Theater on the Lake

This review is for the Air & Water Show viewing party that was held at Theater on the Lake (August 2024). This location is excellent, the planes fly closer to the crowds here than they do on North Ave beach. The price of the all-inclusive ticket for this viewing party was worth every penny. It is a very large fenced off area right on the water (there is no beach here). The area was filled with tables and chairs, tents, vendors, and there was plenty of space. The Port-a-potties were available for ticket holders only and they were very clean and maintained. No wait. In addition to the food & alcohol that was included in your ticket, there are also several vendors that were giving away free samples of their products (couple breweries, wine companies etc). There were no vendors selling anything for purchase. Everything in the VIP section was included with your ticket, and they really went full out! We brought our own folding chairs, but we could have left them at home because there was tons of seating available. The lines for food and drinks were between 0-5 mins. The drinks were strong and they had a great variety of options, Including nonalcoholic drinks (pop, bottled water, juice) The food from Smoque BBQ was outstanding and very filling! It was buffet style, but they had staff serving at each station, which kept the lines moving quickly. Very family-friendly atmosphere. I brought our 5 yr old and she made lots of friends. A few of the vendors had kid activities, and my daughter spent most of the day making friendship bracelets at one station. We stayed until closing time at 4 PM. All the staff were very, very nice when they came around and told us that they were closing up. They did not make us feel overly rushed, and everybody asked us if we enjoyed our day. They seemed to really care about the guest experiences. Everybody was kind and polite, and we just had a fantastic time. 100% recommend this event at Theater on the Lake.

Great show! The musicians were awesome- they had a great interaction with the audience making the show even better! Had appetizers and drinks at the restaurant before the show- food and drinks were very good. Valet service made it for easy access before and after the performance.

We were at the Theater on the Lake to attend a wedding. The venue was absolutely gorgeous. The lighting and decorations were spectacular. All the servers and wait staff were friendly. We appreciate that all the food was top notch. From the fantastic appetizers, specialty drinks, the main entrees for the dinner and dessert, everything was phenomenal. It was so great to be able to go outside and see The view of the Chicago lake and skyline. There is no question that this is a beautiful and high quality venue to host an event, and we hope to return back soon.

Very unique dine-in spot in Chicago! This one of a kind location is a hidden gem. Their food is amazing and the staff is super nice. I'd come back here for their tacos. 10/10.

This was an amazing venue but also candle light concert. It was a tribute to Bad Bunny. Amazing performance.

Amazing view of lake during wedding festivities!

Lovely open terrace, good food, nothing esoteric. Good service. The tables are a bit small and get crowded easily. Prices are ok. Overall enjoyable experience. Not pictured: pretty good burger.

Such an amazing place to have a wedding especially on a beautiful Saturday in June. The staff were great and very welcoming. Delicious food. Big dance floor.

Thought I'd help out some people here looking for a cool spot for the Chicago Air and Water Show. Great view of the city and planes. Food and drinks were good and tickets were worth it. Only thing I'd probably recommend is to have separate coolers or stations for water/non alcoholic drinks. Waiting in a huge line for just a bottle of water was a long. Other than that great job by the team.

Been wanting to check out this restaurant for a long time as I had been there for a play but haven't been there to eat. It's a great restaurant in a wonderful vintage building with one of a kind of views of the lake because it's right on the lake! Has an outdoor patio and the place is open year round. Cool and large bar too if you just want to pop in for a drink. Food and cocktails were both really good. Had the brisket French dip, which was excellent. my companion had the fish and chips which was also excellent. Valet parking makes it super easy to get there- service was also very attentive.

Delicious food, great ambiance and friendly service. Great location / visit the zoo and then eat and then sit on the lakefront. The views are outstanding!

This was my first time at this venue and I may be biased because it was a work conference where every expense was covered, but we had easy valet parking, breakfast parfaits, pastries, fresh fruit and coffee, a mid morning snack of yummy mini BLTs with avocado toast before a delicious lunch and afternoon snacks, an amazing view of the lake (on this 80 degree day in October!) and a lovely venue with both indoor and outdoor space we used during breaks that was laid out well and not overly crowded. A great location off LSD, right on the lake; what's not to like? I had an enjoyable day and would love to come back here.

This was my first time going to Theater on the Lake. Was actually there to play with the band that was playing The food is really good.... And the ambience looking at Lake Michigan is amazing!

We went there to see a neighborhood band play- " In spite of ourselves" which were excellent.. but ate at the bar first... Shared the skirt steak which was very tasty.. Even I enjoyed it.. The people at the bar we very attentive... the atmosphere was amazing, to be on the lake front watching snow come down outside.. all in all a great experience.. the only thing better would have been if I was allowed to bring Reilly, my pup here..

