Lockwood Restaurant Review

17 E. Monroe St., Lobby level (State St.) Send to Phone

312-917-3404 | Make Restaurant Reservations | Menu

Price

Dramatic, eclectic American dishes are served adjacent to the high-ceilinged lobby of the Palmer House Hilton.

Lockwood Restaurant is one of our 2012 | Top 10 Chicago Power Lunch Restaurants | Top 10 Chicago Thanksgiving Restaurants |

Cuisine

Open

Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner daily

Features

Romantic setting
Private room(s)
Full bar
Reservations suggested
Valet parking
Business

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Personally, weâ€™ve always found the historic Palmer House Hilton---what with its clashing patterns, marble and trompe l'oeil murals---as garish as it is gracious. But the hotelâ€™s mega-renovation (completed in 2008) left us pleasantly surprised---especially when it comes to this happening, lobby-adjacent restaurant. Now that Greg Elliott (Naha, One sixtyblue) has had time to settle in to the role of executive chef, itâ€™s clear that changes have occurred. Dishes, while elegant, are less esoteric than when Phillip Foss wore the toque. Unfortunately, not everything makes sense. Take the ahi crudo, for example, with its sweet pickled celery and grapefruit accents that just donâ€™t jibe. The stylish setting is not sedate, a fact thatâ€™s reflected in options such as cheese with quince preserves, curried almonds and walnut-raisin bread. The menu changes often, so expect to find butternut squash-apple soup with cinnamon crÃ¨me fraÃ®che one visit and diver scallops with potato rÃ¶sti, celery leaves and warm mussel vinaigrette the next. The wine list is as good as it ever was.