Penumbra

Wow! 🤩 This restaurant was magical. The food was extraordinary and excellent. We ate some of the best food we’ve ever had at a restaurant. Though the entrance to this place is very unassuming, we were lead to the dining area where the atmosphere was extra special and very private. We were made to feel welcome immediately and had amazing service. We can’t wait to come back!

This is officially one of my new favorite restaurants!! I went here for my birthday, and I was so pleased with everything! The staff was so attentive and friendly! I really enjoyed the mood lighting that they said definitely gives it a nice romantic vibe in there So it’s great for a date night. But getting into the food— i was sooooooo Please, because every single thing was good! We started off with the complementary soup and I honestly could’ve went home with a gallon of it. It was so tasty, My only wish is that they had some bread to go with it lol. We ordered the crabcakes. They were thin and a little bit crispy Like a patty compared to other crabcakes, but I loved it, The sauces that it came with made it even better. For my entrée, I ordered the surf and turf with the poblano shrimp and grilled veggies (Definitely recommending the veggies over the complementary salad) Everything was so flavorful and juicy. I honestly can’t wait to go back if I could give it 5000 stars I would💚 I ended up making this place my number one on Beli!

Penumbra exceeded every expectation. From the moment we walked in, the atmosphere set the tone for a truly romantic evening. The lighting was superb—warm, intimate, and thoughtfully adjustable within the booth area. The booths themselves were sectioned off with sheer, see-through drapes, which created a private, cozy feel without being isolating. It was beautifully done. The staff were exceptional. Attentive without hovering, and their timing was flawless—it genuinely felt like service down to a science. Every interaction was natural, well-paced, and professional. The food was outstanding. I ordered the chicken, and it was cooked to perfection—juicy, flavorful, and not dry in the slightest. Every element of the dish was on point. Between the ambiance, the service, and the quality of the food, Penumbra delivered a complete experience. An absolutely perfect location for a romantic night out. We’ll definitely be back.

Brought my fiancé here for our anniversary and it was the perfect atmosphere for the occasion. Very romantic, the food/drinks were delicious, and our server was really sweet. She had a Don Julio margarita w/strip steak and I had salmon w/old fashion.

Love this place! My boyfriend and I celebrated our anniversary here and it was a wonderful experience. Staff were very friendly and kind, the food was amazing, and the restaurant had a relaxed and romantic vibe with dim lighting. We ordered the scallops for our appetizer, and we also ordered steak, shrimp, and a cheesecake for dessert. Such a wonderful spot! Highly recommend.

Really amazing food and wine selection was so diverse and seclusions. The standout was the service, friendly and knowledgeable. Highly recommend for a romantic date night or fun night out with friends.

Came here on May 12, 2024 for date night. This place has been voted the "Most Romantic restaurant in the country" so we wanted to see what this place is all about. We made reservations a month in advance and requested a cabana. We got there and the host takes us to their private dining area and sat us in the first cabana. Many reviewers have stated this as a private cabana but I would say this is definitely semi-private. The curtains have to stay partially open as we were told was a rule of the restaurant after asking if they could be completely closed. We had a family of four sitting at a table directly across from us - we could see them and they could see us. But at least, for privacy you have the space curtained off for yourself. We had a friendly waitress and were pleasantly surprised by being served a potato poblano soup on the house. It had a great flavor and we enjoyed it. Next we ordered the Scallops D and the Creole Jalapeno Shrimp for appetizers. Both were good and we enjoyed them. Next came our meals which was the lobster and steak entree along with the Pork tenderloin entree. The portions are huge and the food had a good flavor. There is ambiance here as the dining room is dimly lit and there are strings of lights decorated throughout also. No outside views from the dining area. They prefer cash and let that be known. For a fine dining establishment, I feel there is a way you can relay that discreetly without taking anything away from the experience as it can turn patrons off. Okay, you can throw tomatoes at me for this next comment. Although we enjoyed ourselves and the food, hubby and I agreed that we don't feel this is the most romantic restaurant in the city, much less the country. We have been to many a fancy and upscale restaurant in and out of town. For us, the most romantic restaurant we have been to is right here in the heart of Chicago and that is Gibsons Italia - they have the gorgeous skyline views, romantic seating, waitstaff in classy suit jackets and food that's to die for. We wouldn't steer you wrong. Thank you Penumbra for the experience.

Really phenomenal food and service! Highly recommend for an intimate date night with great food!