On 9-3-23 I attended a wedding at this venue. The views and interior are nice, clean bathrooms. The service was VERY slow during cocktail hour. I just gave up trying to get a drink. The bartenders are unbelievably slow and don't seem to care! The BEER was so warm a couple of guests left to return with coolers of cold beer. I kid you NOT! Now for dinner... the food delivered to our table was COLD! (Meat and fish entrees). Everybody's dinner was cold, the vegetables and potatoes were cold as well. The staff is the biggest problem with this restaurant, they simply don't care about the guests!!! I would Definitely avoid at all costs!!!

Overrated. Nachos were beyond mediocre and absolutely flavorless. My 5 year old cousin cooks better than this restaurant. Don't recommend their breakfast. Service was great. Very friendly. Ambiance was ok. Adequate. Think if you're a business and you serve brunch traditional items may benefit your business. Pancakes, waffles, crepes, etc. Bagels, croissants, english muffins. Think having non traditional items would be great IF they were seasoned better. Somethin besides eggs toast and potatoes as a traditional option would have been nice.

We came here for dinner and a concert. The location is awesome, and the staff were super friendly and professional. The concert venue was fine. A big open conference hall essentially. But they had booze, so that's good. The performers were excellent. The food here, was...food. Not good food, but food. The fact that they got several things wrong doesn't help. And the quality of the meal seriously left something to be desired. Just really not good. Come here for the show and the location. Get a couple of slightly overpriced drinks. Skip the food. And then go home.

Great view on the patio and the drinks were great. I ordered the wings and they had great flavor. Our waiter Mary was awesome and attentive!

I was part of a big family group yesterday with 16 people. Out server, Jason, was absolutely great handling all of our orders and was very attentive to our table. Location is great on the lake. I wasn't a huge fan of the menu but everyone got something they liked. It was a great event.

Perfect location in Chicago on the lake can't complain about enjoying a nice view of the city at the same time a view of the lake. nice facility. No parking I would just take a Uber there.

Came for a work dinner and had a great time. Our server was phenomenal and I'm sad I didn't get his name to sing his praises on here. Cocktails were excellent and food followed suit. Apps - deviled eggs and elotes. Both packed with flavor and nice little bites. I had the skirt steak and it was cooked perfectly. So tender with yummy shoestring potatoes. Others got the brisket and it seemed to be good but not amazing. Skirt steak was the star by far... until dessert. Bread pudding and key lime pie are a must! Will definitely come back.

Came here for drinks after a long bike ride. The server was super nice and quick. It was a nice day and the view was nice from inside. It would be a great venue for a wedding.

In town for a work function and had a dinner event there. Great place along the lake but a lot of pedestrian traffic on Lakefront trail

Amy Winehouse tribute...thank you fever and the great staff. What a spectacular venue

Super impressed with the renovations on this place. It's lovely! We went to brunch here this morning for the first time. It's a great view, easy to get a table, food is good, and the drinks are great. I ordered the burrito and a kir royale. I wish the burrito had some meat in it, but I guess I could have ordered bacon or sausage as a side. Otherwise it was good. The kir royale was well made, not a huge deal but the menu said it came with raspberries but when it arrived it has blueberries in it. My husband ordered the fruity pebbles French toast and seemed to love it! Looking forward to coming back!

Decided to eat hear prior to a Candlelight strings show. First time here since the renovation and I must say, very nice! As others have stated, what's not to like with views of the skyline and the lake. The food was a pleasant surprise. Not a big menu but what they offer, they do well. I started with ceviche of shrimp, guacamole and chips. Very tasty! Then my wife ordered the chicken tacos with elotes which she really enjoyed. I ordered the hanger steak with chimichuri sauce and it was tender and delicious. The potatoes that accompanied the steak were also very good. Finished with some key lime pie from bang bang . The result......2 very satisfied customers!

Haven't been here to eat/drink yet, but we will very soon! Wanted to thank the staff that was there today who helped my wife and I reconnect after she went for a run and her watch battery died. Truly appreciate all your help and kindness. We cannot wait to see you all again.

First experience eating out since the beginning of the pandemic. Service was friendly and followed COVID protocols. Great place for good views and would go back for drinks with friends!

Theater on the Lake was the site of our amazingly magical wedding on an unseasonably warm October day in 2022. The views are unmatched, the venue team was amazingly easy to work with and cooperated well with all of our last minute requests, and made it insanely easy for our group of vendors. A special shout out to Anna Phillips, a true professional and a real partner in helping us to create the wedding of our dreams. Worth. Every. Penny.

