is a great view overlooking the city. #2 The entire staff is comprised of students in training, so you feel the passion in everything they do. When we visited there was an instructor overseeing the students and teaching them along the way. It really gives you an appreciation for how much work and effort it takes to work in food service. The staff was extremely polite and went out of their way to make you feel welcome. You can also see directly into the kitchen which is a unique experience #3 The food was affordable (approximately $40 for three course meal). #4 the food is delicious. All options were unique and tasty. The steak was a huge portion and excellently cooked. Overall, I would recommend this place for a good experience as long as you are open to being served by students in training and know what to expect.

The culinary students here are already professional here by the time you visit. Excellent food and a great view of the park!

I really wanted to love it! The concept is amazing and I really enjoyed watching the students create and work but most things were just a tad off. Arrive for reservation and had a bit of a wait, was escorted upstairs to a half empty dinner service. Menu very different from Restaurant Week menu posted online and even then they "ran out" of two items on the much smaller than advertised menu. Long waits between courses and first offering of bread took way longer than it should have, though they seemed to be sufficiently staffed. The food: beautifully presented and acceptable flavor. The cook on the lamb and beef tenderloin were spot on. The dishes were just missing a tiny bit of oomph. The space is beautiful, with amazing views. The students are charming and thoughtful. I am looking forward to giving them another shot post-Restaurant Week!

We are so amazed by the food and the service! It's very heartwarming to see that all the students are learning in this "real classroom", helping each other and learning from doing. Although they look very nervous which is understandable haha, they are very nice and sweet :)

Just celebrated a birthday dinner at Kendell College Fine dinning restaurant. I can't say enough good things about our experience. It is an experience everyone must enjoy. The atmosphere, food, drinks and service were outstanding. Well done Kendell!

I had the best experience here for dinner recently in March on a Saturday evening taking advantage of their prix fixe winter menu. Quick note: there is a security front desk at National Louis University /Kendall building. Someone next to us had a 6:15 reservation and they wouldn't let them up the elevator at 6:00pm. I felt bad for the couple. So just a quick warning: they won't let you up to the 3rd floor where the restaurant is unless it's exactly the time of your reservation. At 6:00pm, we chose to come right when they opened and were the first table seated. The four of us marveled in how pristine and fancy the dining room felt and how professional the students (waiters, waitresses) seemed. These are all culinary and hospitality students so of course they're not going to be perfect- but tip them well because you can tell they're really putting in their best effort. A waitress came around and got our drink orders and passed around PESTO BUTTER and a choice of rolls: you can have a soft yeast roll, a Parmesan crisp, olive bread, sun dried tomato bread, etc. you choose and she places it on your plate and circulates. For dinner, it's $29 for 3-course gourmet meal or $33, just $4 more for the prix fixe 3-course and a glass of house red or white. The house white is very good and not too dry. There are several options for entree, appetizers, and dessert. My three courses were: -pan browned sea scallop, brandade fritter, watercress, lobster béurre blanc -venison loin cooked your preference (medium rare for me), kumquat confit, vanilla braised rutabaga, Madeira & smoked pepper gastric -butternut squash soufflé, roast pear & butternut squash jam, saffron anglaise, brown butter madeleines Everything was amazing. My dining companions got ahi tuna and citrus salad appetizers, the most silky smooth salmon entrees, and tiramisu and chocolate tarte desserts. Everything was phenomenal and the standouts were the salmon and how well they were able to cook the venison depending on your preference. They also offered us 2 complimentary amuse bouche which were amazing!! -goat cheese fritter -tart lemon curd I didn't get detailed descriptions written down for these but they were such a delightful bite in your mouth. Only 2 critiques: the pesto butter was not spreadable, still cold from the fridge and the bread was cold straight from the fridge too. Warm bread and soft butter please! Definitely come here and support the students and get an amazing meal for an awesome price