Grand Lux Cafe - Chicago

Anytime I am in Chicago I make sure to come here for either breakfast or Dinner. I just love the versatility in the menu and kids menu. Great family friends environment and beautiful views of downtown. Definitely try it?Kid-friendliness: My daughter loved her food and enjoyed looking at the ceiling and all over at the beautiful architecture of the restaurant.Parking: We parked in a paid parking garage for $28 for about 5 hrs) this gave us time to walk around, shop, take pictures then go to Grand Lux for our reservation.

This is still the best place to get Chocolate Lava Cake in town. I had it before I left Chicago 11 years ago. When I am back, it is still amazing. I love the atmosphere of the restaurant when it is not crowded. I came during the afternoon time to enjoy a cup of latte and the cake, seeing the view of Downtown Chicago. It is definitely a steal. I will definitely come back again.

Food is amazing! I visited the Grand Lux Cafe for the first time which is Cheesecake Factory’s sister restaurant- hence why the vibe is so familiar! We ordered the Chicken Samosas as our starter and our main course meals was the Chicken Pasta Carbonara and the Cafe Beef Wellington. The pasta was so creamy and the beef Wellington was made with the perfect doneness. We ordered the warm butter cake for dessert to finish off our meal and it was everything! All the food was made with the utmost quality and all the flavors worked well with each other.We did a walk-in during our visit and there was a wait but it was shorter than their estimated 30-45 minutes. You can also book reservations ahead of time but we walked in and they took care of us. They even came to find us as we sat a bit further away from the hostess stand to wait. In terms of our server, she was extremely helpful in helping us decide on our starters and was attentive whether we needed something.The vibe is a casual type of setting. We sat near the window overlooking Michigan Ave and it was really beautiful. I feel like the restaurant has a bit of a smell to it but the food makes up for it.Pro tip: if you need photos of the menu, you can just Google them as Grand Lux Cafe puts their photos on their site.Parking: Parking is difficult to find, you should arrange for parking ahead of time or if you get lucky you’ll find paid street parking.

This is a tough review to do but its an Honest one.Grand Lux Cafe is all glitz and glamour but is it really? And does the food stack up?Sadly its not and the cooks are not very great. (I explain why)So we started off with the Grand Calimari which unfortunately had barely any Calimari or Zuchinni as mentioned and mostly had shrimp and fried onions. It ended up just being a bowl of crispie flour pieces at the end. The dipping sauces were great and portion size was good but its disappointing to not have many Calimari in a dish thats named Grand Calimari. Still not terrible as it tasted great..The service was also good. I forgot the young mans name but he had dreads and was on the slim side. He was great.But now the bad:I ordered the Beef Wellington which is a pretty big platter but is in no way an authentic Beef Wellington. More like a tiny puff pastry placed on a piece of filet mignon that looked like a kabob. Massive disappointment. Whats worse, I asked for my filet mignon to be Medium. It came charred on the outside and raw on the inside. Horrible. All the pieces were inconsistent too.I returned this and opted for a grilled chicken avocado salad. Huge salad full of lettuce and some sweet vinegrette but barely any chicken. Barely! And it was not grilled chicken. Was cold plain chicken. Horrible and for $16.My brother got a garlic shrimp scampi type pasta. It was a huge serving but... not enough Shrimp! How disappointing. Just a ton of angel hair pasta with cheese and garlic sauce. It was really tasty but cmon .. needs more shrimp!My mom got the Salmon Picatta which was nice despite being very bland. She had to ask for hot sauce..The molten chocolate cake aka lava cake was the best part of the meal.I left Grand Lux disappointed. Its a beautiful place for sure. Def the ambiance in alot of the dining areas fits the name.. but the food is not great and they are stingy with some of the protein.I initially told myself I wouldnt go back but I might give them another chance for redemption.P.s. If they seat you in a booth with a sofa back, that sofa back is dirty and full of stains. I shoulda took a pic!

Gran Lux Cafe in Chicago offers a truly luxurious dining experience. From the moment you enter, you're greeted with an elegant ambiance and attentive staff. The menu is diverse and enticing, featuring a wide range of delectable dishes to suit every palate. The food is impeccably prepared and bursting with flavor. Whether you're craving breakfast, lunch, or dinner, Gran Lux Cafe is sure to exceed your expectations. Don't forget to indulge in their mouthwatering desserts! With its top-notch service and exquisite cuisine, Gran Lux Cafe is a must-visit destination for food enthusiasts in Chicago.