We love offering our fun selfie booth for their events. Location is great and they have valet service. Airbooth Social Chicago

Midwest kindness is alive and well at this new Chicago bar/restaurant/event space. My finances and I were greeted so kindly I almost blushed. We were quickly sat in what the server called the best seat in the house. We came for a date night drink with a great view. Solid drinks and the food looked amazing. We vowed to return for a meal soon.

We came here for Mother's Day brunch on Sunday and it also happened to be my birthday :) So it was the 3 of us, my husband and 5 year old son and me. I picked this place because we pass it all the time on our bikes and I've never been before! We found free parking on Cannon Drive by the nature museum about a block or 2 away. You can also valet but it's pricey or ride your bike. The location seriously can't be beat! We'll be back in the summer when it's nice out and sit on the patio. Great views! The atmosphere is very cool with the huge open ceilings and the bar situated right in the center of the restaurant. I also like the varying table heights, it's very different. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable and the service is just fine. Can't beat a free mimosa on Mother's Day, right?! Especially when they are $17 each!! So, yes it is a bit pricier but honestly, you aren't going to come here ALL the time and in my opinion it's worth it. Even just for a cocktail or two. The food is just ok. I read other reviews before coming about food being burnt. Yes, our food came out on the over done side, too. It was edible but just looked too dark for my taste. My son ordered the cereal french toast and wouldn't eat one of them because it was pretty charred.... However, it was delicious. I ordered the vegetable omelet which was good and fresh, and my husband got chicken and potatoes which he said was SOOOO good :) We'll definitely be back in the summer for a bite or at least a drink when we are nearby riding our bikes. I hope the summer brings good business for them. They really deserve it. On a side note, a wedding here would be phenomenal! So anyone looking for a perfect reception or baby/wedding shower, look no further ;)

5 Star for what they accomplished w this space that has been restored and reinvented to great success. 3 star A Ok food and quality, knowledgeable staff. Came on an oddly balmy and monsoon laden mid February Monday eve so it was pretty empty w a low key vibe. I actually liked it knowing at the weekend and w warmer weather it will no doubt be packed beyont and perhaps annoyingly so. But that is another day. For now we enjoyed the quiet atmo and excellent dishes. Pretzel rolls lightly baked w an aged cheddar and kale spread...w a touch heat a great starter or snack. Pan seared scallops sat on a bed of old world rolled spaghetti w pesto sauce...interesting concept, executed well, loved it Mushroom Risotto w Quinoa, rich but not overwhelmingly so. Good not great. Looking forward to come back and stopping by in the warmer months while biking the lakefront.

Nice views, refreshing drinks and good food. The buffalo wings were average but the salads were a nice big portion with fresh veggies. My aperol spritz was perfect on this nice day. Our service was slow, but we weren't in a hurry. Overall a nice place to enjoy the view of the lake.

We loved Theater on the Lake - "TOTL." We have dined their for dinner for a nice night out and also had brunch after a walk along the lake. Each time we find the staff attentive and the food great. We also recently had our wedding in their event space and it was so beautiful and such a special way to show off Chicago to our out of state guests. The staff there went ABOVE AND BEYOND to make it an incredible evening after postponing twice due to COVID. Anna is amazing - so kind and helpful, and would recommend this as a wedding venue to anyone.

Out on what will arguably be the last nice weekend this year, we happened upon Theater on the Lake. Great menu of options and a decent selection of craft beers - One certainly can't beat the view of the skylight and lake. What will bring us back again is the extremely dog friendly patio, where we all enjoyed a nice treat as we watched the sun set.

When I venture to the North Shore I pass this place a ton. It was my first time ever going inside last night. There is a restaurant inside and a bar. And a big room folks can reserve for special events. I was there for a Gubernatorial primary debate. Had a few beers, a salad, 2 sliders, macaroni and cheese dish and whiskey candied bacon. Little cheesecake wheels. I can see this place being a lit spot in the spring and summer because it's so close to the lake and not far from the zoo.

Have to say, I was pleasantly surprised. Great bar service. Our bartender, Sean, is a superb mixologist and conversationalist. Great atmosphere and times. Highly recommend.

Delicious food (great fries!), nice craft cocktails, great service and beautiful venue.

Wow, is the service here horrible. You know it's bad when your server says "if I was you, I would be so pissed right now." We came for an 8:30 dinner reservation. Our table was not ready until 8:45 - no problem, it happens. Our server seemed to have half of the tables in the restaurant (not his fault - management needs to staff this place appropriately), so it took a while to get drinks and then even longer to even have the chance to place our order. Our appetizer (burrata) did not come out for over 45 minutes, and our food just never arrived. After watching a table of six that was seated 30 minutes after we ordered get their food, as well as another table seated significantly after us, we asked to see a manager. At this point, it has been over 90 minutes since we ordered. The manager said there was a "mixup in the kitchen" - how it went unnoticed for that long, I have no idea, especially since our server had previously noticed and comped a beer for us for the wait. He repeatedly told us "your food will be out in less than 5 minutes!" I upped this review to two stars because the manager did comp the meal and the chef did come out and personally apologize for just completely forgetting about us. That was a very appreciated gesture, but it was truly just too little, too late. By the way, the food did arrive at about 10:30...it was just ok. We live about a block away and were hoping to make this a regular spot, but we will not be back.

This review is solely about the restaurant, not the venue space. Like many reviewers before me, I wanted to love Theater on the Lake. It is a perfect location with huge windows overlooking the most beautiful sight of Chicago: Lake Michigan. While the location and view are divine, the other aspects of the restaurant fell short. The service is very slow. I went on a Monday, and there were only a few other tables seated. However, our server was never to be seen. I don't always mind slow meals, but there were large chunks of time that our waiter wasn't even in the immediate vicinity within the restaurant. Oh where oh where did the server go?? The food was subpar as well. The ceviche appetizer was flavorful, but served in a martini glass, which made the appetizer much more difficult and inaccessible to eat. I ordered a salad, which was not well dressed and just dull overall with sparse toppings. My friend ordered the skirt steak, which was a bit better. We were very excited to try the fries (baked, smashed, and fried!), but they weren't as amazing as their description. Overall, the view and patio may make Theater on the Lake worth a quick stop for a drink. But don't stick around for the food and service.

I wanted to like this place, so badly. As a wedding photographer, I knew this was a new venue, but after my experience, I won't be recommending this place. First, there were only outdoor tables available. So, we waited for an hour. Finally, I asked the hostess how many people were before me. At this point, I was next. I noticed that out of the 20 or so outdoor tables, 6-7 were cleaned and opened. I asked if we could get a table, the hanger was setting in. She said she had to check with the waiters that she didn't want to overwork them. Finally, I asked again 10 minutes later after half of the tables were empty and she finally set us. Secondly, we were not given cutlery, had to flag down the waiter multiple times, etc. Third, the food was terrible. See attached photos. Big chunks of chicken fat in my cobb salad, plus the lettuce was awful. The fries were burnt to a crisp. The manager took the fries off the order, but didn't really change the disappointment. I wanted to like this place, the view is so beautiful, but I'll never go back for food again. Maybe just a drink. ** Recommendation to management, learn how to run a restaurant and hire a real chef.

My friend jack picked this place and I was pleasantly surprised! Amazing views of the lake! Food was superb and service was incredible! 5/5 stars!!

A great place to grab a drink with friends or a date. Very romantic and intimate vibes. There is outdoor and indoor dining. Beautiful breeze from the lake. A wonderful stop if you're walking around the lake.

Incredible location along Lake Michigan (at Fullerton), great ambiance and a beautiful view. The restaurant food was creative and quite good, but not worth the horrible service. We waited over an hour for our brunch to be served. The waiter claimed a 'mix-up' in the kitchen, which translates to he forgot to put in our order. Mistakes happen; however, never did a manager apologize for the delay. The staff and hostess seemed indifferent, if not unaware, of any problem. During the extended delay, the server never visited the table to refresh drinks - we had to flag him to the fact we had been sitting there for an hour. Until management and service is corrected, I'd sadly recommend avoiding this restaurant.

Great place for cocktails and food right on Lake Michigan. Great view of the city. Highly recommend! You won't be disappointed!

Stopped by to take a look at the restaurant as well as the theater next to it. Both of them look great, new and spacious. Best of all it's right in front of the lake and the views are awesome. The theatre is big and spacious and it had its own Windows and doors facing the lake. I like the high ceilings mostly. The bathroom had sensors for both the soap, water and dryer. Fancy.

Food is amazing. Iconic location on the lakefront. The staff is very friendly and helpful. Will be going again very soon. The outdoor seating during the pandemic is well done and very spaced out. We went last night (cold and rainy) and the owners definitely thought through the logistics and setup of the outdoor seating. Never felt like we were crammed in a small space. Terrific job!

Theater - Restaurant on the Lake I'm in town on a business trip. My friend Greg picked this restaurant because he has seen the restoration progress from his bike rides on the lakefront. He took a shot and went online and was pleasantly surprised that they were taking reservations. The restaurant is in the soft opening process right now so many people don't know it's open! Our cab driver didn't know the place existed. We got inside and the atmosphere was very inviting. The view of the lake is breathtaking. We were greeted by friendly people who showed us the theater space and the restaurant. We were seated shortly after and met our server, Johnathan. Johnathan was amazing. He walked us through the new menu and knew all about every item. Greg and I started off with the Spanish cheese plate which was absolutely delicious. We laird that wish a. Ice red wine. After that we ordered the stack salad which was covered in deliciousness. Greg ordered the chicken fried chicken entree and I ordered the burger. Both were super duper deeeelish. Throughout our meal we were checked on by Johnathan, but he didn't hover over us or be too pushy. The view from the restaurant is incredible. It's right on the lake so you get wonderful lake and city views. Pretty soon this place will have the theater running with shows so this will be awesome when you can have dinner and see a show under the same roof. Definitely check this place out. You won't be disappointed!

I gave theater on the lake three stars for location for food It would be only two This place has to freshen up it's menu and add to it,more items -----salads like a Caesar salad a wedge salad Some type of chopped salad. Have the line chef Learn how to serve a burger medium ( been their many time never had a burger pink inside just GRAY) they need more sandwiches and dinner items could Wright them a new menu in about an Hour and double their business but I think they Would rather work their wedding business and leave the restaurant run itself which it isn't You have a premier location make it work for you

Amazing location, beautiful room, great bar, and one of the top chefs in the city. Menu is varied and portions are plentiful, making it a good value. Free valet parking. The server was a little flustered, so they might have been a bit understaffed. Can't wait to go back when it's warm outside.

The best Bloody Mary I have had in Chicago hands down- so good! I got the sausage breakfast toast and it was so dissatisfying, my server said it was the best thing in menu but the pesto was overwhelming and it needed some type of Cheese. It was missing something and after two bites I was over all the pesto. The smashed potatoes are good but they didn't hAve ranch or anything but ketchup to have with them and they are big. Overall it was a goood experience the service was slow for it noT being crowded buT thE view is beautiful and good vibes in the place. I would give 5 stars for Bloody Mary but 3 for food, service, price! It's expensive and they need more brunch drink deals.

Awesome restaurant! The food was delicious. Had the brunch burger with smashed potatoes. One of the best burgers in town. To top off the delicious food the view of the lake and city is breathtaking.

I love this place . It's great to take visitors. Beautiful inside with incredible views. Food and drinks are reasonably priced considering. The food was also delicious. Uber here - parking is valet and around $17 .

Review for the restaurant not the venue. Bottom line - service is so bad that it's not worth the pretty atmosphere. I went here for brunch over the weekend. My mom was in from out of town so I wanted to take her with a couple of my friends. My excitement to show my mom this place was immediately soured by the late aged hostess/possible assistant manager (I wish I asked her name). I let her know that there might be an extra chair needed for a four person table to squeeze in (a just-in-case, not a certainty). She was flustered, came back after asking somebody what to do and told me there was absolutely nothing that could be done. There was an open two top right next to us the whole time that was never used. Our fifth guest never came so that bullet was dodged I guess. Next was partially my mistake for not doing prior research and reading the other low rated reviews. The brunch menu is what it is - don't try and ask for any further changes/accommodations. It's mostly overpriced heavy, greasy food. We tried to ask for french fries instead of smashed potatoes. Nope. Side of carrots or any crudités to come with the salad (none on the menu) special that had hummus. Nope. The server didn't even attempt to ask the kitchen to look like he was trying. A $280 dollar bill for four people you'd think he would've tried a little harder. Also they are closed every Saturday evening over the summer for weddings. I think most of their revenue comes from weddings hence the neglect of normal restaurant patrons.

I came here with my wife, we had Salmon and Beef Stew, everything tastes great, thank you so much.

In one word, this place is utterly amazing (ok, that was 2 words). It has the best views of Chicago and the food is equally as good. They have a great dinner menu and serve an outstanding (and very popular) brunch. For dinner, I highly recommend the brisket dip or the butternut squash risotto, but really you can't go wrong...everything is delicious. For Saturday or Sunday brunch, I typically get the open-faced omelet and bruch sausage toast are two of my favorites. In the summer and fall months, check out the large patio and their huge menu of drinks. You'll look south towards Fullerton Beach with the skyline in the background...no patio in the city of Chicago can match this amazing view!